What Not to Do on a 40 Mile Bike Ride

If any of you did the 5 Borough Bike Tour this past Sunday, I’m sure you will agree it was a great day.The weather started off not so good, on the cold side, with the threat of rain. However, as the day progressed the sun came out and it turned out to be a beautiful day. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this ride, here is a little info:
– the largest ride in the country (30,000 people)
– it goes through all 5 boroughs, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Staten Island
– the streets are closed to traffic
-you get to go over bridges and tunnels on a bike
– great way to see parts of the city you would otherwise not get to see on a bike

Now, the point of this post… Cycling is one of my passions and I am usually quite prepared with food and fluid for the ride. However, I am not an early morning person and tend to bike later in the day. So here was the first problem for me –  I had to get up at 6:30 am for the tour. I overslept a bit and really didn’t have much time for breakfast – assuming I could get food at the starting line. Since we were late to arrive and were surrounded by 30,000 people starting the tour, there was no food in sight. So – problem #1: no breakfast.(Pic on the right of me and 2 friends, Tom and John, enjoying a few cold ones to help us replete our glycogen stores).

There were multiple rest stops during the ride serving snacks such as fruit and mini energy bars. I had a few of those … but you can only eat so many until your stomach starts to hurt. So I limited my intake of the bars. Problem #2: inadequate fuel.

Huge lines for the port-o-potties. Not so condusive for encouraging fluid intake. That and the port-o-potties themselves…. (say no more on that subject). Problem #3: inadequate fluid.

After the tour ended, we found a great bar in Staten Island  (this is where the tour ended) right near the ferry. Not sure of the name, however it had a big picture on parrot eating people on the outside of the bar. Nice! Problem #4: the “cold ones” took the place of eating food. Get a little tipsy after biking 40 miles with minimal food and fluid.

Multiple beers later, several friends were made and all in all, it was a great day. (Pic on the right is of new friends also enjoying multiple cold ones. City girls… you might want to check out this tour next year  🙂  )

However, note to self for the next early morning ride:

1. Do not sleep through alarm. Get adequate sleep the night before. Forgo going out.
2. Plan your food that you will take with you on the ride the day before.
3. Do not skip breakfast and assume that you will find something later to eat.
4. Take more advantage of the energy bars they provide along the ride at the rest stops. Forget about the fact that they slightly upset your stomach.
5. Better yet, pack your own food.
6. Drink more fluids during the ride. Do not let your dislike of port-o-potties and long lines hinder your fluid consumption.
7. Bring sunscreen even if it is raining. You never know when the sun will break out and give you an unwanted sunburn.
8. Take part in the after riding “festivities” with the other riders at the local pub … as long as you don’t have too far to bike home. Of course, moderation is a good idea.
9. Replete with more water after ride and try to eat something containing carbs within 1 hour of your ride. This will hydrate you and help to replete your glycogen stores.