is it better to take carbs before or after riding?

Question

i know cycling burns alot of carbs and energy but i still want to lose 5 lbs more of body fat for better riding what would you suggest

Answer 1

All of the previous suggestions are fine for normal riding, but you are looking at creating a bit of a deficit in calories to drop 5 pounds.
You need to eat some carbs before to give you the energy to ride, then some afterwards to replenish for the next one and the rest of your day.
Assuming you eat a healthier diet (which for endurance training means >50% of calories from carbs), you really shouldn't need to do any sort of carbing up other than maybe eating a little more carbs unless you are doing longer, more intense riding. If you find yourself crashing at around 1.5-2hrs, then you should consider upping it a bit the night before or consuming something like some fig newtons or something for energy at the 1hr mark or so.Then you can consume maybe a bit more carbs after the ride if it was pretty intense or you will be riding again the following day.
Really it comes down to you tweaking it around a bit and see how you respond. If you are completely dead at the end of the ride, you should up it a bit before, if you feel completely wiped out the rest of the day after the ride or have trouble riding the next day, then you might consider eating a bit more after the ride.

Answer 2

Yes, carboloading definitely before riding - a plate of spaghetti the night before the ride is perfect. But, be sure to keep things in balance. "Cycling burns a lot of carbohydrates" is a generalisation. The carobhydrates used up of course depends on the kind of ride done on the next day. It's quite easy, for example, to go for an easy 30 to 45 minute ride that uses up almost no carbohydrates. In this case, the previous night's carboloading will mean a weight increase, nothing else. In any case, I don't think carboloading plays much of a role in a ride of anything under an hour. Go for a hard, hilly 3-hour ride, however, then the carbohydrates of the previous evening will definitely make a difference, and will be used up.
Especially be careful after the ride. A sports drink, some fruit, etc. will be fine. But too much, and you just add it all back on again.
The wisest is a logical approach. Balance your carboloading with the intensity of the ride (ideally write it all down so you can follow the pattern), and then keep a check on your weight - at the same time every day, or preferably once a week. If your weight goes up, it's wrong; if it goes down, it's right. Good luck.

Answer 3

Traditionally, riders will eat carbs before riding. This is because it is easy access fuel that can be used during the actual training session. Pasta about 1 1/2 hours before run should be OK.

However, this will only last you so long, perhaps about 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. By 3 hrs you will be in trouble. Take a cerial bar and a isotonic carbs drink with you. Allow 500 ml per 1/2 hour of exercise.

The first 15 minutes after the run, your muscles are like an energy sponge. They will quickly absorb any fuel you put into your body. Unfortunatly, after exercise, most appetites are small. There are products on the market for this stage - ReGo and Nocte being two recovery drinks, designed to replenish energy after a run. Personally, I prefer a pint of beer and a packet of crisps.

Luck

Answer 4

1.5 to 2 hours prior to working out is a good time to eat. (pasta, potatoes, breads, eggs...). Getting your body's nutritional levels up to peak takes several days - not just a big meal the night before. Also, after working out you have a window of around 1 hour where carbs are easily processed and replenished into the body. Accompany this post-exercise meal with protein to help your body ingest and utilize the carbs for muscle growth/repair and glucose levels.

Answer 5

before, during, and after
you have to push fluids and food, or you could bonk
check Carmichael Training Systems or Bicycling magazine for a lot of articles on this

Answer 6

i would eat eat before, because after u ride for a few hours, u get hungrier, which would make you want to eat even more.