Sometimes... your luck changes.
Sometimes... that bad habit you never bothered to deal with... trips you up.
Many women cyclists have this habit. We simply don't drink enough. It's a habit that creeps up on you. I suspect that a number of reasons. Firstly, it takes time to gain the confidence to lift your hand up off the handlebars and grab the bottle. Secondly, many of our frames are too small to take a second bottle comfortable. Finally - and most importantly - it's a lot more difficult to take a potty break when you're a female wearing bib-shorts - and very few public conveniences in Malta are open before 10am!
So I'm realising. Year by year - I got into the habit of drinking less. I can make a 700ml bottle last 4hrs on the bike. This is not good. Combine that with a hot, humid, windy race day and you have a crisis on your hands. It happened in the National Duathlon Championships - where I got off the bike and my stomach felt like a much used punch bag. Yet, on the day - I managed to hold it together just enough to win.
It happened again last Sunday in the National Long Distance Championships - an event I have won 5 times. And I lost it. My quad cramped, my hamstring cramped, my stomach hurt...I stopped sweating. In the previous 5 middle distance races, I was fairly lucky - with a comfortable margin on 2nd place, that allowed me to 'race properly'. This time, I had an immensely strong and talented triathlete to contend with - my friend and national team-mate Maggie. Maggie swims like a fish. I do too sometimes - only when it gets choppy ... it can be described as dead fish style. My bike is currently stronger but I had to work really hard to catch up after losing 4minutes plus in the swim.
Maggie runs like a graceful gazelle. I certainly didn't last Sunday. She paced it right. She clearly got the hydration right. And she deserved to win. Well done Mags xx
I'm trying to drink more now - my stomach needs to be trained too... We'll see how that goes. But Baku is 120km ride. Poland is an Ironman 70.3 and Vichy is a full Ironman. If I want to perform to my full potential...this must be sorted.
Anyways. Next Sunday I join my friend Gabriella Nordin for a nice hilly 72km cycling race in Oxfordshire England. I'll be guesting for team GBcycles. 90 female cyclists! Wish us luck!!
Sometimes... that bad habit you never bothered to deal with... trips you up.
Many women cyclists have this habit. We simply don't drink enough. It's a habit that creeps up on you. I suspect that a number of reasons. Firstly, it takes time to gain the confidence to lift your hand up off the handlebars and grab the bottle. Secondly, many of our frames are too small to take a second bottle comfortable. Finally - and most importantly - it's a lot more difficult to take a potty break when you're a female wearing bib-shorts - and very few public conveniences in Malta are open before 10am!
So I'm realising. Year by year - I got into the habit of drinking less. I can make a 700ml bottle last 4hrs on the bike. This is not good. Combine that with a hot, humid, windy race day and you have a crisis on your hands. It happened in the National Duathlon Championships - where I got off the bike and my stomach felt like a much used punch bag. Yet, on the day - I managed to hold it together just enough to win.
It happened again last Sunday in the National Long Distance Championships - an event I have won 5 times. And I lost it. My quad cramped, my hamstring cramped, my stomach hurt...I stopped sweating. In the previous 5 middle distance races, I was fairly lucky - with a comfortable margin on 2nd place, that allowed me to 'race properly'. This time, I had an immensely strong and talented triathlete to contend with - my friend and national team-mate Maggie. Maggie swims like a fish. I do too sometimes - only when it gets choppy ... it can be described as dead fish style. My bike is currently stronger but I had to work really hard to catch up after losing 4minutes plus in the swim.
Maggie runs like a graceful gazelle. I certainly didn't last Sunday. She paced it right. She clearly got the hydration right. And she deserved to win. Well done Mags xx
I'm trying to drink more now - my stomach needs to be trained too... We'll see how that goes. But Baku is 120km ride. Poland is an Ironman 70.3 and Vichy is a full Ironman. If I want to perform to my full potential...this must be sorted.
Anyways. Next Sunday I join my friend Gabriella Nordin for a nice hilly 72km cycling race in Oxfordshire England. I'll be guesting for team GBcycles. 90 female cyclists! Wish us luck!!
