Tips From The Mechanic's Bay

Freqently Asked Questions

Have you ever been on the road and had a mechanical issue that you didn’t know how to fix?  Of course you have!  You ride a bike.  Knowing this, your local mechanics have agreed to submit some helpful tips and suggestions about a few of the more common issues suffered by road bicyclists in Leavenworth.  Go ahead and read, you might just learn something useful!

Today’s tip is from Lamont for all you century riders.  “While a tube repair kit is the most obvious thing to carry with you, not enough people realize how they need to refuel.”  When riding long distances, you need to replace your electrolytes.   Especially on a long distance ride, your body is acting as an engine.  The fuel you take in; food, water, gu, whatever, all goes to helping that engine burn.

As this engine burns, two things happen.  The first is that you produce lactic acid.  This can cause cramping and exhaustion.  The second is that you sweat.  As you sweat you are losing salts and water through your skin.  Both of these can cause major discomfort if they are not addressed.  Fortunately, there is an easy set of solutions.  Make sure you hydrate and take in potassium before a ride, which will help prevent lactic acid build-up and cramps.  As you ride, you need to be carrying something to replace those fluids and salts.

Clif Shots and Gus are great for short distances.  They fit easily into the back pocket of your jersey, are easy to open, and contain the sugars and supplements to keep you going.  For longer distances, they help, but your best option is Accelerade.  Accelerade contains a 4:1 ratio of carbs and proteins that will make a huge difference on a ride.  Over those distances, the sugar will burn out quickly, but carbs burn longer, which extends endurance and speeds muscle recovery.  In addition, those carbs and proteins keep you hydrated better than plain water, which means you need to carry less weight.  Remember, you should be taking in more fuel at least once an hour, and you should be hydrating the whole time.  Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

Watch Brendan's video on Nutrition