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Archives for December 2009

Tryptophan and Biking

12.22.2009 by Ray Niekamp // 2 Comments

It’s close upon us — the big Christmas dinner, usually featuring turkey with all the trimmings. And we all know what turkey brings to our bloodstream: tryptophan. That’s an amino acid that flows through your blood vessels to the brain, where it’s converted to serotonin, which is blamed for inducing the post-feast drowsiness that results in nap time after dinner.

But maybe you’ve had the experience of finishing a long and/or strenuous bike ride. It might be nothing out of the ordinary given your level of fitness. Still, a little while after the ride, a wave of drowsiness comes over you. You make your way to the bedroom and flop. And you’re out cold for two or three hours.

Tryptophan.

It turns out that the poor turkey gets a bum rap for our sleepiness after dinner. Tryptophan is found in most proteins, so it’s not the turkey. It’s the amount of protein we ingest.

What does that have to do with feeling tired after a ride? During strenuous exercise, your muscles use branch chain amino acids for fuel. Tryptophan competes with branch chain amino acids to get into the brain, and since you’re burning the BCAA’s, the tryptophan wins. That can produce fatigue during exercise, not after.

That’s why we munch on energy bars and gulp exercise drinks during rides. The muscles use the carbs as fuel, and in turn that cuts down the amount of tryptophan that can make it to the brain.

My ride the other day was a perfect example. I rode 25 miles, a distance I’m used to, although I don’t do it more than twice a week, and I felt pretty good. I carried one water bottle, and it was nearly drained when I pulled up to the house after the ride. But sure enough, while watching TV after my shower, I dozed off. I awoke just long enough to get to bed and zonk out for two hours.

During the ride, my body was using fatty acids — including tryptophan — for fuel. I just drank water, so I wasn’t doing anything to inhibit the tryptophan from getting to the brain. If I had brought an energy bar, I’m certain I would have stayed awake longer.

So if you’re going to do any riding over the Christmas weekend, keep these hints in mind:

  • Don’t fast before you ride. Fasting raises blood-fat levels, and makes it easier for the effects of tryptophan to be felt.
  • Don’t eat fatty foods for 12 hours before your ride. Fatty foods create the necessary condition for tryptophan to move through the bloodstream.
  • Do eat a carbohydrate meal two hours or so before your ride. That will reduce your blood-ft levels.
  • Do drink a sports drink every 10 minutes or so during your ride — and depending on how long you’re out there, take in some carbohydrate foods, too.

Following these steps not only will ward off fatigue during your ride, but keep you from napping — and missing Christmas activities with family or friends — once the ride is done.

Bike Noob will take a short break over Christmas, and we’ll be back next weekend. I wish the blessings of the season on everyone.

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Categories // food Tags // tired

Christmas at the Veloway

12.21.2009 by Ray Niekamp // 2 Comments

I’ve written often about the Veloway in Austin, a three-mile track dedicated to bikers and inline skaters. Over the last week, my wife and I have noticed these nice touches:

Someone took the time to decorate four small cedar trees along the route. Passing them brings a smile to the face.

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Categories // Odds 'n ends Tags // Veloway

Buying New or Buying Used?

12.20.2009 by Ray Niekamp // 5 Comments

The past two posts about buying stuff has triggered a lot of response, not just in the comments but in emails to yours truly. I hope there’s enough interest out there to put up with one more shopping post — when do you buy used gear? And what kind of used gear do you buy? (It just occurred to me that we’re spending a lot of time talking about shopping — and the readership of this blog is overwhelmingly male. Flame comments from the ladies are expected, and probably deserved.)

I’m trying to remember if I’ve ever bought used gear. Only one item sticks in my mind — my San Marco Ponza saddle. That came from my friend David. I bought it for two reasons: He was letting me try it out, and I was close to pulling the trigger on it anyway — I like it — and I had a minor fall that scuffed the side of the saddle. He would have taken it back, but I go by the “you break it, you buy it” ethic.

I inherited a jersey from my wife. She bought a man’s cut jersey, and even though it was a size larger than she normally takes, a man’s cut doesn’t fit a woman’s curves. But she only wore it once before tossing it in my lap one afternoon.

Our old friends at eBay sell all sorts of used bicycling gear, including clothing — including pre-owned shorts(!). I think I’d draw the line there.

Craig’s List is another option for used gear. You can buy used shorts here, too. I was amused by the disclaimer in this ad:

Giordana mesh-top bibs, size Medium
I have used these bibs no more than three or four times.
I am a professional cook and bought them at a smaller weight. I have since gained too much and they no longer fit.
It is not gross to buy used cycling bibs. These have been kept clean, washed after every use and stored in a dry area.
For the bargain hunter looking for great, virtually unused bibs, these are the ones.
Italian quality, good style, great fit, comfortable pad.

Hmm. If I took a medium, I’d give him a call … no I wouldn’t.

Based on your comments, it looks like most of you avoid buying used clothing. But a number of you indicated you do buy some things used. Regardless if it’s a use bike or a used derailleur, it’s probably wise to give it a thorough inspection before agreeing to the purchase. That’s a lot more likely if you buy used from someone locally, as opposed to an online purchase.

What things? And what attracted you to the used item when, with a little astute shopping, you might have been able to get the same thing new at a deep discount?

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Categories // Accessories, Equipment Tags // shopping

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