Food intake for a 24 hour bike race

[bundyroy]

I am going in a 24 hour motorcycle enduro race in 3 weeks time. I haven't done the event before. It consists of 4 laps of a 250km course. There is a 1/2 hour break between laps and 3 fuels per lap. This means I can carry food/water and also leave it at each of the stops. The race organisers supply dinner after lap 1 and breakfast after lap 3. The rest is up to me. I was just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on types of food and intake rates required to maximise my chances maintaining reasonable energy levels over the full 24 hour period. Normally on shorter rides I just take high sugar foods for the quick hit, but I figure this may be the best way to go for a long distance event. Should I be loading myself up with certain foods before the event.

Thanks for you help. If I'm still feeling alright at 3.30am in the morning, I will think of you.

Roy

[hammerclub]

hi roy you may wish to carb load leading up to the event and you may wish to invest in some of the endurance gel products on the market they will give you a sustained release instead of a quick hit you also may wish to purchase one of the carb supplements you can mix to make up a liquid supplement that you could carry with you in a camelbak.more carbs you can get in the better as any activity over that long will be gruelling on the body better to use carbs as an energy source instead of your body going catabolic and eating into muscle .good luck need any more info drop me a line

[Exclusive Fitness PT]

Hi Roy, by now it would be too late to give you advice as you would have already done the race but for anyone else doing this sort of thing i'll give my 2 cents worth.
Keep up the intake of fluids during the race and remember to drink water as well as electrolites as you can still dehydrate if your carb ratio to water is too high (over 8%). I agree with hammerclub you need to carb load to get the best results.
I competed in a solo 24 hour mountain bike enduro and all I did was constantly snack on nuts, sandwiches, muesli bars and small amounts of food the whole time.
Get plenty of sleep the night before.