Photo courtesy of Velocio.cc.
**This article was written by cycling superhero Ted King.**
At the beginning of my professional cycling career a decade ago, without second thought I would ingest energy gels and sports bars like they were going out of style. As it turns out, in specific subgroups within the overall demographic of “people who eat food,” those things have fallen out of style. In the current back-to-basics movement that is taking place is both Michelin starred restaurants and athletes’ dinner tables, there are starkly few ingredients on the plate. A classically elegant dish may showcase artisanal pasta drizzled with unctuously green olive oil and a pinch of high quality salt. Delicious.
Similarly, the modern day athlete reaches for colorful foods, whole grains, quality foods, real foods. Unlike typical American fare, there are no preservatives, additives, or fillers. The entire concept here is simply Occam’s Razor, where the correct solution is the simplest. Shave off the excess and you’re left with a purely, simple answer.
Like Food, Cycling Shouldn’t Always Be Complicated
Training rides at the ProTour level of cycling span the range of one to seven hours. Volume is supplemented with strenuous intervals where your heart is racing, legs are searing, and still eyes are glued to the power meter to ensure the output and performance of the interval is correct. It can often be as mentally taxing as it is physical, by the end of a tough training block your energy is zapped.
Despite this analytical perspective, cycling is really about community. It’s always better when you’re sharing hard training days with a friend or teammate, passing the hours with conversation and pushing one another. And after yet another searing set of intervals or when another hour has ticked by, there’s nothing better than a quick refresher at a coffee shop. To sit, sip a coffee, and take a bite of real, whole food—a muffin, cookie, or freshly baked bread—is just the refresher needed to saddle up and do it all again.
Go Back to Basics—On the Bike and on Your Plate
This holistic approach is easier to achieve with my Fitbit Surge. Instead of staring at my powermeter as I did earlier in my career, I now look for overall trends. I can easily see when I’m fresh and my heart rate readily bounces around. I love that! It means I’m ready to jam on the bike. Or more applicably, I’m ready to get out there, get after it, and earn a big muffin ride. Alternatively, I can see when my sleep suffers, and my heart rate isn’t as lively—both are signs that I’m due for a rest.
After spending a career obsessing about calories, and being extra careful about what I ate, I’ve learned you don’t have to be as restrictive when you steer clear of the processed stuff, focus instead on simple ingredients, and leave room for joyful moments with muffins. Please don’t extrapolate too deeply into my advice here; I’m not suggesting you reach for a bag of donuts every day on a training ride. Rather, savor something delicious from a bakery on the days you do ride hard or ride long. Better yet, share that with friends or training partners. I believe there’s room for a bit of everything as long as it’s taken in moderation.
Ted King wears spandex and flies all over the world. Is he a superhero? Nobody knows. Ted does some other cool stuff too. A two-wheeled philosopher and supremely culinarily adept, he is a loving brother, a gracious son, and friend to all, while is penning his tale right here on iamtedking.com. 2016 is King’s first year of professional retired life—he hung up his race wheels and traded them in for general riding wheels. With no shortage of adventures on his radar, saddle up with Ted on this wild ride.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
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