On the surface these materials seem to be a great solution, but it is very clear that material technology is moving far faster than current waste infra-structure in the UK. You need a lot of carbs. Sometimes it’s hard to keep eating, so don’t be afraid to drink your carbs too.

You’ve heard the expression, “nothing new on race day?”. Well that goes for your long ride fuelling too. An all-day adventure on the bike isn’t the time to be experimenting with new fuels and flavours (especially if you’re miles away from the nearest toilet).I had a fear of taking energy gels for the first few years of my running journey, because I was scared of having an upset stomach when running and had heard many runners’ stories of issues with gels. Don’t neglect your core, as this will give you balance and stability in the saddle and help prevent any weird posture, which can hurt down the line. Recover strong Composting requires specific conditions to allow these materials to break down. Sadly, only 1% of homes have a designated home compost & our current UK Waste system is not yet set up to handle compostable materials on mass. Attempts to send these materials to compost within food waste ends up with the wrappers being removed & burnt. Before I found Veloforte, I used to make my own date and almond energy balls. Halfway through my ride, they would turn into mush, due to the heat from my body. With Veloforte, I can eat delicious, natural, high-performance energy without all the mess. Ideally, a recovery drink should be consumed within 20-30 minutes of finishing your session. McGregor also recommends one if you're running a multi-day ultra-marathon, consuming it as soon as you've crossed the finish line each day. This gets your body recovering, ahead of the next stage. What to look for in a recovery drink

Let’s start with the obvious. You’re not going to be able to go all-out for six hours, and if you set off all guns blazing you’ll probably find yourself flagging long before you reach the finish line. Instead, try adding 10% to your weekend-long rides to develop leg strength, aerobic fitness and the all-important mental toughness to go long. Pedal smarter, not harder Long distance is all about efficiency. A clean, freshly lubricated drivetrain is far more efficient than a dirty one. Otherwise, you are wasting watts turning gritty gears.Gareth works to a simple principle: “If you’re hungry, it’s too late”. Make sure you’re properly fuelled with a carb-forward breakfast before you start, and keep regularly topping up during your ride to avoid the bonk down the line. Veloforte gels are gluten-free and made with 100% natural ingredients. They don’t contain any additives, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and other nasties that can sometimes cause an upset stomach. How many carbs per Veloforte gel? Train with your fuel. Get used to opening and eating your energy bar or gel while pedalling. Find your favourites and learn how frequently your body needs to fuel. With a recovery drink, you want to consume 1.2 grams of carbs per kilogram of bodyweight and 0.4 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight, McGregor says.

To avoid overtraining, gradually build up your Saturday or Sunday ride by 20-30 minutes each time. These sessions aren’t about bagging Strava segments, so focus on riding easy and getting miles in your legs. Route planning

Veloforte Doppio Caffeine Gel Energy Pack (12 x 33g)

It’s wise to pedal with a higher cadence in a lower gear, which will cause less resistance — and less muscle soreness over the duration of your ride.

Saddles get a bad reputation, many people that have a bad experience with saddle discomfort blame the saddle. In most cases, the issue is with the saddle position: According to McGregor, a recovery drink is ideal if you haven't got time to sit down for a meal. 'So if you’re coming in [from training] and you’re going to have breakfast or lunch within half an hour, it's not a problem,' she says. or more. It can sound like an impossible distance, especially if you’re new to long distance riding. So mentally break down your ride into sections. It’s only a few weeks ago that I decided to finally get over my fear of energy gels and to start practicing with them ahead of future half marathon races.

Don’t burn all your matches in the first quarter. Aim for a steady flame — you’re endurance pace, also known as Zone 2 (for those who ride and train with data), feels relatively comfortable and you should be able to hold a conversation. I got to the point in my running journey where I needed to find a solution for my long runs and half-marathon races, as not fuelling was impacting my progress. I thought that I might have some trouble with the caffeine gels when I first tried them, but I don’t have a single issue to report! Wider tyres with lower pressure are much more comfortable over long-distance, they are also proved to be faster when paired with a wider rim — aerodynamically and with a lower rolling resistance. Your long ride starts way before you get in the saddle. Here are our top tips to get you to your long ride feeling strong and confident. Where to start