Hi,

Just curious if anyone here follows a low carb/keto diet while touring?

I started eating low carb/keto around January 2020 and lost 20 pounds.  But mostly I feel GREAT!  I have more energy, need less sleep, people say my skin looks better.....this list goes on and on....and though I am almost 60 I feel better on the bike than I have in decades.  I can go out now on a 2-3 hour ride with a handful of cashews and not feel hungry or bonk (or no food for up to 2 hours) because I am "fat adapted".   I often skip breakfast at home because I don't feel "bonky" in the morning like I used to. 

I have not done a long tour on this type of diet though.  It's not the low-carb in itself that I think will be a problem.  But I wonder about finding foods in small town America that will work.  I am going to give it a go when I resume this trip in 3 weeks.  I won't be perfect but I am at least going to aim at keeping carbs lowish and not eat sugar and wheat.

Before 2020 I would eat anything and everything while touring, the more sugar and carbs the better, but I feel so much better eating this way I don't want to do that.  Plus, I did a 5 day tour last summer and ate sugar/bread/high carb and I just didn't feel right. 

I found this article recently recently so I know people do long rides on a keto diet, but does anyone on this site eat like this while touring?  Just curious.

Karen

Hi Karen

When I was interested in diet for endurance events about 30 years ago the buzz word was carbo loading, for example a large dish of pasta the night before. I am now in my eightieth year and I eat a lot of protein to help combat muscle wastage and not much in the way of carbs. I do have oatmeal for breakfast and I found that before I got covid I could do a 50km ride with a coffee stop  without a cake, without difficulty.

If your diet is working for you just pack some dried cranberries (craisins?) in case you bonk. In the small country towns just order a burger and ask them to hold the bun.

Kelly Iniguez has gone I think gluten free and eats apples on her rides. Check her profile and some of her journals.

I look forward to your upcoming journal.

Mike

Thanks, Mike. 

I will have to get it figured out as I go I think.   Apples should work on long days, smeared with peanut butter!

I am actually kind of looking forward to seeing how I ride this year.  It will be a fun experiment for sure.  :-)

Karen