Athletes, probably more than other folks, tend to really try to consume foods that are good for their specific sport.  Or for health in general.  But nowadays, it is harder and harder to figure out what that specific food is.

When I first started racing, I was a vegetarian.  I didn’t eat any meat at all for maybe 5 years. But, when I went to Europe, that went out the window.  It was nearly impossible doing that and trying to race there, at that time.  Plus, I was taking a handful of vitamins a couple times a day.

It was all carbohydrates back then.  Carbo load and race fast.

Then it jumped to protein.  Eat a bunch of protein and no carbs.  I’ve done this a few times and it works too.  But did I feel a ton better/different, no.

Anyway, I’m writing this because of a couple things I’ve read the last week.

One is that the chicken you get in a subway sandwich is only half chicken.   The rest is some kind of soy filler.

I hate this.  I used to think that eating subway sandwiches was a good choice for fast food.  I have no idea whether this study is accurate, but it makes you think.  The article said that the most chicken in any fast food chicken is in the 80% range.  If you would have asked me I would have guessed in the high 90’s.

The next was an article at Cyclingtips about eating gummy bears for recovery.  It showed Peter Sagan eating a bunch of gummy bears for just that.  I’ve heard a ton about recovery for efforts and have never seen this.  I would have guess, once again, that eating them might be okay riding, but not for recovery.

Skratch Labs co-founder Dr. Allen Lim says otherwise.  Dr. Lim has worked some questionable jobs, but I assume he knows what he’s talking about when he says that gummy bears are good for recovery.   Again, what do I know.

I’ve seen riders eat everything and race super.  Don Myrah used to eat nearly only fast food, tons of high fat, high sugar desserts and still kill me racing MTB’s.  Then Phil Anderson comes to the US and to race the Coor’s Classic on our team and hasn’t eaten dessert in months.  And he rides at the front, day after day, for the whole two weeks.  Big difference in diets here and same results.

No butter or eggs. Lot of eggs, as much butter as you want.  What is up with that?

Obviously, us human’s haven’t exactly figured out what is right for us to eat.  For athletics or longevity.  It switches on a yearly basis and sometimes goes back upon itself.  It’s interesting, but disturbing some too.

Dinner last night.

After race food.

Peter wolfing down gummy bears.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve rolled a ton of stop signs.  When I first started riding, it wasn’t even an issue.   People that drove cars didn’t blink an eye if a cyclist rolled a stop sign.  It was to be expected.  But, that was a long, long time ago.

Somewhere, through the time, drivers started getting up in arms about cyclists.   It isn’t only rolling stop signs, but nearly everything, just riding.  I wonder why that happened?  More cyclists, or people having less time?  Whatever the reason, even if you are the most responsible cyclist, concerning laws, you will feel the wrath of drivers occasionally.

Cycling laws interest me.  Each state and their perceptions of what is important enough to restrict cyclists from doing.

Here in Kansas, we have a two-abreast law, which makes it legal to ride side by side.  Plus we have the 3 foot passing rule.  These two laws make it nearly impossible to pass a couple cyclists without crossing the centerline, which is how it should be.   Nearly the only way to pass a cyclist when there is oncoming traffic is for the car to cross over the centerline.  The 3 foot law makes that pretty much mandatory.

We, in Kansas have a Dead Red Law too. which allows bicyclists, and motorcycles, to legally proceed through red lights in Kansas when it is safe to do so.   It is a good law for cyclists.

I saw an article that in California, a couple politicians introduced a bill that would allow cyclist to roll stop signs.  Treat them as yield signs.   This would make a huge difference riding nearly anywhere in the state.  When I’m riding in Southern California, you could go through 100’s of stop signs on any given ride.  I think the state of Idaho has this law already.

Plus, like the creators of the legislation understand, it is safer for the bicyclist.  We all know how to get across an intersection after stopping, but you have to think of a person that hardly ever rides that has trouble locating their pedals while starting, thus looking down and not paying enough attention to the cross traffic.   Going slowly across a busy street isn’t the wisest way to cross that street.

I have no idea whether this will become law.  I’d bet not, but what do I know?  I’m way more interested in alleviating the animosity between cyclists and drivers.  I don’t really get why it even exists.  You’d think that a driver would think it is great that someone is out riding a bike.  For commuting, recreation, or actually training.   People are fickle.

Think all the money they would save putting up special signs for bicyclists.