Faculty reflection on VCU Great Bike Race Book course.
Course Description: This track will focus on nutritional and training practices of cyclists competing in the UCI Worlds.
YouTube Videos referenced in reflection:
VCU Exercise Science: Christian Vande Velde Interview
VCU Exercise Science - Sports Nutritionist Dr Janet Rankin Interview
Fuel for a 5 Hour Ride
Assignment 3: My Musette
Assignment 4: Bike Athlete Performance
VCU Exercise Science: Professional Cyclist Evie Stevens Intervie

Franco, R. Lee

English

VCU Scholars Compass

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVCU Scholars CompassGreat VCU Bike Race Book Faculty Reflections Great VCU Bike Race Book2016Bike Athlete PerformanceR. Lee FrancoVirginia Commonwealth University, francorl@vcu.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/bike_facultyPart of the Higher Education Commons© The AuthorThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Great VCU Bike Race Book at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusionin Great VCU Bike Race Book Faculty Reflections by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contactlibcompass@vcu.edu.Downloaded fromhttp://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/bike_faculty/1511/21/2016 The Week Richmond Hosted the Worlds: a post­race reflection of cobblestones and history – Beyond the Bike: Let's Boost our Performancehttps://rampages.us/boostperformance/2015/10/19/the­week­richmond­hosted­the­worlds­a­post­race­reflection­of­cobblestones­and­history/ 1/8UNCATEGORIZEDThe Week Richmond Hosted theWorlds: a post-race re城�ection ofcobblestones and historyI had the unique opportunity in providing information to students here at VCU of sportsperformance, primarily the impact of nutrition, and cycling. This course coincided with a racein which the top cyclists in the world sped through the heart of campus in a quest to wear thecoveted rainbow jersey. In only the second visit to the United States, the UCI Road WorldChampionships had a city best known for its history, in the wide-eyed glare of GIs toMillennials living in the moment!Below is an interview that we had completed on professional cyclist Christian Vande Velde,who had recently retired as a competitive athlete and worked as a TV analyst during thechampionships in Richmond.Beyond the Bike: Let's Boost our Performance 11/21/2016 The Week Richmond Hosted the Worlds: a post­race reflection of cobblestones and history – Beyond the Bike: Let's Boost our Performancehttps://rampages.us/boostperformance/2015/10/19/the­week­richmond­hosted­the­worlds­a­post­race­reflection­of­cobblestones­and­history/ 2/8VCU Exercise Science: Christian Vande Velde InterviewThe one-credit course was titled UNIV 291: Bike Athlete Performance, and incorporateddifferent assignments that allowed students to give thought in how important propernutrition was in preparing oneself for an intense bout of exercise. Although food today ismost often discussed in terms of Yelp! ratings and James Beard Award winning chefs, it’scontent is critical in providing power to an athlete who is exercising for more than an hour.Presentation the least of one’s concerns. Does it provide the right mix of fuel.As you can see below, Janet Rankin, professor at Virginia Tech University and past presidentof the American College of Sports Medicine, gave a great interview regarding the impact ofnutrition on performance, discussing the needs for both an elite athlete and weekend warrior.VCU Exercise Science - Sports Nutritionist Dr Janet Rankin...11/21/2016 The Week Richmond Hosted the Worlds: a post­race reflection of cobblestones and history – Beyond the Bike: Let's Boost our Performancehttps://rampages.us/boostperformance/2015/10/19/the­week­richmond­hosted­the­worlds­a­post­race­reflection­of­cobblestones­and­history/ 3/8The ärst two assignments surrounded the topic of thermoregulation. Anyone visitingRichmond in late September can attest to the residual summer heat that äghts to stickaround as long as possible. We discussed how an athlete maintains a core body temperaturewithout overheating and how sweat evaporation becomes our best mechanism in doing so.But with sweat, we also become dehydrated and lose vital electrolytes. Athletes understandit’s near impossible to replenish all of our sweat loss during an event, and even with theirkeen attention to detail, will most likely only replenish 80% of their åuid.Each student was given a scenario to determine how much sweat evaporation would berequired to maintain a core temperature in a heated environment. And how much sodiumchloride would need to be replenished. With this information, they were instructed to tag apicture on social media of their favorite sports drink that would be beneäcial in this scenario,both replenishing åuid and electrolytes. As expected, the drink of choice was Gatorade. It’sinteresting this was the choice of so many students. With the vast options available and somebetter than others, it’s clear the power of advertising.The third assignment had students reåect on their nutrition habits prior to an exercise bout.While the lecture focused on the consumption of carbohydrates as far as 4 hours beforeexercise, it was interesting to hear the students tell of their own practice after beinginstructed of recommendations.Students often admitted that their choices may not have been best, but it was great to hearthat they had acknowledged the impact this may have had on their performance. Most importantly, each mL of sweat that evaporates can transfer 0.58 kcals of heatenergy from the body to the environment. each Liter of sweat does release a small percentage of electrolytes, primarily consistingof sodium and chloride. Each Liter of sweat has 2,600 mg of sodium and 1,100 mg ofchloride. The food consumption did not really help me but I had been used to the diet, so I wasused to wrestling with very little carbs in my system at a high intensity. When i don’t do this eating regime and still workout, i feel weak at the gym. My coaches were concerned and asked what I had ate that day. I had only consumed a lunchof a sandwich, pretzels, and water. One of them nervously laughed and asked someone to11/21/2016 The Week Richmond Hosted the Worlds: a post­race reflection of cobblestones and history – Beyond the Bike: Let's Boost our Performancehttps://rampages.us/boostperformance/2015/10/19/the­week­richmond­hosted­the­worlds­a­post­race­reflection­of­cobblestones­and­history/ 4/8Interestingly, the class consisted of both students who had not given much thought tonutrition for exercise and those who abide by a strict regime.During the fourth assignment, students were given the opportunity to describe what wouldbe in their musette bag DURING a 5 hour cycling ride. This followed a lecture that describedhow much food was required, as well as how our food would be available due to hormonalresponses during exercise.  Below are a few of the responses. As you’ll notice, some studentscouldn’t resist playing the role during their presentation, but what was most enjoyed was thecreativity displayed by our students.Fuel for a 5 Hour Rideget me snacks and a sports drink, as I lay in the grass. I now know that I was dehydrated,improperly nourished for competition, as well as an iron-deãcient anemic. The morning of the race I usually get up 3-4 hours before start time to prepare for thestarting line and to eat something ( usually a clif bar or high carb meal bar like that). Ieat that early to ensure some kind of digestion before the race even begins, and to hopefullyminimize an insulin spike.11/21/2016 The Week Richmond Hosted the Worlds: a post­race reflection of cobblestones and history – Beyond the Bike: Let's Boost our Performancehttps://rampages.us/boostperformance/2015/10/19/the­week­richmond­hosted­the­worlds­a­post­race­reflection­of­cobblestones­and­history/ 5/8Assignment 3: My Musette - Charlie PerrisSoÞa Nersessova - Assignment 4 - Bike Athlete Performan...Overall, I think while it was locally advertised that the “Worlds were coming to Richmond”for months before the UCI World Road Championships, it wasn’t until the Sunday eveningfollowing the last race that people began to say “Richmond introduced itself to the World”.  Ibelieve the students at VCU were given a unique opportunity which was only enhancedwithin this opportunity provided by the VCU ALT lab in taking a 1-credit course that allowedboth students and faculty to feel as though they were part of the race.  Our students were leftwith an opportunity to hear from one of the top American female cyclists at the races, EvieStevens, as she graciously sat with us to discuss the impact of Sports Science on cycling.11/21/2016 The Week Richmond Hosted the Worlds: a post­race reflection of cobblestones and history – Beyond the Bike: Let's Boost our Performancehttps://rampages.us/boostperformance/2015/10/19/the­week­richmond­hosted­the­worlds­a­post­race­reflection­of­cobblestones­and­history/ 6/8BOOSTPERFORMANCEOCTOBER 19, 2015VCU Exercise Science: Professional Cyclist Evie Stevens In...I hope our students and fellow Richmonders enjoyed the event as much as I did and I hopethose within the UNIV 291 courses were able to watch the races with a deeper appreciation ofnot only cycling, but knowledge of the commitment these athletes show in becoming the bestin the World.Leave a ReplyYour email address will not be published. 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Bike Athlete Performance

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Bike Athlete Performance

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