Life Lessons from The Dirtfield

I learned so much from my Hagens-Berman Supermint teammates this year – ie. how to use an Aeropress to make a true cyclist’s coffee. Yet, despite how delicious hand-ground and hand-pressed coffee is, made with beans from a single-origin green organic farm in the middle of the Amazon rain forest, one of the most helpful tips for in-race nutrition has been this one from fellow teammate/team owner Lindsay Bayer…

I love our Honey Stinger energy chews. My only struggle is actually opening the bag in the middle of a 100km road race surrounded by 120 other women who are all fighting for position while attacks go off the front or while a QOM ominously approaches. Between my labored breaths, akin to those of a pug with asthma, I try to tear open the bag and squeeze out the delicious bites of sugar and carbs inside. This usually results in eating just one or two energy chews before I give up and desperately grab the Honey Stinger Chocolate gel instead.

However, Lindsay solved my problem! Instead of grabbing a bunch of bags and stuffing them in your pockets like you’re packing for a hiking trip through Death Valley, grab a bunch of bags before the race, open them all, and stuff them all straight into your jersey pocket! Best idea ever! Your pocket will be filled to the brim with these scrumptious bites of joy when you grab for anything edible mid-race. Yes, you will probably finish the race with a sticky pocket but hey, when all you can think about is staring at that wheel in front of you during a race, you won't care how sticky your pocket is. That's what a washing machine is for! 

Thank you for all of your wisdom this year, Lindsay Bayer, and the rest of my HB Supermint team! Learn more about "The Dirtfield" aka Lindsay here: http://www.thedirtfield.com/ 

Disclaimer: This has not been tested with a white jersey. You may need a large can of Spray n'Wash handy post-race if applying this technique while wearing white.