Fat blokes - there's hope

[huw williams]

Further evidence from next weeks CW* that fat is a better fuel source than expected for endurance events

Geese can fly pretty quickly, unaided by machines with gears for 1000km non stop - which in endurance terms far outperforms any human endurance athlete on the planet, ever.

Compared to chickens - Goose flesh is very much fattier due to a higher content of triglycerides in the muscles. These triglycerides are an important source of energy during excercise.

Pound for pound fat provides more than twice the amount of calories for fuel than Carbohydrate - so in order to carry all the fuel it needed as Glycogen - a goose would be so heavy it wouldn't be able to fly at all leave alone a 1000k

So thats's it for me - Ditching the pasta and I'll see you in the McDonalds queue

Fair enough you might say but when did you ever see a goose win the tour de france or the london marathon?

To which I'd counter when did you last see Ian Munnery fly south for the winter non-stop without using a commercial airline?

Fascinating stuff

*sources - various sports science research papers available on request

[Richard (Apples)]

Yeah but geese dont fly uphill do they

[Snoop Doug]

Neither does Ian

[huw williams]

You're just not taking this seriously are you Apples?

[Mike I]

I put this to the test last year by feasting on potatoes roasted in goose fat between October and May and then doing the Dragon Ride. The results were, I'm afraid, tasty but inconclusive.

[kieran]

em, from my visits to thw wet lands centre and information from my fact addicted son I don't recall geese being the fastest birds in the sky, I thought the problem wiv fat was speed of access to its stored energy?

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

This all sounds a bit fishy to me - slightly quackers

[Richard (Apples)]

Ok on a more serious note

Im a right in thinking that when the body runs out of carbs as an energy source and starts to convert fat to energy...this is bonking

or is it honking

[Andrew G]

bonking. Honking is out the saddle wrestling your bike up a hill.

Never confuse a bonk with a honk.

[Stu Merckx Man]

when riding at about 65% of your max heart rate you are running on fat not carbs.

but when riding hard, then running out of carbs, and suddenly your into fat, thats bonking...i should know

[Grahame]

Wasn't the finish of the club roadrace championship (slightly) uphill?

Wasn't the winner of the B race a notorious bloater?

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Grahame"]Wasn't the finish of the club roadrace championship (slightly) uphill?

Wasn't the winner of the B race a notorious bloater?

[Tony]

Funnily enough I've been considering recently whether to make a serious attempt to bloat out. However, where do you start? There's lots of books, info and reference material about becoming fitter, leaner and meaner. You can also get coaches, health assessments and all the advice you'll ever need. But what is there for people that want to look like Andy Fordham? How would I get to the following target BMIs:

To achieve a BMI of 40 kg/m2 (morbidly obese), I'd only need to bloat to about 18 st 8 ibs;
To achieve a BMI of 50 kg/m2 (super morbidly obese), I'd need to bloat to about 23 st 3 ibs;
To achieve a BMI of 60 kg/m2 (super super morbidly obese), I'd need to bloat to about 27 st 12 ibs;

Is there a safer way of getting this fat with lower risk of blocked arteries, strokes, etc.? What determines the maximum weight I could get to? How long would it take? Would I still be able to win the club Hill Climb Championship?

[Paul H]

[quote]when riding at about 65% of your max heart rate you are running on fat not carbs.

[Jon H]

A fat bloke sitting near me at work has recently started going to the gym, so I asked him if he's got a six-pack yet. He replied that he's got a whole crate