No Carb Training?

Good article...and I have seen some good articles from Ben Greenfield in the past.

There are a few caveats worth considering when going out for a long ride. Remember, that each training session for BPR athletes has a specific goal to challenge a particular system, to help improve measured limiters, and allow other systems to recover from previous sessions.

For example, if the goal of the session is to challenge coordination, while allowing cardiac and respiratory system to recover, one may find that the desired stimulus is NOT possible in a carb depleted state. In this example, the brain needs enough glucose to help coordinate and maintain complex neuro patterning throughout the session.

Likewise, if the challenge is to produce higher muscle tension through recruitment of FTF fibers, it might be desirable to have carbohydrate available as a fuel to avoid a drop in performance associated with low carbohydrate stores.

However, if the goal of the particular session is to develop better FFA mobilization and metabolism, then doing the session in a carb depleted state might be beneficial.

I would add the warning that none of these studies likely looked at training sessions in excess of 2-3 hours. So I would suggest that when planning for LONG rides or bricks (3-5 hours) ALWAYS have some carbohydrate available, as it is an essential nutrient required for normal metabolism. Hence the problems with "bonking" after 3 hours, even at low intensities, which would negatively affect any benefit potential gained from that session.