Hammer Nutrition

In late 2008 and early 2009 I found myself with a lingering discomfort in my waste area. By early 2009 I was diagnosed with a swollen ileum, part of the all-encompassing Crohn's Disease(s). I was prescribed a theapeutic drug which was to be taken in the absence of folic acid. Long/short folic acid binds to the medicine and renders it ineffective.

My problem is I am an endurance bike rider. Nothing nuts, but I regularly ride 40-60 miles in an outing. I also ride 60-100 miles in a day very often. As your body burns up fuel and perspires it depletes much from its "stores" and they must be sustained and replenished. Enter Hammer Nutrition.

I called upon my trusty fitness and nutrition guru friend, Dave Patania. I explained my delimna trying to find a product without folic acid. Dave immediately offered Hammer Nutrition.

Hammer Nutrition's philosophy is to provide products that provide only what you need to perform and nothing else. Using the all natural sweetner Stevia, Hammer Nutrition products are not too sweet or sugary.

I have tried many of the Hammer Nutrition products with the following being a staple of my pre/race/recovery regimen.

Hammer Bar - Good for solid food pre/race/recovery. Also provides some essential amino acids. Tastes are very subtle and product is very easy on digestive system.

Hammer Gel - Not too sweet. Tastes like the actual fruit (raspberry.)
Hammer Endurolyte Capsules - Take one per half hour of riding. These will give you legs late in your ride when you previously were trying to push around burning limp noodles.

Hammer HEED - By design and really quite simply if you are riding 2 hours or less, use HEED. When you ride longer durations begin with HEED for up to the first 2 hours.

Hammer Perpetuem - By design and really quite simply if you are riding 2 hours or more, use Perpetuem. Begin Perpetuem about 1 1/2 hours into your ride and continue with the proper mix per half-hour for the duration of your ride. This is one of the best and cleanest endurance fuels I've found.

Hammer Recoverite - To be taken in the first 2 hours after your ride. This is the critical time for your body to recover. Recoverite will have you ready for another endurance ride the next day. Think Hilly Hundred! OR Brown County Break Down.

My First Century (100 Mile Ride):

I am an average biker. I ride one of two 18 year old Trek road bikes. I am in pretty good shape and fitness from riding the past decade pretty consistently. On the other hand a "Century" ride seemed nearly out of reach and requiring tremendous discipline and training from me. I road 50-60 miles back to back on two occasions in 2009, once on my full-suspension and once on my road bike. I found my calfs would begin to cramp up somewhere around 45 - 55 miles. The Endurolyte capsules help this quite a bit, but you can't drop them when you need them. I start taking them in the first hour or two and take two an hour. This way it is in my body when needed.

Fast forward, I enjoy Stout ales and Bourbon whiskeys, but I love cycling more. So I made a pact with myself to stop all consumption of alcholic beverages and 1) Ride the full "All Things Greenways" ride and 2) Ride 100 miles in one day and gauge the performance gains.

All Things Greenways: This ride is about 65 miles long. I used HEED, Perpetuem and Endurolyte capsules. I road on an apple, a banana, small cup of yogurt and the proportions of Hammer Nutrition products for my weight per hour. This ride was so easy I knew 100 miles would be nothing but a mental battle. (This was also Tom's Ride, a ride for my buddy who had past away a few weeks before.)

Tour de Indy: 110 miles. I had to mix up my sub 2 hour regimen because I was out of HEED. I started out on an apple, a banana, small cup of yogurt and Accelerate. I migrated to Perpetuem about 1 hour in. I hadn't prepared nearly as well as the week before.

I'm convinced that if you prepare yourself then use the proper nutrition and fuel you can reach any physical goal you choose to reach!