{"id":1464,"date":"2025-10-30T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/?p=1464"},"modified":"2025-10-28T21:22:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T15:22:25","slug":"fueling-for-iceman-dont-wait-until-mile-20-to-learn-the-hard-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.iceman.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/30\/fueling-for-iceman-dont-wait-until-mile-20-to-learn-the-hard-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Fueling for Iceman: Don\u2019t Wait Until Mile 20 to Learn the Hard Way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last year at Iceman, I learned one of the most painful lessons in mountain bike racing: you can\u2019t ignore fueling and hydration and expect your body to forgive you later.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The first half of the race, I felt amazing,  fun, single, fast roads, great legs, and just enough adrenaline to forget I needed to eat or drink. I was cruising along thinking, \u201cI\u2019ll fuel at the next open stretch.\u201d But come the open stretch thought I could bike faster and catch up to the person ahead of me, and by the time I hit around mile 20, it all came crashing down. My legs turned to lead, my energy tanked, and my focus started slipping. It felt like I was trying to ride through mud. That\u2019s when I realized, once you\u2019re behind on fueling, it\u2019s too late to fix it. You can\u2019t just down a gel and magically come back to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So this year, I\u2019m coming in with a fueling plan. I\u2019ve been testing what works for me in training rides so I\u2019m not experimenting on race day. For hydration, I\u2019ll be using Skratch Labs Everyday Hydration Mix – it\u2019s my go-to because it tastes light, has magnesium and potassium in addition to sodium, and doesn\u2019t leave that sweet sticky feeling in your mouth.I\u2019ll fill my uswe with that and throw a bottle of high carb on my bike and be all set. For fuel, I\u2019m combining Skratch chews with Smart Athlete Fuel energy gels – a local guy makes those gels, and they\u2019ve become one of my favorite finds. They taste great, give me steady energy, and I like supporting someone in our community who\u2019s helping riders perform their best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I\u2019ve also been paying more attention to how the course flows. The 2025 route has plenty of two-track sections that are perfect for fueling because you can grab a gel or a chew without worrying about handling tight singletrack. I plan to use those moments to stay topped off instead of waiting until I need<\/em> it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And then, of course, there are the big hills, the ones everyone talks about: Make it Stick is always a party, Anita’s wants to kill you, and Icebreaker always feels way harder in training. If you\u2019ve done Iceman before, you know exactly which ones look small but are secretly every rider’s nemesis. You don\u2019t want to hit those climbs running on fumes. I plan to take in something right before the first long climb, just after you get off the tubs snowshoe trail, so I\u2019m fueled and ready instead of fading halfway up. The goal is to always be one step ahead of your energy, not chasing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The thing about fueling is that it\u2019s not just physical, it\u2019s mental too. When your body starts to fade, your focus goes with it. You stop riding smooth lines, you brake too much, and everything starts to feel harder than it is. Staying fueled keeps your brain sharp and your confidence up. It\u2019s the difference between surviving the race and racing<\/em> the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fueling Tips for Iceman<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n