‘Fat Chance’ – can you ride a bike across Australia without carbs?

January 7 by , medical review by in Exercise, Low carb & high fat, Movies

18,878 views

Is it possible to ride a bike across the Australian continent (2,100 miles / 3,400 km) without eating carbohydrates?

This documentary follows Warren Hepworth who sets out to ride a pushbike from Perth to Melbourne on a low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet. You’ll see Warren’s preparation for the ride as well as highlights and lowlights from the journey, and the diet change.

The movie attempts to debunk the notion that athletes have to carb load and that you can’t get your energy from fat. In the process we learn that much of what we’ve been told about a healthy diet is wrong. Or, as the creators say:

Fat Chance is a grassroots Australian story of physical conquest that will change the way you feed your family forever.

Watch the trailer above. The full movie is available (with captions and transcript) with a free trial or membership:

Fat Chance – full movie

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5 comments

1
Andreas
September 16 2017
Of course you can, it is pretty simple as long as you stay within the aerobic range and have a metabolism that is fat adapted.

It get's more interesting though with activities of higher intensities or spikes of high intensity, mountainbiking, for example, or cross country trailrunning.

The keyterm here is "strategic carb intake".
2
Peggy Holloway
January 4 2018
I am in my 60s. I have biked 3000 to 5000 miles a year the past 6 years while following a Ketogenic lifestyle. (LCHF for 18). I've done many multi-day rides and several century rides fueled by a morning mug of Bulletproof coffee. The same for my partner who is in his 70s. We are featured in the success stories in Keto Clarity if you are interested in more of our story. 4 years later, we are still keto believers and going strong.
3
Martha.
May 14 2018
Peggy

I’m going on 60, training for my first century ride and taking on a change in life style with ketogenics - I would live to hear more about you and your journey.
4
EzziesMom
December 13 2018 1
As a (55 year old female) cyclist who also logs 5000- 6000 per year (not including elevation),
I've always been perplexed about the "fat cyclist".
We've all seen them.

I know so many cyclists who eat gels, shot bloks, prunes, fig bars, etc. while riding (and) those seem to be the guys with the perpetual big belly, despite riding for hours daily?

I used to think that it was a matter of too many calories in, vs. energy out, (I don't usually eat while riding- basically because I feel better on an empty stomach), but now I wonder if it's more likely do to never tapping into fat stores for energy because always eating high glycemic foods?

(My other theory was that they were overtraining and raising cortisol levels which were causing them to store fat).
5
DukeLukeBB
January 3
I do mountain biking while fasting, 40-60km up and down (enduro mtb).
I also did 150km road while fasting.