Bonked?

[trigurl]

I rode Thurs, accidentally, with a group ride, that same one I rode with on my first group ride, I parked there to ride by myself and before I got out everyone showed up and invited me to join them :o

I took off with them, they didn't drop me for quite a while this time, I was pedaling so hard, when I got to the park my AVS was 16.1 :eek: good for me, they had dropped me before the park but I caught them at the park, I kept up fo a little while longer until we hit the first of several rolling hills, my legs were DEAD, I thought I would have to push my bike, while I was barely pedaling I was thinking about what I had eaten that day, NO lunch, just a couple of granola bars and some fruit :( I had a Luna bar with me so I pulled it out to eat while I struggled, I felt a little better and made it to a convenience store where I promptly bought a regular coke! I finished the ride but my AVS had dropped to 14. 3, I am probably lucky it was that high.

I really thought a couple of times I would have to push my bike up those hills! I haven't felt like that ( riding on my road bike) since I got it.

I wasn't worried about not eating much lunch before the ride b/c I was going out to ride by myself, I would have never rode that fast if I went out by myself, I usually end up with AVS of 15.5 when I ride it myself.

I don't know if it was the lack of food or the riding hard? either way - did I bonk?

[SadieKate]

If it had been me, that combo of food and the hard ride would have provoked the same response. Calories on the ride are important but calories before the ride are even more critical. You probably blew through your glycogen stores in no time.

[trigurl]

thanks, that is what I thought too! I hate it when I get a challenge and think I have to keep up! :D

Hey, I am a Libra too

[bikerchick68]

I was just going to write about MY ride this Saturday which sounds pretty much the same!! I ate a bowl of puffed wheat for breakfast (no protein and not much carbs) and then went for a ride...I forgot my Clifshots so had nothing but water with me ( I SO know better!!)... it was hot, really hot and humid. I was doing fine, then some guy caught up and tagged on along side me... we rode together for about an hour at about 18mph... faster than my norm on rollers!

Anyway, 25 miles came and my legs were feeling like rubber... so I stopped and got a bran muffin and juice... but it was too late. When I started back up my legs were like wood... I finished at 14.37mph avg... and the last 3 miles is a BIG climb up North Torrey Pines Road...OMG... I was really, really glad to get off my bike... and had no desire to ride Sunday either! UGH! :(

Sorry you had a dead legs day too... I feel for you!

[trigurl]

its no fun! I usually eat, er graze, all day but we had a busy day at work and I just didn't get to eat lunch. I am thanking the biking gods I had the sense to take that Luna bar, I would have been pushing the bike then, how embarassing would that have been.

18mph? WOW, that is awesome, the first half of this ride was mainly flat with some rolling hills but the second half had a lot of hills. It was hot and humid here too, I had a big bottle of water and should have had some gatorade, I find when I am exhausted a coke helps, red bull would have been better but......

[JanT]

Me, too. Bonking is the pits! I never knew I could ride so slowly. My arms could barely hold me on the bike. I drank Gatorade, but didn't have enough. I had a Clif bar, but was huffing and puffing so much to keep up that I couldn't eat it. Reminder to myself for next time: bring gel!

[Dogmama]

Me, too. Bonking is the pits! I never knew I could ride so slowly. My arms could barely hold me on the bike. I drank Gatorade, but didn't have enough. I had a Clif bar, but was huffing and puffing so much to keep up that I couldn't eat it. Reminder to myself for next time: bring gel!

Gel is great. I bought a box of Power Gel strawberry/banana and it isn't too bad to gag down.

Must have been Bonk Weekend because I was hammered after my Sunday ride. I think I was still a little dehydrated from my Saturday, "28 miles sprint through the foothills" ride. On Sunday, I was wearing my brand new Oakleys and started out way too fast. Came home after 46 miles & never really felt too well the rest of the day. You know that spacey feeling? I had it.

Not really a "bonk" in the sense that I couldn't ride, but was really glad to get out of the saddle.

[RoadRaven]

Just a clarification question about "bonking" (still find it tricky to say that without a smile on my face - "hitting the wall" seems much more ... seemly...)

I understood bonking to be more than just dead legs... I thought bonking was when you literally have no juice left - not only do your legs not want to work - your whole body is screaming stop, and if you don't listen then within moments you literally stop and this usually results in a crash or fall...

I think when you recognise you need some fuel, and stop and have/get it, then you are close to bonking. But to bonk is to literally stop functioning...

Any opinions?

[Pax]

I understand the body chemistry of bonking but have always thought that since I'm a bit "ample" (read - in my mind I have tons of everything in reserve) that it couldn't happen to me. Any other ample women here ever bonked, should I take something along to eat on a 25 mile ride or is that just for the thin gals?? :confused:

[trigurl]

I am not small, at 5'7" I weight 154lbs. I thought I would be fine but not so, I actually felt a little sick too.

I am not sure of the specifics of bonking :D but I am not sure what else it was other than not enough fuel for the calories I was burning.

[SadieKate]

Just a clarification question about "bonking" (still find it tricky to say that without a smile on my face - "hitting the wall" seems much more ... seemly...)

I understood bonking to be more than just dead legs... I thought bonking was when you literally have no juice left - not only do your legs not want to work - your whole body is screaming stop, and if you don't listen then within moments you literally stop and this usually results in a crash or fall...

I think when you recognise you need some fuel, and stop and have/get it, then you are close to bonking. But to bonk is to literally stop functioning...

Any opinions?I agree. TRiGurl technically almost bonked. It is still scary none-the-less. I've actually starting shaking and crying but haven't collapsed the couple of times it has happened to me.. Close enough for me, especially if I am by myself.

[Pax]

I am not small, at 5'7" I weight 154lbs. I thought I would be fine but not so, I actually felt a little sick too.

I am not sure of the specifics of bonking :D but I am not sure what else it was other than not enough fuel for the calories I was burning.
That's where I get confused about it too, I could live on my fat stores for a loooong time without "needing" food. I just assumed my body didn't ever need to carbo load because it couldn't possibly run out of fuel?? :confused:

[SadieKate]

I understand the body chemistry of bonking but have always thought that since I'm a bit "ample" (read - in my mind I have tons of everything in reserve) that it couldn't happen to me. Any other ample women here ever bonked, should I take something along to eat on a 25 mile ride or is that just for the thin gals?? :confused:I believe that glycogen stores deplete just like everyone else. Queen, do a few searches in this forum for books. Denise has one she really likes. I like Liz Applegate's book, Eat Smart, Play Hard.

There are probably good articles on the 'net about fueling for cycling. You should probably get a basic idea of how your body runs through stored energy.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise has one she really likes. I like Liz Applegate's book, Eat Smart, Play Hard.


I like Liz Applegate's book too. The other books I like are by Nancy Clark. I have both her Sports Nutrition Guidebook, and The Cyclist's Food Guide.

[Pax]

Thanks for the links. I know it's a warped view but I keep thinking "once I get thinner THEN I'll start paying attention to eating right for a sport". :rolleyes:

[DeniseGoldberg]

That's where I get confused about it too, I could live on my fat stores for a loooong time without "needing" food. I just assumed my body didn't ever need to carbo load because it couldn't possibly run out of fuel??

Thanks for the links. I know it's a warped view but I keep thinking "once I get thinner THEN I'll start paying attention to eating right for a sport". :rolleyes:

I think that the "carbo load" is what is throwing you off. You don't need to load, you just need to eat a balance of calories (carbs, protein, and <shudder> fat too) to support your activity level.

I think that any of the three books listed above will help with a realistic view of food and exercise. In fact, Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook does include a chapter on losing weight. The others may too, but I'm not at home right now so I can't check. I'd be happy to look at the books when I get home if you're interested.

--- Denise

[Pax]

... I'd be happy to look at the books when I get home if you're interested.

--- Denise
No need but thanks for offering, (I just ordered them - I'm a bit of a book nut). :D

[CorsairMac]

To me the easiest way to describe bonking is: blood sugar drop. If anyone out there has ever had their blood sugar drop - you know what it feels like: clammy sweat, shakes, dizziness, headaches, fainting, confusion, lack of coordination.

Queen: I have a friend who just can not see food as fuel so she bonks every long ride we do re: over 25 miles. She thinks she's overweight and is riding the bike to help her lose it so if she eats, it defeats the purpose of riding the bike. and there is nothing I can do or say to help her understand the engine won't run on empty! I eat more now than I did a year ago - and I've lost 18 lbs in the last year. I would rather have TOO much food during a ride than not enough. and so far not only has it seemed to work for me, but I ride the next day too ie: my second century, I went out and rode 52 miles the next day, then bike commuted to work the rest of that week.

RR: it was my understanding that a person can "hit the wall" but not collapse. Think Lance riding up the mtn that one tour where he didn't eat.........he finished the stage riding his bike but has Not a clue how he did it, nor does he remember anything from the time he "bonked" until much later after he had eaten.