200k trek learning curve

[stacy]

On September 11 & 12 my hubby and I took part in our first 200km bike trek for the lung association. What a great experience. We are new bikers only riding since April. Our goal, other than riding for my uncle who was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away the week before the trek, was to not be the old fat couple that finished last. Day one was great other than some bike trouble...couldnt get into my low gear, and my handlebars coming loose so I was steering in one direction and the front tire going in another direction! We didnt even come in last! Day two however was a different story....woke to pouring rain, other than our bike jackets we didnt have the right equipment. We thought it was pretty funny that we searched for helmuts with the biggest holes to keep us cool not even thinking about what would happen in the rain! So began the day soaked within 20 minutes of leaving camp...also feeling nauceous even tho drank tons of water and ate well day before. After running into a gentleman whose tire blew out right in front of me...neither of us hurt, I started having breathing difficulties and more naucea, by 35 km I was stopping every km trying to suck some wind into my lungs and energy was just not there. To make a long story short the medic was called and it was determined that I should not finish. She gave me a couple of breathing treatments etc. I am trying to figure out what happened, I have never had any breathing troubles before. I thought maybe the stress...I was very emotional about my uncles passing and he was very much on my mind. Also wondering if the pollen in the air could have been a factor as the ride was several hundred miles from where we live? Any thoughts? All in all it was a great experience the ride was very organized from the bike mechanics to the medics and the food servers etc. We will definitly be back next year with a proper equipment and hopefully a sucessful finish.

[emily_in_nc]

Stacy,

It sounds like you could have exercise-induced asthma. (I have it also, but not to as large a degree as the attack it sounds like you had.) Pollen can indeed be a contributing factor to make it worse.

I suggest you see your doctor and ask to be checked for asthma. Ironic, isn't it, that you were doing a lung association ride and might have a lung disease as well....

I'm sorry you didn't finish the ride, but kudos for your valiant effort!

Emily

[stacy]

Thanks for your response, saw the dr thursday, he is puzzled about what happened. So will carry on and see how it goes. We plan to do it again next year.

[Trek420]

stacywrote "...also feeling nauseous even tho drank tons of water and ate well day before."

do you drink a sports drink as well as water? on the aids lifecycle ride i alternated water and a dilute sports beverage. folks who only drank one or the other suffered from dehydration and or electrolyte imbalances. i don't know what the symptoms are of either but that "nothing left in the tank" feeling sounds like what i had on day 3 even though i took on gallons of water.

[Trek420]

stacy wrote" we will definitly be back next year with a proper equipment and hopefully a sucessful finish."

ps; congrats on a great ride, you WERE sucessful, good luck next year as well.

[stacy]

thanks so much for your kind words. I tried a sportsdrink mixed with water and straight up, both ways upset my stomach so this time tried to just do water, however, it did cross my mind about the electrolytes when I was having trouble. Thanks again for the encouragement.
stacy

[Trek420]

I have learned that you don't just train your body for these long rides, you train your stomach too. So now we've got a year to find a sports drink that you and your tummy like (any suggestions, grrls?) and take it with you even on rides where sports beverage is provided.

I have read that the plastic cannisters that 35 mm film come in are about the right size for one large bottle (or two if you dilute them) worth of sports drink mix and easily fit in pocket or under seat bag...at least that's what I'll tell the folks at the airport ;-)

[CorsairMac]

I'm a little late coming to this - but there is an electrolyte mix made by Alcer which is available from most health food stores. It has no sugar, sweetners, etc etc so I can tolerate it. (I can't have any sugars/glutens!) It has a lemon-limey taste - very subtle and mixes with water so you can put it in your water bottle and/or drink it after you ride. What is does have is calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, boron, and - oh darn it - I forget the other ingredient. Most OTC sports drinks made me very sick to my stomache before I found out why. Hoping this will help.