Wake up call

[maillotpois]

Sometime you need a tough ride to remind you how important off the bikenutrition and especially hydration are to your performance. I am usually a very good water drinker. I will drink 2 large bottles of sparkling water every day (at least 2 - 3 liters total). Well, Saturday after the TE Diablo ride (and granted Em and I only did 17 - 18 miles, but still) I drank a small glass of water at the Mexican restaurant - and then no water the rest of the day that I can recall. I had several glasses of wine at dinner.

The next day was a tough 110 miler on the second half of the Terrible Two course. I could tell my performance was suffering because of lack of proper hydration the day before. I was tired, drank quite a bit more than I might otherwise have to "catch up". I was also very hungry as I have not eaten as much as I usually do for breakfast.

It was just me taking things for granted and being lax. Fortunately, I was able to make it up on the road, but I know I would have been happier and performed better if Ihad been properly fed and hydrated before the ride.

Sometimes I need a kick in the pants to remember the basics. Good that this happened a week before my tough double century coming up. I have a whole week to flood my body with water and good food!

[hirakukibou]

Thanks for the reminder. Now that summer has finally come to the Northeast, I am going to have to pay more attention to hydration and overheating too.

[hermitclub]

I had my wake up call on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. I woke up with a migraine, which I battled in the wee hours of the morning and got to feeling about 70% of normal by 10 am. I called my biking buddy up and we decided to go out at noon. I ate a bowl of cereal with skim milk (I'm on WW) at 9 am and walked the dog. Got on the road about 12:30 and we decided to do a 45 miler at a 15 mph pace.

Here comes the stupid part. I only had one water bottle with me and no protein type bars. I neglected to eat lunch before we started. The ride seemed so easy that I just didn't think I needed to stop for more water and food. About 34 miles into our ride, I felt a bit dizzy and fell down onto my leg at an intersection. My brain just wasn't firing properly due to lack of hydration and food. I wound up with a 3 inch spiral fracture of the subcutaneous fibula about an inch and a half above my left ankel and now I'm out for 6 weeks!!! I am so angry at myself for not eating and drinking along the way. I know better. It doesn't matter how easy the ride seems, my body needs food and water.

It's a hard lesson learned and I have 6 weeks to stew on it before I get back on my bike.

[KSH]

Hermit Club...WOW... what a hard lesson to learn... the HARD way!

I think every single person here has done what you did... but we were fortunate not to injure ourselves because of it.

For me, I have learned that I need to EAT on a ride longer than 30 miles and for ANY ride I do, I have to eat at least 600-800 calories for breakfast.

Being hungry with a growling tummy... on mile 35 of a 50 mile ride is downright miserable. Not to mention, it's near impossible to move forward when you are that hungry.

I hope you heal soon and are back to biking when you are cleared by your Dr.

[hermitclub]

Thanks KSH. It really was the hard way to learn this lesson. The orthopedic specialist I met with today says this will be a six week heal. I get to stay in an aircast vs a fiberglass cast so at least I can shower and feel clean and human. He even said I may be able to go on a stationary bike in 3 weeks. And six weeks puts me at July 8h, so I have a lot of good summer biking days ahead of me yet.

Things could be a hold lot worse. If I don't learn my lesson from this accident, I'll have to give my bike to someone more worthy!

[maillotpois]

Wow Hermit, that is so scary! Don't go giving your bike away - I am sure you learned your lesson. Sometimes it is the shorter rides like that which you just take for granted. But the migraine in the morning - sounds like that was trying to tell you something right there, too.

[Dogmama]

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery! What a way to learn!

To the original poster - I'm wondering if your glasses of wine didn't contribute to your lousy feeling the next day? Doesn't alcohol dehydrate you?

I always try to drink extra the day before big rides. Here in AZ, it's 95 degrees by 8AM and climbing rapidly.