Blood donation before a big ride?

[Rumblefish]

Thanks, Ladies!

Part of the reason I am hesitant is because my last donation in February was actually before I began riding more heavily. I tried to donate at the end of March but my iron was too low and they made me wait three months to build it back up before I could donate again. So unfortunately, I don't know how well my body will handle the donation and then the ride two days later. Generally, when I've donated I've felt fine afterwards....but I wasn't riding much then....

I'll reschedule I think and they'll just have to wait a few more days before they can stick me and drain my blood!

[jobob]

It's good that you're rescheduling.

According to Wikipedia,

Blood doping is the practice of illicitly boosting the number of red blood cells in the circulation in order to enhance athletic performance. Because they carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, more RBCs in the blood can improve an athlete’s aerobic capacity and stamina.

What you'd be doing in effect is reverse blood doping, decreasing the number of RBCs in your bloodstream. Which would not be good idea just before a big ride.

[Rumblefish]

Reverse blood doping....so it'd be like giving myself a handicap if it were a race, right??

Turns out the Red Cross is going to get more blood because of my rescheduling...my brother is going to come with me next week and donate as well (I've been trying to get people to come with me and donate as well...and not too many people take me up on it ). So they should be even happier now! They'll get two pints instead of one now!!

[RoadRaven]

Glad you have made the decision to wait til after the big ride... and a great bonus that you can take an extra with you for extra blood

Enjoy your first metric! I have only ridden that distance once as a training ride - took me 4 hours even but three hours of that was on flat roads.

Its a loooong time on a bike and I admire all of you who attempt cemtruies - metric or imperial.

Let us know how you get on

[spokewench]

Glad you have made the decision to wait til after the big ride... and a great bonus that you can take an extra with you for extra blood

Enjoy your first metric! I have only ridden that distance once as a training ride - took me 4 hours even but three hours of that was on flat roads.

Its a loooong time on a bike and I admire all of you who attempt cemtruies - metric or imperial.

Let us know how you get on

Road Raven: What is an imperial?

[tygab]

metric is 100 kilometers, imperial aka English aka Standard in the US is 100 miles.

-T, currently spending time with my Dutch relatives who expressed surprise we haven't gone to the metric system yet...