Bonk Recovery Tips

[Nokomis]

I'm wondering the same thing - based on how long it took to warm up, that might have been it.

[KnottedYet]

I get cold when I bonk.

(but I'm hypoglycemic anyway) Lots of Clif Bloks before, during, and after rides, hot drinks after rides as needed, a cozy wool hat for after rides, and thick wool sweater. (even in the summer)

Seems to go better for me if I anticipate a bonk at every ride and treat myself accordingly.

Kind of a bummer, but it works.

[TryToKeepUp]

agreed, you have to prepare for the worst and follow the same routine everytime after a hard training session. your body will eventually get used to using the routine as a sort of calming effect

[Andrea]

I know you said you had some electrolytes, but a lot of electrolyte supplements & additives don't really have as much salt as what you need (it's 99% of what you lose in sweat as far as electrolytes go). I put 1/8 tsp of salt in my water bottles and choose carb supplements that also have some sodium, like powerbar gels.

I get chilled very easily after rides, too (even if it's not too cold out). So, like everyone else said- could be hypothermia.

[OakLeaf]

I know nothing about bonk, but if I only drank one bottle of water in two hours (electrolytes or not) I'd be seriously dehydrated. Isn't there a general rule about two 21-oz bottles an hour?

[alpinerabbit]

not really. 1.2 Liters an hour (or 2.4 Liters for nokomis' ride of 2 hours ) can be too much. Or too little. All depends on the weather.

But my boyfriend reacts with chills and needing a hot broth to recover. I am much more resistant to the bonk than he is. No Idea why. And when he gets it on the road, I have to make him eat energy bars. So it sounds like it was "it".

[Di bear]

I get really cold after my workouts, too, but it's not hypothermia. If anything, your temperature is elevated. Think about it, if you have a fever, you'll feel cold. Of course, elevated temperature post-workout is *not* a fever.

It is known that the body "reacts" to exercise for several hours after. I think what you're experiencing is actually quite normal. Apparently, there are NOT enough PhD candidates conducting studies on this issue.

[shootingstar]

I know nothing about bonk, but if I only drank one bottle of water in two hours (electrolytes or not) I'd be seriously dehydrated. Isn't there a general rule about two 21-oz bottles an hour?

When I lived and cycled in Ontario, which gets 90% humidity and more... quite often in summer, I would finish off 2/3 of 21 oz. bottle of water in 3-4 hrs. I seriously cannot seem to ingest a whole lot of water before, during a ride, without prompting powerful need to empty my bladder every hr. ...which is not a sensation I want for a ride of several hrs. at a spritely pace.

However during the same 3-4 hr. time period, I do need to drink and also stop, eat something small at least...fruit, or at least 1/2 sandwich or gelato/frozen yogurt, muffin, etc.

Now living in Vancouver where our humidity..just feels perfect (and less draining than Central-Southeastern Canada), I seem to have less need to drink alot of water/liquid but probably due to age, not our mild climate, I seem to need to eat more energy food before a ride, etc.

However definitely cycling in the interior British Columbia, where it is much drier, I do need more liquid.

I did experience bonk in 99% humidity when we were cycle-touring. It was only a 45 km. ride and I didn't have any breakfast except for a fruit and water. Thought I would be ok and so with my panniers loaded, we cycled off. By the edge of town on a major 100 kms./hr. highway, I was weaving...ready to faint.

Fortunately the impending lightning-thunderstorm truly kept me going.....for shelter without collapsing.

I was very surprised by my (weak) reaction...already I had done 350 kms. in a few days on the trip, in prior to that near-fainting-blackout..

[rocknrollgirl]

I get really chilled like that when my blood sigar drops. Right before dinner I am awalys freezing. When I train at dinner time, I always go through what you have described. I usually cook ahead so that food is ready immediatley.

Did you eat enough during the day? A front load?