Bonking

[KnottedYet]

bo(i)nking.

Which becomes all the more amusing when I recall that I had a bike club friend who called bananas "bonk-berries", and those lovely plastic banana keepers we had a thread about a few months back...

[crazycanuck]

Well..I have to admit that i've received many strange looks recently. I bought a nice n warm Roots jersey in Canada..

Root=Bonk...

He heeeee

[Zen]

I heart Clif ShotBloks.
And lots of water.

[indysteel]

I heart Clif ShotBloks.
And lots of water.

I, too, like the Clif ShotBloks. I'm lucky in that my stomach can handle most whatever I put in it so I just nibble on whatever's on tap. At club rides, that's usually bananas, cookies and trailmix. On my own, it's usually ShotBloks or some form of energy bar (or Paydays, my new favorite food). I tend to favor carbs over protein (I won't do lunch meat if that's what's offered for lunch) and there are certain bars that are too dry to my taste (like Clif). Gatorade doesn't sit well so I drink Cytomax on longer rides in about a 3 to 1 ratio water.

As others have said, you have to experiment, and you have to disciplined. I never, and I mean never, do a ride without having eaten sufficiently beforehand. I always carry food with me and eat something before, in the very least, the 40-mile mark. It doesn't matter how good I'm otherwise feeling. Drinking on the bike is probably the hardest part for me, so I at least make sure that I down at least 8 ounces of water right when I wake up in the morning.

And I disagree with you that your stomach can't handle food just because it can't handle Gatorade. Lots of people have trouble with Gatorade so that's no surprise. That doesn't mean that your stomach couldn't handle real food, a different type of sports drink or some type of gel or the like. Each brand offers different formulations, using one of several types of sugars. Again, experiment until you find one that works for you. Especially with warm weather, your body needs some form of electroylyte replacement in addition to energy. Drinks are an efficient way of providing either or both.

[Zen]

(or Paydays, my new favorite food).

YES!

[JLMitchell]

I've been trying things out. Biking isn't the same as swimming for me. I know, duh, but I figured exercising is exercising. Up until very recently, I was almost exclusively a swimmer, with a little running mixed in. I've been swimming for eons, often for two hours a workout or more. I rarely hit the wall hard doing that, even on hard days. I guess my body, being accustomed to that sort of exercise, learned to operate on a nearly empty tank...? I remember days when I didn't feel like eating so early in the morning, so I just didn't, or I had a slice of bread and I'd be fine. Definitely not working at my optimum, but not completely useless, either.

Anyway, with biking, I've found that I need to eat a lot. I've been drinking a lot of water and having a bar or a gel midway and it's like I have new life toward the end. Y'all were right; my body really isn't that picky when it comes to snacks. I just need something. I've left the flavored drinks for after the ride, if at all. The group leader whipped up his recovery shake for me one day and I felt wonderful after a painfully hilly thirty-miler. I didn't trudge through the rest of the day like I thought I would, so I will probably add that to my arsenal of nutrition. Thanks, y'all, I appreciate the responses, really.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Originally Posted by indysteel
(or Paydays, my new favorite food).

Are you talking about the candy bar? or is this a new energy bar? That's a name I haven't seen for a while....

[deeaimond]

I totally went out of gas 20 km into my ride today. fortunately there was a convenience store right there. stopped to buy an isotonic drink. after that i was alright. not a very good feeling though.. keeping food down while riding is not easy. but u need it.. so its quite a catch 22. u eat just enough to keep it down but u need to do it so often and like my friends say 'u just fart and its gone'

[skingsbury]

I have been riding outside (as opposed to spinning) for about 2 years. I hardly ever have a really "good" ride, unless maybe a 15 mile flat ride along the beach. It seems as though every time I ride, my legs just get weak and lately I've been getting such horrible cramps in my thighs that I have to throw my bike to the ground and walk around until they go away... I try to drink a lot of liquids, but I am diabetic so I have to be a little careful about what I put in my body. I'm just not sure why my legs get so weak - any suggestions??

[Cataboo]

I have been riding outside (as opposed to spinning) for about 2 years. I hardly ever have a really "good" ride, unless maybe a 15 mile flat ride along the beach. It seems as though every time I ride, my legs just get weak and lately I've been getting such horrible cramps in my thighs that I have to throw my bike to the ground and walk around until they go away... I try to drink a lot of liquids, but I am diabetic so I have to be a little careful about what I put in my body. I'm just not sure why my legs get so weak - any suggestions??

It's hard to say because you're a diabetic... if you're getting cramps, I'd say your electrolytes are low, but I'm not sure what would appropriate for you to eat or drink. Your doctor or nutritionist might be good for suggestions for that.



I love shot blocks with caffeine, instant energy after a bonk.