Bonk or Brakes?

[tctrek]

I had the good fortune to do a ride this week up in beautiful Asheville, NC. We took a 30 mile route with a good mix of beautiful country, mountains, some rollers and a some very tough climbs. We started out on a crisp morning but soon were shedding our layers as the sun came out and warmed us.

We were keeping a decent pace and although climbing is always a challenge for me, I felt very good about the ride. About 6-7 miles from the end, when we were taking off from a short rest, I somehow got my left heel swiveled around and I felt like it momentarily hit the rear spokes. I almost went over, but recovered and started to ride up a very significant hill. Suddenly I was struggling mightily. I felt like I hit a wall. My heart rate went sky high and my legs and hips were on fire. I could barely turn the crank.

What the heck? What happened? For the next 6 miles I felt like that and we had lots more climbs to do. We'd go up one and rest. Then the next. Even on the descents I felt sluggish and couldn't really get any speed going. It took us about an hour to go the last 6 miles. I was distressed at how easily I had bonked despite trying to eat/hydrate properly!!

We got back to the car and DH starts to look over my bike and tells me that my rear blinky light had pushed up on the fork to the rear brake and that the left brake pad was pushed into the rear tire!! ARRGGHHH!! ... Somehow, when my left foot got snarled up taking off, I inadvertently pushed the light up until it was pushing into the brake.

I will now always wonder -- did I bonk? Or was it the brakes?

[Biciclista]

it was the brakes happened to me once too. My DH kept complaining about how slow I was. It was awful. after 10 miles i threw myself on the ground.

[Bike Chick]

Definitely the brakes!

[kenyonchris]

it was the brakes happened to me once too. My DH kept complaining about how slow I was. It was awful. after 10 miles i threw myself on the ground.

LOL. I think I might do that one day off the police bike. Just to see what happens.

[Zen]

I will now always wonder -- did I bonk? Or was it the brakes?

I would say one thing led to another.
What a shame for that to happen, that's such a beautiful place to ride.

[tctrek]

It was a beautiful ride even so -- there's this short window of time when the leaves are turning and the Smokey Mountains are at their best, and this was it. But I will go back and ride that again and then I'll know for sure

[Zen]

As long as you don't have a power meter that gives this reading-

[indigoiis]

I often find I am a little sluggish after a break - especially in the hills!

I love Western NC!

[OakLeaf]

Haha Zen, that's exactly why I don't have a power meter.

Yeah, early on the Sunday CFC route there's a long-ish flat section followed by a two-mile climb at a 10-15% grade. There's a short false flat in the middle of that grade, which is where I discovered my rear brake was rubbing.