First Group Ride

[Catrin]

I think BC2COCyclist has it, it sounds like you bonked - which means your body ran out of fuel. At least it sounds like what happens to me when I bonk

There are some good threads here about what happens when we bonk and different ways to deal with it. Here is a link to a search of the nutrition forum on bonking though there is certainly other threads on other TE forums. Check them out and feel free to ask as many questions here that you need to, learning how to fuel properly for the bike can be challenging.

[redrhodie]

Bethany, I'm trying to do some detective work to see if we can figure out why you're having trouble at 5 miles, so I went back through your posts to where you bought your bike, and noticed you're on a 56 cm bike. How tall are you? That's a pretty big bike.

[Bethany1]

I'm 5'10".

I went out with my son today on my WSD 29er through some back gravel roads and sure enough, come 5 miles I'm done. Son asked what I had for breakfast and I told him two bowls of cereal.

He's as confused as I am. He's wondering if my bikes are too big as well. I had a professional fit done for my Madone and the guy said it was fine.

Does my weight (215) make a difference?

I do love riding. I just thought I'd be a lot further by now.

[Catrin]

I'm 5'10".

I went out with my son today on my WSD 29er through some back gravel roads and sure enough, come 5 miles I'm done. Son asked what I had for breakfast and I told him two bowls of cereal.

He's as confused as I am. He's wondering if my bikes are too big as well. I had a professional fit done for my Madone and the guy said it was fine.

Does my weight (215) make a difference?

I do love riding. I just thought I'd be a lot further by now.

What are you eating with the cereal, any protein? I wonder if your blood sugar is spiking with the cereal and then crashing. How long do you eat before riding?

[ivorygorgon]

I am wondering how hydrated you are. How much do you normally drink? Are you a big sweat-er? Do you put anything (like electrolytes) in your water? The electrolytes seem to have a bigger impact on me than eating.

[grey]

I'm thinking it could be nutritional as well.
I eat 2 hours before a ride - usually 2 eggs, a fruit smoothie (banana, handful of blueberries and one other fruit blended with almond milk) and then either make amaranth pancakes or oatmeal.
I always carry 2 water bottles. The first contains electrolytes, like Nunn - the other is water. If I'm riding more than an hour, I drink the electrolyte bottle first, then move on to water. I keep this rotation - one bottle electrolyte, one bottle water, for the duration of the ride.
I eat every 90 minutes or so - a banana, a granola bar, a homemade fruit roll-up, or on long rides, a powerbar type thing.
Post-ride, I probably eat eggs again, or fish if I have it handy. Gotta feed the muscles. I also eat fruits and legumes, and roasted veggies.

I hope you figure out the cause of this - bonking is NO FUN.

[DarcyInOregon]

My two cents ... if you are a person who doesn't get the annual blood fasting tests through your doctor, meaning you don't know what your blood sugars are, then call your doctor and request the blood tests. You may be pre-diabetic, diabetic or insulin resistant, and bonking at mile 5 is your body telling you that something is wrong.

If you are ok health-wise, and I sure hope you are, then like someone said, get to the gym and do cardio on the elliptical, plus take spin class, plus get out and do some walking/hiking. Build up your cardio off-the-bike so that you can do 90 minutes easily on another activity.

Another idea is you may be riding in the heat of the day and you are simply heat sensitive.

And check your electrolytes like others mentioned.

The categories are one - fitness ability, two - blood sugars, and three - electrolytes. Your problem will be in one of the categories. Unless .... hate to mention the obvious, but make sure your brakes are not rubbing against the rims. Flip up the little lever if you need to do so.

[redrhodie]

Wow, so much to think about, and a lot of great advice. I think the bike size sounds in the right range. I was just thinking, well, if she's 5' 4 and on a 56, that could be the problem.

[Velocivixen]

Two bowls of cereal wouldn't keep me going. What kind of cereal? Where's any significant protein? The body takes longer to digest protein and complex carbohydrates, so that's what I focus on throughout my day, along with healthy oils/fat, plenty of fresh fruit & vegetables. It sounds like how I feel when I bonk- all trembly and like I am out of energy.

How is your fitness level?