Bonk!

[Kano]

So, that's my newbie question of the day: I know what "bonk" is, but I don't KNOW what "bonk" is, aside from what I wanted to do to a student's head last night in the software class I was teaching!

We who are learning to ride for distance and endurance and such need to know about these perils of spending the day on the bike!

Is "bonk" a sudden thing? Is "bonk" when I'm cruising along happily, and then suddenly I'm slogging along crankily and all I want is a downhill, the longer the better, so there's no work needs doing aside from avoiding a bonk of a whole 'nother sort?

And while we're talking "bonk" how about avoidance technique, recovery, etc. like, you know, if you're riding, and have this "bonk" thing happen, what's it gonna take to enjoy the rest of the ride, since most likely you're not back to the driveway yet? Best method of avoiding it all together?


Karen in Boise

[Nokomis]

For me - bonking is my heart beat in my ears so loud everything else sounds muddy, heart rate unable to come down, breathing unable to slow or exchange enough oxygen, everything starts to look bright & watery, and I feel like I'm gonna hurl. There is NO staying upright on the bike, and gravity becomes more difficult to overcome. It takes a Long recovery, and lots of fuel & rest.

Avoidance: eat enough, drink enough, get the electrolytes in, and don't push too hard or in too much heat. Listen to your body when you're riding, and get to know early indicators so you can compensate accordingly - bonking is Not something you can just Push Thru. I find it's most likely to occur in climbs, due to the extra effort required.

Recovery if you hit that point, and are alone: First and Always make sure someone knows where you're going & how long it should take. Have a cell phone on you for emergency assistance. Bring extra food & water with you. Get off your bike safely, but stay on/near the trail & visible. If you feel faint, focus intently on slowing your heart rate & breathing, keep your chest/lungs open, hold on to a tree or a sign post or something, but don't just lay down & decide that a nap would help. As soon as you can take food/drink w/out throwing up, do so - and try to consume more than you think you need or want. Once the world stops spinning and you can focus more than 2 feet away from your shoes, start to plan the safest way home & don't be too proud to ask for a pick up.

[mimitabby]

I've never bonked but a friend did. Quite scary because he wouldn't cooperate,
someone tried to get him to eat/drink and he wouldn't! after sitting a few minutes he finally started coming around.

[Nokomis]

I've never bonked but a friend did. Quite scary because he wouldn't cooperate, someone tried to get him to eat/drink and he wouldn't! after sitting a few minutes he finally started coming around.

Yep - it's very similar to heat exhaustion. Part of it is being disoriented, thus the attitude.. the other is fighting the urge to puke, therefore the thought of adding food or drink is repulsive. Takes a while to get over that.

[CorsairMac]

bonk is a blood sugar drop. It means your body doesn't have enough fuel in the tank to keep the engine going. For me bonk is a slow onset starting with fatigue and cold sweats and then goes downhill from there.

[GLC1968]

For me bonk is a slow onset starting with fatigue and cold sweats and then goes downhill from there.

Me too. My one an only real bonk occurred due to a combination of 3 things:

1) weather too hot and I wasn't used to it
2) very poor fueling that day...(very, very poor choices)
3) poor conditioning for that particular ride (elevation, speed, distance, etc)

I was also quite inexperienced, and I didn't immediately realize what whas happening to me. I know that I am capable of 'willing' my body to do things I wouldn't have thought possible, and that day, for the first time in my entire life, it got to a point where there was no control. My body flat out failed me and it scared the crap out of me. Luckly, I wasn't alone and my riding buddies helped me take care of myself.

[roshelleuop]

[QUOTE=Nokomis]For me - bonking is my heart beat in my ears so loud everything else sounds muddy

I couldn't have said it better!!!! This is exactly the warning I look for when I know I'm going to BONK. Just make sure to prepare and look for the warning signs.

And remember, even the professionals BONK every once in awhile!!!! Just ask Lance!

Roshelle from Milwaukee

[margo49]

All us kiwi and ozzie girls are rotfl!

[pooks]

Oh man, what a timely thread. Our LIVESTRONG mentor emailed us last night to let us know what was going on in the Dallas area. I wrote back (and copied my husband) saying we hadn't been able to work up much stamina or distance, that the heat was just about killing us, and I said something about having to stop after a few miles before bonking.

My husband (not noticing he was replying to both of us) said, "Don't try to sound too cool -- bonk = sex."

To which the mentor replied (to both of us), "She used the term "bonk" correctly; are you perhaps thinking of boinking?"

Oh. My. God.

I woke up this morning after my husband was gone, started reading email, and howled out loud.

I think DH is a little embarrassed. Heh.

[bcipam]

To me bonking generally comes on fairly swift, unexpected. I generally assume I'm under fueled or dehydrated but it can also mean I just had a bad night or my body is tired. Sometimes I can fix the bonk others, no way. Generaly I start to notice the bonk when all of a sudden my legs feel heavy, I'm tired and a slight headache comes on. I slow down, maybe stop. Take in some fuel and water and attempt to end my ride as soon as possible. Best is to not bonk and take care of things before the ride.

[kiwi girl]

All us kiwi and ozzie girls are rotfl!

You are right on that one Margo (and bet me to it) A few years ago there was an issue of Bicycling magazine with a cover story something along the lines of 'Bonking - why everybody should experience it once'

I've kept that one somewhere

[mimitabby]

omigosh!! is THAT what you are all giggling about?

attention:
we are talking about something that happens to someone sitting
on a bike with no other people touching them.

ahem.

I feel better now.

[Trekhawk]

You are right on that one Margo (and bet me to it) A few years ago there was an issue of Bicycling magazine with a cover story something along the lines of 'Bonking - why everybody should experience it once'

I've kept that one somewhere

The first time I talked about bonking to my mum at home in Western Australia she was a little stunned until I explained what it meant in cycling circles.

[Veronica]

Bonk generally refers to when you haven't been refueling properly for your ride.

For me it feels like I'm riding in mud and it comes on suddenly.

Lately I've been having trouble with bonking even when I'm not riding. I've really upped my output in the last few months, but apparently the input is sometimes not sufficient to keep up.

To avoid it, I drink water mxed with Sustained Energy at least every 15 minutes and I eat something solid every 30 minutes. I usually don't start eating until I've been out for an hour though. And if I'm doing a short ride (for me sub 2 hours) I use Gatorade instead of Sustain.

Good luck!

V.

[fatbottomedgurl]

For me it feels like I'm riding in mud and it comes on suddenly.

This so totally describes it.

I went on a 10 mile mtb ride- first 4 miles is a gradual climb on fire road and I middle ringed it almost the whole way for the first time. Next mile very steep climbing. I had never cleared so much w/o walking, heartrate was betreen 170 and 189. But... 3/4 way started feeling chills. Bad sign considering it was 80º out and sunny. Started feeling pukey. Kept climbing another 1/4 mile. Stopped for a rest and drink of 50% gatorade. Continued on short DH and then a 1/4 mile very steep climb. Halfway up I had the "riding in mud" feeling. I stopped, and sat down for a few minutes, dizzy. Walked my bike up an ended up puking. One of my friends came back and walked up the hill with me. At the top sipped some more Gatorade. Because we were in the middle of nowhere I had to continue, almost all downhill from there. Paced up the short climbs. The last 3 miles was downhill singletrack. I took it easy- still a little woozy and didn't want to crash. Made it down, actually had some fun.

Had a smoothie on the way home but was totally wiped out the rest of the day-- tired, headache, woosy. Just took it easy.

So what did I learn?

• Have a good breakfast and start hydrating early. Get a lot of fluids in before the ride.
• Don't push too hard when there is a lot of distance/ elevation to cover.
• Don't expect to keep up with my friends' 9-speed 27 lb full suspension bikes when I am on my 8-speed 32 lb steel hardtail. They will always wait for me to catch up.
• Stop and rest and get some food/ fluids in at the first sign of trouble.

I really don't want to ever do this again. This is supposed to be fun!