Bonking at about 35 miles

[Teuchter]

Also started slower but the average speed increased.

I'd say that's the key point, at least based on my own experience.

 

[EltonFrog]

Bonking at 35 miles?

Why don't you stay at home and Bonk? I'd do.



Oh...I see. Where's me coat?

 

[SquareDaff]

Bonking at 35 miles?

Why don't you stay at home and Bonk? I'd do.



Oh...I see. Where's me coat?

Chance would be a fine thing lol

 

[RWright]

Drop back down from 40 to 30 for a month or two. 40 seems like a lot after a day at work.

 

[byegad]

you're not bonking - you're just knackered from riding further than you can cope with.

I've only bonked once and I not only thought I was going to die, I welcomed the idea.

Your symptoms are not the bonk. I'd suggest it's possibly dehydration, I do one 500ml bottle/hour in all but the hottest weather when one lasts 40 mins or so. I find in winter I have to remind myself to sip frequently or I hit a wall at around 30 miles. Many people drink far less without ill effects but I know I can't manage on less.

 

[steve52]

I would agree with that, I bonked on a steep hill in Essex (yes there is one), there was no way I could get up that hill on the bike - it was only a mile long, but took me 30 minutes to walk up it

i agree i bonked after 120 miles i could only just stand and struggled to rember how to buy a coke

 

[DaveReading]

There's a reason that marathon runners used to 'hit the wall' at about the 20 mile point because that was when their glycogen ran out. These days they would probably be drinking energy drinks or gels while they run.

Been there, done that. In my first marathon, the last six miles took me almost as long as the first 20.

But the solution, for me at least, wasn't energy drinks (unless you count water). Instead, by the time I ran my second one, I'd made sure I had enough training miles in my legs that the wall was that much farther away. When I finished, I felt I could have run another 5-10 miles, but wisely didn't put that to the test.

I don't see why cycling should be fundamentally different - the more long runs you do, the easier it should get.

 

[byegad]

I also don't think you need energy drinks, or bars or whatever for 40 miles. A few fig rolls or similar, maybe, but not energy drinks.