I think User3143 is just making the distinction between running out of energy fairly badly and bonking. I had a ride a month ago where I was lost by my riding group, I eventually caught them up at the pub. I felt very odd, couldn't carry on had some food and felt fine going back and lost them going up the hill! It's in stark contrast to where I did bonk, had gigantic quantities of food and rest and still could only cruise along at 6mph.
The bl**dy bonk!!
- Thread starter speccy1
- Start date
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My body must have freakishly big carb stores because i went for a 25miler this morning on an empty stomach (yeah a bit silly, but i got caught up and forgot to have something before i left) but was only mildy tired towards the end, even after doing a few balls out sprints during the ride. Just had a nice big paella though... mmmmm
Toshiba Boy
N+1er
- Location
- By the beach, West Zummerzet
Luckily not suffered badly over many yrs cycling.
Worst time was c10 miles from home on a 50 milers some yrs ago, when the hollow feeling in my stomach suddenly took on cavernous proportions, legs went extremely heavy, and most worrying was my peripheral vision darkened. Luckily I was riding with my brother in law, and took his wheel at a ridiculously slow pace. Wasn't just a case of him taking the wind, but I couldn't have coped with watching the road, traffic, junctions etc. if I'd have been alone I would have had to stop. I simply locked my strange "tunnel vision" on his back wheel and grovelled.
When I got home, collapsed on the floor in the garage, my wife came out and asked me why my lips had gone blue? The darkness of the garage, produced some interesting strobe light effects across the peripheral darkness, and knowing I was home and able to simply sit slumped against the wall/floor, the unbelievably light-headed feeling was almost pleasurable!
Sugary pint of tea, chocolate bars, bananas, and felt slightly human again. Subsequently ate for England. Never put myself in that position again though.
Worst time was c10 miles from home on a 50 milers some yrs ago, when the hollow feeling in my stomach suddenly took on cavernous proportions, legs went extremely heavy, and most worrying was my peripheral vision darkened. Luckily I was riding with my brother in law, and took his wheel at a ridiculously slow pace. Wasn't just a case of him taking the wind, but I couldn't have coped with watching the road, traffic, junctions etc. if I'd have been alone I would have had to stop. I simply locked my strange "tunnel vision" on his back wheel and grovelled.
When I got home, collapsed on the floor in the garage, my wife came out and asked me why my lips had gone blue? The darkness of the garage, produced some interesting strobe light effects across the peripheral darkness, and knowing I was home and able to simply sit slumped against the wall/floor, the unbelievably light-headed feeling was almost pleasurable!
Sugary pint of tea, chocolate bars, bananas, and felt slightly human again. Subsequently ate for England. Never put myself in that position again though.
hackbike 666
Guest
I've had it many times althoug User3143 tells me I haven't.
downfader
extimus uero philosophus
- Location
- 'ampsheeeer
hackbike 666 said:
Ignore him. Everyone has different fitness levels and people will always go "..call that a bonk! I'll tell you something..."
..otherwise we wouldnt have obese people passing out when they climb the stairs at work when the lifts break down, LOL!
What marinyork said. Speccy just didn't have to ride anywhere afterwards.marinyork said:
I've only bonked once during my maiden imperial century. I was very close to the century at the time just outside a village 20km NW of Dijon. I'd wanted to pack it in about 5km earlier by a station and just hop on a train back to Dijon but it being a Sunday afternoon nothing was running! I collapsed under the nearest bit of shade by the side of the road and consumed everything I had, then eventually got myself to the village where I found someone to refill my bottles. It took nearly an hour to do the final 20km despite most of it being freewheelable downhill! Consumed virtually everything sugary I had once I got back to campus.
downfader
extimus uero philosophus
- Location
- 'ampsheeeer
User3143 said:Where did I write this? Don't try and twist things hackers.
Message #4
Well by that specious reasoning you're unfit if you "bonk" as pretty much any TdF rider can do it. Or have you come on here to be hyper-finicky?
hackbike 666
Guest
User3143 said:Where did I write this? Don't try and twist things hackers.
Got you.
Keith Oates
Janner
- Location
- Penarth, Wales
I went out on a cold winter day in China a few years back for a spin, which evolved into a metric century. I hadn't taken any drinks or food with me and the last few Kms were terrible with no energy and serious cramps in the legs. Whether that can be called the 'bonk' or not I don't know but for sure I hope I don't get a repeat any time soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve Austin
The Marmalade Kid
- Location
- Mlehworld
User3143 said:
Have you got a medical reference for that Lee?
I'm not trying to pick an argument, but I do think your very concise definition is way off the mark. Folk Bonk for very different reasons, and it can be for a variety of reasons.
Manonabike
Über Member
Not sure if I've ever experienced the bonk but a few times I have felt extremely tired, watery mouth. light head and you just feel another 10 yards is too long to pedal!!! It always goes away after I've had some food.
The doctor said that happened to me because my body is not trained to use my stored energy and that I should train for it by going out without food until my body gets used to burn my stored energy (fat) and once that is achieved I should go out once a week without food to remind the body of what to do....
I did an experiment - good breakfast and out for 1.5 hours = no problem
good breakfast and go out after 60 mins for 1.5 hours = bonk 90% of the times.
poor breakfast and out for 1.5 hours = bonk every time
no breakfast and out for 1.5 hours = bonk 1 out of 3
Also, once I had the symptoms and I was at the point where I had to turn and go up a short but very steep hill.... I felt that I could not make it ( I'm a big fellow of 18.5 stones), I was feeling really exhausted and weak the only thing I had in my mind was a bowl of fruit & Fibre + a banana cut into pieces over it :-) - following my doc's advise I extended the ride for another 40 - 50 minutes on flat terrain before tackling the hill and I managed to do it.... I was certainly still tired but not exhausted as I was before the extra 50 minutes.... I'm not sure whether this was all in my mind or not. The doc said marathon runners train to teach the body use the stored energy. The whole thing makes sense to me and I can certainly feel that it works.
The doctor said that happened to me because my body is not trained to use my stored energy and that I should train for it by going out without food until my body gets used to burn my stored energy (fat) and once that is achieved I should go out once a week without food to remind the body of what to do....
I did an experiment - good breakfast and out for 1.5 hours = no problem
good breakfast and go out after 60 mins for 1.5 hours = bonk 90% of the times.
poor breakfast and out for 1.5 hours = bonk every time
no breakfast and out for 1.5 hours = bonk 1 out of 3
Also, once I had the symptoms and I was at the point where I had to turn and go up a short but very steep hill.... I felt that I could not make it ( I'm a big fellow of 18.5 stones), I was feeling really exhausted and weak the only thing I had in my mind was a bowl of fruit & Fibre + a banana cut into pieces over it :-) - following my doc's advise I extended the ride for another 40 - 50 minutes on flat terrain before tackling the hill and I managed to do it.... I was certainly still tired but not exhausted as I was before the extra 50 minutes.... I'm not sure whether this was all in my mind or not. The doc said marathon runners train to teach the body use the stored energy. The whole thing makes sense to me and I can certainly feel that it works.
