BONK symptoms

[Debian]

This could go on for ever..
bonk.. running out of any 'go' etc etc etc
result of
piss poor preparation
end of

just don't do it ..
it AINT a badge of glory

I take issue with you.

I don't see it as a badge of glory that's true, and I'd much rather it didn't happen but it's not always poor preparation.

I always prepare the same before a long (ish) ride and usually I'm absolutely fine. There are rare occasions though when, for no apparent reason, I hit the wall. I've prepared the same, eaten the same beforehand, same sort of riding but sometimes, maybe one ride in ten, it just happens.

Tell me how that's poor preparation?

 

[I am Spartacus]

10% of your rides ending up on the verge in tears?

Thats what the bonk is. not a bit of ooooooh errr feelin' a bit over all meself...but hey up to you to sort what works the other 9 times out of ten.

4 of us did a short route on Sunday including 3 sharpish and very demanding climbs.. 1 of us was struggling big style.. he was just having a BAD day thats all.. he did not moan about bonking because we and he knows that his fitness is up there (just not on Sunday) and he has ridden the legs off me enough times.

 

[Debian]

10% of your rides ending up on the verge in tears?

Thats what the bonk is. not a bit of ooooooh errr feelin' a bit over all meself...but hey up to you to sort what works the other 9 times out of ten.

4 of us did a short route on Sunday including 3 sharpish and very demanding climbs.. 1 of us was struggling big style.. he was just having a BAD day thats all.. he did not moan about bonking because we and he knows that his fitness is up there (just not on Sunday) and he has ridden the legs off me enough times.

Well I'm not sure, a bit of middle ground between the two extremes you quote. I'm not on the verge in tears when it happens but I certainly have rubber legs and no energy to continue until I've eaten a Mars or two. It happens unpredictably and for no reason I can fathom.

I don't go out of my way to cause it but I don't see what I'm doing wrong either.

 

[I am Spartacus]

It has only happened twice in my life... then lessons learnt.
I would only say that mars bars do not feature in the contents of my jersey pockets.

 

[GrasB]

I never get this tears thing... I've got to the point where I'm so exhausted I can't unclip from the bike & could just about find the strength to pull the mobile out of my pocket to call the other half to pick me up after miss-calculating how much I've needed to 0eat on a ride but never got close to tears.

 

[fossyant]

Hmm, that doesn't sound like it to me - more illness/cold/flu.

The bonk for me usually starts with flashing lights in front of my eyes - like a 'target', then eventually goes all power speed etc, then dizzy/wobbly.

Coffee and a chocky bar are not good - sudden sugar rush, insulin systems kick in and you get a 'bigger low' soon after.... Should have had some longer carbs as well - fruit/fruit cake/flapjack as well as the simple sugar.

TBH I have rarely had it since mid 20's as I usually fuel well enough, as it's not funny. Used to get it as a youngster as I didn't know better.....

 

[Will1985]

It's illness, not the bonk. The bonk is glycogen depletion. That you ate breakfast and given the short distance suggests you didn't hit the wall. "Exercise induced bonk" sounds like a made-up term by someone here.

Exercise during infection is not advised and potentially fatal - it sounds like your body didn't want to do anything strenuous because it was already working on fighting something else.

 

[zacklaws]

I agree with what the others say.

My experience of "bonking" is when the bike becomes hard to push and feels liking I'm pedalling a ton weight, first off I look down at my tyres constantly to see if I have a puncture, eventually I jump off and feel my tyres and when I'm convinced I've no puncture I carry on, it then starts preying on my mind my brakes are binding so I start playing with them as I ride, eventually, once again I jump off and check my brakes, find there is nothing amiss with them and then it sinks in, I've Bonked.

 

[GrasB]

It's illness, not the bonk. The bonk is glycogen depletion. That you ate breakfast and given the short distance suggests you didn't hit the wall. "Exercise induced bonk" sounds like a made-up term by someone here.

Exercise during infection is not advised and potentially fatal - it sounds like your body didn't want to do anything strenuous because it was already working on fighting something else.

Infections have a spectrum of effects on you, your body & your ability to function normally. They can be at a low level background that just take the edge off your performance & end up at all out flu where you can barely function normally let alone do any kind of demanding exercise.

When you have a background illness or one that's starting to develop you typically find that your glycogen reserves (for what of a better expression) are much lower than expected, it's like doing low level exercise 24/7. Result is you with a relatively small amount of exercise you can run out of glycogen as you've not consumed enough energy & have as large glycogen reserves thus bonk. As long as you're aware of the signs & can correct it by cutting your activity short, having a lower level of intensity, consuming more energy or any combination of those 3 you can work around it but if you're properly ill you need to stop cycling.

 

[I am Spartacus]

TBH I have rarely had it since mid 20's as I usually fuel well enough, as it's not funny. Used to get it as a youngster as I didn't know better.....

With me as well, once at 17 and then at 19...40 or so years on, I still have good recall ...back to my original point of BAD preparation.. however should people feel the urge to continue to 'suffer' , I'll not stand in their way.

 

[HobbesChoice]

With me as well, once at 17 and then at 19...40 or so years on, I still have good recall ...back to my original point of BAD preparation.. however should people feel the urge to continue to 'suffer' , I'll not stand in their way.

Seems a little harsh considering we're in the beginner section!

 

[Debian]

Seems a little harsh considering we're in the beginner section!

I thought the same

A little advice would be better than simply implying that those who know no better are being silly.

 

[Salad Dodger]

Thanks folks

Thank you to everyone for their input. I now have the mother of all colds, so, in hindsight, I should have turned straight round when I first felt a bit giddy...

Anyway, thank you.

 

[Arch]

It has only happened twice in my life... then lessons learnt.
I would only say that mars bars do not feature in the contents of my jersey pockets.

So, you're an expert, whoopy do. Now, try learning (along with someone else on this thread) how not to be so bloody rude to people.


Anyway, fact of the day, the French for the bonk is defaillance. (weakness) So now we can all bonk multilingually.

Um, I maybe don't mean that....

 

[Debian]

Thank you to everyone for their input. I now have the mother of all colds, so, in hindsight, I should have turned straight round when I first felt a bit giddy...

Anyway, thank you.

Same thing, more or less as happened to me as I said earlier.

Rest up, plenty of fluids and get yourself better.

Took me four weeks to get back into the saddle after my flu