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Post by missymaverick on Sept 8, 2009 18:41:13 GMT
Has anyone else experienced 'The Bonk'  I've hadn't had it for a few years until Sunday night 90mins into a road ride from the house around the Orme and back. Started to feel it coming on with 5 miles to go, my speed started to drop and the inclines felt like I was climbing Alp D' huez. No food on me to take the edge off so when I got back to the house polished off a whole malt loaf and a welcoming cup of hot chocolate; Followed by a beef stew that had been in the slow cooker all day, bliss  For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about or think I'm being rude (shame on you ;D ;D) check out this article tunedintocycling.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/cycling-nutrition-the-bonk/ |
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Post by thistle on Sept 8, 2009 19:19:31 GMT
I might have done.
I've had the feeling where you just don't have any more to give on that last hill but I think that's different.
I don't think I've had the light headed feeling/dizzy while on the bike but it sometimes happens a few hours afterwards. If it's in the morning I use it as an excuse for having 2 lunches ;D
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Post by sally on Sept 8, 2009 19:27:27 GMT
oh this does ask for some schoolgirl humour ;D yes I do bonk a lot and not just on the bike(its sounding worse now  )I also suffer from it at other times- in fact went for the diabetes test, but was ok. I think cycling must burn a lot more calories than we realise I think its to do with not eating enough of the right stuff in general- I try to keep my weight down as I hate carting a lardy body round the trails-its hard enough-so I run out of energy quite quick and then feel too ill to eat. what s the quickest energy fix? |
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Post by summittoppler on Sept 8, 2009 19:32:06 GMT
Has anyone else experienced 'The Bonk' Yep, unfortunatley quite a few times  It used to occur a few times a year awhile ago. Always on the longer rides like the !00k enduro's and such like. The main reason for me is the lack of body fat on me  , and so not eating or drinking enough there is no reserve for the body to burn off. So before and during every ride I always ensure I munch loads. Its the worst feeling ever when it happens on the bike, cos, like you say, the smallest incline feels like l'Aple Duez Always keep that out of date Mars bar in the bottom of the Camelbak for when the dreaded moment comes |
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Post by thistle on Sept 8, 2009 19:42:19 GMT
The main reason for me is the lack of body fat on me Ah, that might be why it doesn't really happen to me. I think I'm not getting bonked good and proper |
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Post by Rob on Sept 8, 2009 19:58:58 GMT
For a minute i thought this was going to be interesting ;D although some symptoms are similar to what i was thinking |
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Post by ninja penguin on Sept 8, 2009 20:00:06 GMT
I failed to get home after my one and only bonk. Had to get my mum to pick me up from somewhere near Moel-y-Parc and drop me off at home  |
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Post by smudge on Sept 8, 2009 20:26:10 GMT
I think sooz has hit the nail on the head, I used to run in the mornings without taking the right food in and in the afternoon I struggled to do anything, lightheaded, tired, headache etc. I consulted a man who is a nutritionist for triathletes and also an endurance bike racer, all he does in the races is pulls in and has a cheese sandwich which put him right again as he reckons that this has the right carb/protein balance that he needs. I have told others about this and know that they use it now. I dont know if its all in the head and I think its working because Ive been told it does or whether it does actually work as Ive had no problem since using it.
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Post by hugzee on Sept 8, 2009 21:18:12 GMT
I don't think I've had the light headed feeling/dizzy while on the bike I have that: On the bike Off the bike While walking Sitting on the sofa In Bed Not the bonk, (fairly) constant vertigo |
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Post by danevs on Sept 12, 2009 21:26:51 GMT
The main reason for me is the lack of body fat on me Ah, that might be why it doesn't really happen to me. I think I'm not getting bonked good and proper Yep I'll agree with you there mate. I used to regularly ride on an empty stomach and while I'd be ok for the first hour or so I'd certainly notice a loss in efficiency after that but never a full on "bonk", presumably because I'm not a racing snake. ;D I think different people view the bonk differently anyway, us XC folk tend to use it to describe the point where you switch over from metabolizing carbs to instead metabolizing fat whereas when Lance talks about a "bonk" he's losing his vision (the snow at the summit of Ventoux went black apparently) and probably approaching coma.  To feel a "bonk" on a road ride around the Orme is a little extreme though, maybe you should look at your nutrition. I always try and have a small bowl of pasta before a ride and avoid sugar while I'm out. It takes approx four hours for your body to see any usable carbs from a decent meal (low GI) so eating before the ride really is the key as a sugar hit out on the trail is largely counterproductive (your pancreas will quickly secrete insulin to counteract high blood sugar levels and within 15mins you'll have gone from sugar rush to lower than you started.). |
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Post by missymaverick on Sept 13, 2009 19:43:17 GMT
I think one thing having 'The Bonk' teaches you is that, at the end of the day, after all the talk about GI indexes and carbo loading, your body will do what it wants to do. It's not always about eating the right things, it's also about lifestyle activities and the daily stresses and strains of life; Your body will burn it's energy accordingly and probably without you realizing You can prepare as much as you like, eat a balanced diet and read all the generalized scientific literature but if someone like Lance Armstrong (I'm a Chris Boardman fan myself!) can bonk, then us mere mortals will certainly not escape it. I'd recommend that everyone tries 'The Bonk' , it's a humbling experience ;D ;D |
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Post by sally on Sept 13, 2009 20:12:24 GMT
I learned about about it when I first started cycling on my penny farthing  Had my breakfast at 7am and at 12 decided to ride to b-y -coed,got to between betws and llanrwst and totally bonked. hubby had to come andpick me off the verge. I could barly get off the ground and it sort of tought me to eat before riding- but not always! |
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Post by danevs on Sept 13, 2009 21:43:33 GMT
You can prepare as much as you like, eat a balanced diet and read all the generalized scientific literature but if someone like Lance Armstrong (I'm a Chris Boardman fan myself!) can bonk, then us mere mortals will certainly not escape it. LA's famous bonk was after 7hours of TDF stage which culminated in a little climb called Ventoux while being chased by the fastest riders in the world. He still maintains that it was his own fault and the scenario was entirely avoidable. I find it amazing you could "bonk" on a ride from Pen around the Orme and back. You must have done something seriously wrong if that was the case? |
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Post by ady on Sept 17, 2009 7:56:17 GMT
You can prepare as much as you like, eat a balanced diet and read all the generalized scientific literature but if someone like Lance Armstrong (I'm a Chris Boardman fan myself!) can bonk, then us mere mortals will certainly not escape it. LA's famous bonk was after 7hours of TDF stage which culminated in a little climb called Ventoux while being chased by the fastest riders in the world. He still maintains that it was his own fault and the scenario was entirely avoidable. I find it amazing you could "bonk" on a ride from Pen around the Orme and back. You must have done something seriously wrong if that was the case? Yeah I agree with Dan would of thought on a ride of that distance you should of ben able to complete it without any problems unless you rode without eatring and really pushed your limits, if you ahve been riding regularly then fitness should not be the issue. Sounds like a nutrition imbalance. The Bonk can leave you craving for food and completley spent. Eat little and often. www.cptips.com/energy.htm that should give you a headache! |
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Post by Arnie on Sept 17, 2009 22:12:57 GMT
The Bonk can leave you craving for food and completley spent. I agree, all i can usually muster up is a pot noodle and a fart before rolling over to sleep again |
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)I also suffer from it at other times- in fact went for the diabetes test, but was ok. I think cycling must burn a lot more calories than we realise
, and so not eating or drinking enough there is no reserve for the body to burn off. 
Had my breakfast at 7am and at 12 decided to ride to b-y -coed,got to between betws and llanrwst and totally bonked. hubby had to come andpick me off the verge. I could barly get off the ground and it sort of tought me to eat before riding- but not always!
