General Cycling Discussion - When do you bonk? - or do you?

I never seem to "bonk," at least in ordinary riding (i.e., not a century)

I can go out for 2.5-3 hours with my heart rate averaging between 130-140, never take any nutrition, and just a little water, and it doesn't seem to bother me in the least.

However, on a century, I have never tried to push it, and generally do eat and drink as I go along. I would suppose that if I didn't, I would bonk, but I have never really tried, nor would I like to.

But, I read at times on this forum of people bonking after about an hour or so.

So, here is a little poll about bonking.

I prefer to use the phrase 'hitting the wall'. Bonk has a completely diferent meaning in Australia.

I haven't 'hit the wall' for some time now. I guess I've learned to eat better and train better.

I too can go on indefinately with little or no food but don't like to get in such a state because of muscle loss.

I bonk all the time, per the Australian meaning.

As far as hitting the wall - I only did that when I was running 165-190 for three plus hours, two times, about a year apart. And I learned my lesson - felt like being hung over for about a day or two. I follow a couple of simple rules to keep it from happening-
1) On the road I drink 1 oz. per mile up to thirty - over that double it - over 100 miles double it again. Mtn bike - 20 the first hour 30 there after.
2) After 2-3 hours I eat - and I don't stop untill the ride is over.
Of course I use common sense - if it's super hot or cold I adjust accordingly.

It depends on my condition at the time, as well as the situation (weather, ride intensity, hydration). I haven't pushed myself to exhaustion recently, so I don't know anymore. Probably about four hours without calorie intake would do it, at the intensity you mentioned.

It really depends on the conditions and how I feel on the day. However, I rarely actually 'hit the wall' these days. I generally see it coming and so something to prevent it.

Originally posted by Chris L
It really depends on the conditions and how I feel on the day. However, I rarely actually 'hit the wall' these days. I generally see it coming and so something to prevent it.
I'm told that's what those funny steering things on the front of the bike are all about.

If I ride after lunch, like after 2 hours after lunch I can ride with out food for another 3 to4 hours,, but after that, I will surely bonk, that's the time I have to eat

I bunked from running before, but nowadays never when biking.

If I plan to go long and hard I make sure that I have eaten well beofre, and eat well during, and after.

If I haven't planned well and foresee that I could potentially reach that state I lower the physical strain.

It's not rocket science. You have to be pretty reckless to allow yourself to bonk if you know what causes it.

It's not really healthy you know, it damages your body and in extreme cases you can even die, so be careful.

I prefer to use the phrase 'hitting the wall'. Bonk has a completely diferent meaning in Australia.

If I am guessing right, your bonking in Oz is referred to as boinking in North America... .:D

However... I lose steam, bonk, hit the wall (but never boink) if I am not careful while cycling in the heat.

If I am doing a basic ride on a basic wide trail I can ride for a few hours without too many problems. On a single track with lots of technical climbs I can sometimes hit the wall within an hour.

Really it depends on the trail I am doing.

Most folks confuse "bonking" or "hitting the wall" with dehydration or simple exhaustion.

Lack of water or electrolyte imbalance (with associated cramping) will make you miserable, but is not really a "bonk".

Simple exhaustion from going out too fast or undertraining also makes you feel like "death sucking on a lemon" but is not a bonk.

Hitting the wall means that your muscles have (nearly) exhausted their supply of good fuel (glycogen) and must "burn" more fat to provide power.

Another characteristic of a "bonk" is a steep dive in blood sugar levels, disorientation, and an inability to perform even moderately complex tasks (long division, untying shoes, etc).

A bonk really can't occur until most people have been working for at least 90 minutes. A trained endurance athlete can push this to 2 hours or more (without the need for sugar supplementation).

In fact this is the purpose of Long Slow Distance (LSD). This helps your body manage the transition from burning sugars to fats and helps direct your body to store more glycogen (sugar) over time.

We prop up blood sugar levels and provide fuel for working muscles by taking sugar or simple carbohydrates that are quickly converted to sugars.

I've only "bonked" once when I did a
60 mile ride in 95 degree heat. I absolutely
could not turn over the pedals, walking up a moderate
hill (in Arlington Nat. Cemetery) was excruciating.
I was well hydrated but didn't recover until I had
some food. First thing I had was a coke for the sugar,
followed by bananas and bread.
this was after about 2.5 hours hard riding.
After that particularly nasty lesson I'm never
without at least 2 packets of Goo or powerbar
type food.

Marty

Unfortunately, I have low blood sugar, so if I don't eat every 2.5 hrs +/-, I get in bad shape, even at work. I always make sure that I eat well before I go riding, and avoid as much sugar as my will-power will allow.
I rode a dinky 6 miles through the neighborhood last night and came in and ate a couple of bites of nutritionally challenged cereal (Fruit Loops) as a quick snack before getting cleaned up to go out to eat with the neighbors. When I got out of the car at the restaurant, I couldn't walk a straight line. My trusty sidekick, and husband got me some crackers as soon as we got in the restaurant.
I like the Aussie version of bonking! :D

I've bonked several times in the past, and consequently go to pains, er, take extra care to be sure I have sufficient munchies and hydration.

I couldn't select an answer for the poll because most of time it would take me three or four hours to really bonk riding normally.

Usually the only way I can bonk is to be on a ride with superior riders who are "stretching my ability". After several hours of hard riding I go for an hour or more and get behind on fuel I can settle in to real "good bonk".

Stupid, slow people don't get the chance to experience "true high-performance" bonking because they aren't motivated enough to run on empty long enough- they just slow down or stop.

It's takes real effort to lower serum glucose levels. Otherwise, as long as there's fat available your body makes more.

Richard Cranium, cute! Please tell me that's NOT your real name?!? :roflmao:

I would have to go with RC on this one. The only times I have bonked have been on rides that lasted 6+ hours and they are usually because the guys I ride with are in much better shape then I. there have been a few times I have seriously hit a wall on a ride, one because I did not have any snaks with me but not until 6 1/2 hrs into the ride and another time I actually hit a wall.
Slainte:beer: