Road Cycling - Giving Blood

Does anyone here give blood? If so how long do you wait before you start riding strenuously again? One day? Two days? I was thinking a slow, easy ride the day after, and then back to business the day after that.

http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2001/06_01/news.htm

Thanks, that was good info.

I could have swarn i typed up a message with that link! My sister is a phlebotomist (sp?), she reccomends people take it easy for atleast 24hrs. I think you should be fine if you ride easy that first day.

I wasn't being sarcastic, that site was good.

I didnt take it that way, i hate it when people reply with just a link, i didnt want to be rude. It is good reading, congrats on giving blood, more people need to make it a habit.

sigh,
I wish I could donate blood but I lived in
Africa and have to wait something like 5 years
before I can donate.
all I needed was 1 pint to have donated 2 gallons.

Marty

My experience has been that if I give a pint of blood, the next day I am good to ride.

But the last time I gave just red blood cells and it threw me off for a couple of days. I rode hard the next day, which was a big mistake. It took me most of a week to feel normal and be able to ride hard again.

I usually give blood before noon, and am able to run or ride at an easy pace by evening. I, too, notice a difference in performance for up to about a week.

I donate regularly. My experience is about like Roadbuzz. I actually ride home after donating, but it is less than a mile and I take it VERY easy. For about a week I can feel a difference on my daily commutes and weekend rides.

I have wondered if donating blood might not be beneficial for endurance athletes. By donating regularly it seems like your body would become conditioned to rapid replenishment of the red cells with nice fresh ones. By continuing with moderate exercise your body might even be conditioned to produce extra and to improve oxygen uptake efficiency from from the reduced volume of red cells. A program of regular donation during off season and early season buildup with no donations during the later more intense training and racing season might be beneficial. Who knows? I'm just an accountant, not a physiologist.
Rainman

I am a regular blood donor (once every 2 months) I give at 7:00 pm and am on my commute at 545 am the next morning and I have never had any problems. I also ride home from the donor site which is only about a mile. But remember everybody is different.

I give blood fairly regular and ride the next day with no problem.
I've never really thought much about it. But it would depend on your general state of fitness. If you're fairly fit and active there shouldn't be a problem in riding the next day.

give a pint, drink a pint:beer:

Originally posted by ngateguy
I am a regular blood donor (once every 2 months) I

I tend to stay off the bike for a day or two but that's just a personal choice.

Here in the UK , they call you once every Six Months to give blood, though I would go every two months if they asked.

I'm also on the Bone marrow donors register, which if they do call me up, means I won't be going on the bike for a while after that.

A Rh Negative

I don't ride on the day I donate.

FWIW, another benefit of donating blood is that they test your blood iron level, and run it through a number of other tests. If your blood iron is low, you aren't allowed to donate... good to know so you can increase your iron intake. After taking your blood, it is screened for lots of other things, primarily HIV. In any case, I'm told you are notified if they find anything that should be of concern.

I have not tried riding home after donating blood, but I think I probably could without a problem if I took it easy. Giving blood does affect my performance for about a week, as others have stated.

Hey Lotek

I am also banned from donating blood here in Denmark because of the African thing, but only for 1 year though. I am sure there are good reasons for this ban, but what is it?

HIV originated in Africa, I think in Uganda? There are also some other blood borne diseases that may not manifest themselves for some time. The figure if you haven't come down with anything after a given period you are probably OK.

Poululla,
Hiv is one of the problems. but the biggie is malaria,
the stuff can lay dormant for quite a long time.
I was in heavy malaria area (mozambique) which is what
put me into the 5 year catagory.

Marty

I generally donate blood once or twice per year. I do not disrupt my exercise routine, but I do jog or cycle a bit more slowly than usual for the first few days after donating. It takes me about a week to get back to full strength.

I donated blood recently. Who would have thought a cute, little kitten could draw so much blood?:D