I have a friend who was born with heart issues. He has had open heart surgery twice and is now 30yrs and doing good. He just got married a month ago and all the sudden a huge infection popped up in his chest. He had to go back in and get opened up again. Everything went well, and he is back at home recuperating.

I went to see him yesterday, and since he lives about 50 miles away, I drove down and took the bike. My In-Laws live on the opposite side of town and I thought why not ride from their house to his. About 14 miles one way.

So I get riding and cruise along the MUP with no problems. Hit downtown with little traffic and bang through the University of Nebraska campus without issue. Tackle a few rolling hills North of campus and before I know it, I am at his house.

I hang out for an hour or so and eat a small fruit/nut bar, even though I was offered a nice sandwich chips and cottage cheese! I fill up my water bottles and go out for the fun ride back. FLAT REAR TIRE! Crappola.

His wife gives me a ride to the closest bike shop and drops me there with the bike. I go in with wheel in hand and a mechanic asks if I want to patch or replace? I say heck with it, just swap out the tube. So I look around and realize they are having a 10% off everything sale. COOL!

So thinking that I didn't want to need a ride next time I flat, I browse the frame pumps. I found a nice pump with pressure guage for $25. They were conveniently located with the Cyclecomputers. Well heck I need one of those too!!! I found a nice Cateye with cadence for ~ $40. Oh look, here comes the mech. with my fixed up tire. He said here you go, thanks for stopping in :D

While I pay, I am looking at all the Clif bars and goo sitting there. I feel good, no need for any of that. 10% discount on everything including the new tube. Total bill, $74. Funny.

~8 miles back to my in-laws. I am ready for it, having had the ride cut in half from the flat tire! So I head out and ride on the sidewalk to get to the MUP. I hit the trail feeling great and moving along near 20mph. I get to where the trail turns and heads back east. All the sudden I feel terrible. I slow way down and breath deeply. I know this feeling! At this point I only have about 3 miles to get to the house. I know I can do it, but I don't want to get hit by a car because I can't think straight.

I take a second under a tree to catch my breath and gather my thoughts. I have plenty of water, so I dump 1/2 a bottle on my head and down my shirt. Better. I grunt out the last couple miles and stagger inside to find some sugar. Good thing they have a candy drawer :D

I snack on a couple bite sized chocolates, a hard boiled egg and a large sugar free Red Bull. Take a quick shower and head home.


Don't worry, I learned a couple valuable lessons today. I will not make the same mistakes twice!!!

-Kurt

Wow. Kinda scary, actually.

Almost every bonking post I've read so far seems to occur when someone is near their desitination but not quite able to make it.

Probably because you feel great starting off and think you can make it...and can't.

I had on during a century - now I really load up on food. Real food, those gels and whatnot just doesn't sustain me enough. A good sandwich in the middle is a great booster for me.

Probably because you feel great starting off and think you can make it...and can't.

I had on during a century - now I really load up on food. Real food, those gels and whatnot just doesn't sustain me enough. A good sandwich in the middle is a great booster for me.


Yeah, if I would've had the sandwich........

Hindsight!

Those gels WILL pull you out of a bonk though, or you can get some sublingual glucose tabs....no prescription required, from the diabetes supplies in any pharmacy. They're a good lightweight emergency supply ti just carry!

Bonking can sneak up on you really fast. Especially when you take breaks between rides like that. You feel fine, and then BAM. It hits you.

I also bonked yesterday. I'm working my way back from a back injury. I hurt it BAD doing a kickboxing aerobic class with wife a few weeks ago, and this is my first week the doctor allowed me to ride with no restrictions (now can do hills, sprints, longer distances, etc.). So, I did a 35 mile ride that morning at a steady pace. That is about 18.5 mph for me, and I felt great.

After work on Fridays, I usually meet with a local group that does paceline practices on a relatively flat 26 mile loop. I had not ridden with them in a few weeks, and felt strong, so I went. These guys have 3 weeks of getting stronger, while I have 3 weeks of injury recovery, and am slower. I sucked. I got dropped by the whole group over, and over. Not only did I not pull my weight at the front of the group, but I had to push it so hard just to keep them in sight, that I forgot to eat or drink anything. We got caught in a big thunderstorm about half-way through the ride, and then I got a flat-tire. My little frame pump only goes up to about 60 psi, which made me even slower during the rest of the ride. By the time we got back to the start-point, I was actively bonking and starting to have cramps in my legs.

I don't know if I should go out to try to ride with them anymore this year. Last year this group averaged about 18.5-19 mph, but this year they average about 22 mph. Maybe if I was younger, or lighter, or had more consecutive seasons under my belt, I could keep up with them. I like riding with a group at least once a week, though. There are other groups that I could ride with that ride at a more moderat pace that I have not tried.

Let's try to pay attention, and make sure that we don't bonk anymore this season! Take care.

Wow.. glad you made it back ok. I had no idea it could come on so suddenly - think you're fine with 8 miles to go and bonk with 3 to go.

Wow.. glad you made it back ok. I had no idea it could come on so suddenly - think you're fine with 8 miles to go and bonk with 3 to go.

Yeah, it was sudden. Within feeling fine and feeling like I needed to stop, was probably 1/4 - 1/2 mile.

Hah, I know which shop you were at.. what time were you there!? I was in there yesterday around 3pm taking a break during my ride. They also have a 17.5in Gary Fisher Rig on sale for like $510, if it would have been a 19, I would have been sleeping on the couch last night.

Hah, I know which shop you were at.. what time were you there!? I was in there yesterday around 3pm taking a break during my ride. They also have a 17.5in Gary Fisher Rig on sale for like $510, if it would have been a 19, I would have been sleeping on the couch last night.

How on earth did I miss you??? Was there an Orange and Carbon Lemond on the bike rack (by the door) with no rear wheel?? I had to have either been there or just left.

Too bad on the Rig. Keep looking for one, I think you could find an even better deal.

-Kurt

How on earth did I miss you??? Was there an Orange and Carbon Lemond on the bike rack (by the door) with no rear wheel?? I had to have either been there or just left.

Too bad on the Rig. Keep looking for one, I think you could find an even better deal.

-Kurt

I was the only one on the rack while I was there, unfortunately, so I must have just missed you. Totally crazy. :D

Those gels WILL pull you out of a bonk though, or you can get some sublingual glucose tabs....no prescription required, from the diabetes supplies in any pharmacy. They're a good lightweight emergency supply ti just carry!

Dr. Pepper and a a few pretzels does the job for me. Of course, that's how I got to be a clyde in the first place...

Dr. Pepper and a a few pretzels does the job for me. Of course, that's how I got to be a clyde in the first place...

Since you brought up the subject... Neil F. nearly bonked on a ride with me in New Jersey. Hill climbing and a hot day took its toll. He recovered soon enough.

The Dr. Pepper wasn't ideal for an athlete. It would have been better to drink something non-carbonated.

Yeah i bonked on a 35 mile ride trying to keep up with some speed demons..
i did the same... not drinking and didnt bring any bars/food... i finished.. but wow! crawling at 3-7 miles an hour was painful! it ws all about hydration and carb loading for me.. Ive done 100miles,35,52,etc.. since and nada! KEEP HYDRATED :)

Thank God I was hydrated. If I had been dehydrated at all, I may have taken a nap. I had drank two bottles of diluted gatorade, and two bottles of water (in camelback). So it was just my blood sugar and lack of food.

I looked closer at my rear wheel this morning. It has a bent spot off to one side, on the inside of the outer rim. It is about 2" away from the valve stem. Looks like I hit a pot hole maybe?? I don't recall a big smack, but than again, I am used to mtn biking.
I may have to get a new rim sooner than later. I will see if there are any problems over this week.
BUMMER!

Thank God I was hydrated. If I had been dehydrated at all, I may have taken a nap. I had drank two bottles of diluted gatorade, and two bottles of water (in camelback). So it was just my blood sugar and lack of food.

I looked closer at my rear wheel this morning. It has a bent spot off to one side, on the inside of the outer rim. It is about 2" away from the valve stem. Looks like I hit a pot hole maybe?? I don't recall a big smack, but than again, I am used to mtn biking.
I may have to get a new rim sooner than later. I will see if there are any problems over this week.
BUMMER!

Are you sure it wasn't the Gatorade? Even diluted, Gatorade is sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup and that stimulates a massive Insulin response. You'd be better off with something that uses Maltodextrin or Galactose/Maltodextrin complex for the carb source.

Accelerade
Twin Labs Ultrafuel
Hammer Heed

^^^ +1 to what Tom said. Most of the MTB racers in the area here are using Heed, and I keep hearing good things about it. I'm finishing off the Gatorade mix that I have left, and won't be getting any more after that.

Also.. fifthcircle.. were you on the MUP in Lincoln this AM? While I was babying my rear wheel the final several miles this AM, I saw a guy on a Orange looking Lemond with a camelback in front of me. My riding partner got in a informal little race with that person, he was riding a celeste Bianchi roadie, this was on the MUP that parallels highway 2 between 27th and 48th streets.

Not today. I work Sundays. I also don't race.....unless I am drafting in cognito :D

Next time I am riding in L-town, I'll shoot you a PM. It won't be this week, I am on-call.

Sounds good! I won't be up for speed this week, as I'm going to be on the Hardrock most of the week. It's going to a lot of slow but comfy miles... :D

Those gels WILL pull you out of a bonk though, or you can get some sublingual glucose tabs....no prescription required, from the diabetes supplies in any pharmacy. They're a good lightweight emergency supply ti just carry!


In addition to those, a bottle of fruit punch from the convenience store will do the same thing, faster too. Poor on nutrients but perfect for a bonk.
The fruit filling in the small snack pies at the store (like Hostess fruit pies) are also jell, with mucho fat, but they work in the short term in an emergency bonk. And they taste good. :D

In addition to those, a bottle of fruit punch from the convenience store will do the same thing, faster too. Poor on nutrients but perfect for a bonk.
The fruit filling in the small snack pies at the store (like Hostess fruit pies) are also jell, with mucho fat, but they work in the short term in an emergency bonk. And they taste good. :D

My ex is a diabetic with really volatile sugar levels, so I learned all sorts of tricks for boosting back up when you're bonking.
One of the best ones is cake icing. Either the gel decorator mini-tubes, or the big tubes of the grainier coloured icing. The stuff is cheaper than gluco-paste from the pharmacy counter, and pretty much the same thing: Concentrated sugar.

I wonder about all this bonking talk. I mean, we're talking about an eight-mile ride with a fruit and nut bar (i.e., calorically dense food) on board beforehand. Not to noodge the language, but bonking is caused by depletion of glycogen in the liver and muscles -- it's not just feeling tired. Unless you've got some medical condition or seriously deficient nutrition, you ought to be good for at least a couple of hours of moderate-intensity cycling before bonking. Sure, you may be feeling fatigue well within that time, but I question whether what's happening in many of these stories really is bonking.

^^ I wonder the same thing. Unless maybe diabetes or another medical condition is in play, there is just no way that 8 or 22 miles should send somebody to bonk land. Even if they were very hard miles.

Friday was rather warm and muggy here - where he was riding. In an hour I depleted two water bottles of 50/50 Gatorade/Water mix, and two more bottles of Aquafina that I picked up at the LBS. Additionally, like he hinted, the path he was on is quite easy to go fast on and push yourself.

Now, it may seem like 17-ish miles should not equal a bonk, but I could see it. With 60% humidity, anything's possible :).

^^ I wonder the same thing. Unless maybe diabetes or another medical condition is in play, there is just no way that 8 or 22 miles should send somebody to bonk land. Even if they were very hard miles.

Dehydration will play a role. As will any medications that the person takes regularly.

Friday was rather warm and muggy here - where he was riding. In an hour I depleted two water bottles of 50/50 Gatorade/Water mix, and two more bottles of Aquafina that I picked up at the LBS. Additionally, like he hinted, the path he was on is quite easy to go fast on and push yourself.

Now, it may seem like 17-ish miles should not equal a bonk, but I could see it. With 60% humidity, anything's possible :).

Er, well, yes...or yes and no...or perhaps just no. Glycogen stores vary, depending on your diet, but again, unless you have a medical condition or a very poor diet, you would typically have 1500-2000 calories' worth of glycogen stored in your muscles and liver prior to exercise. That's enough for a couple of hours of pretty vigorous exercise -- you're not going to burn anywhere near that amount biking 8 miles.

OK. I'm not sure it was a full on "Bonk", but I was very close!

Here's the deal. I had a light dinner the night before. I was running late leaving my house, so I grabbed a nasty egg Mcmuffin on the way out of town and a diet coke. This was the first mistake.

That is all I had to eat, before the 14mile ride to my friends house. I rode fairly hard all the way, since it took me 1hr exactly, and I had to pick my way through downtown traffic and UNL campus. There are also some hills for the last 3-4miles to his house.

Sat at my buddies house for over an hour having eaten the fruit/nut bar first thing when I got there. I drank plenty of Gatorade and water. Also had to mess around putting the bike in the trunk, getting it out and having a tube replaced....yadda yadda....

It was hot, not terrible on the bike going 15-20mph, but still hot and humid so I was sweating into my eyes the whole time.

I do not have Diabetes or take any medication.

I just ran out of sugar in my system, and felt like passing out for about th last 3 miles of the 20 mile ride.

I have the symptoms of hpoglycemia (sp?) once in a while. Even when I am at work and just have not eaten well that day. Somtimes it's a headache, other times I feel really sick and run to a gas station and pig out on whatever food I can. The later is how I felt on my bike. I assumed that feeling sick like I was completely out of energy and could just pass out at any time was a BONK. Correct me if I am wrong.

Either way, I learned my lessons.

1) take food with you no matter what

2) take a tube and pump with you, no matter what

If you ate an egg mcmuffin, drank plenty of gatorade and water and had a fruit and nut bar, I think your nutritional input was plenty for a 22 mile ride. I do that on a cup of coffee with cream and sugar and gatorade on the ride, then eat when I get back in. Maybe you were just pushing it a lot harder than you are used to and that is what got to you? Either way, it don't sound like all that much fun feeling near death for the last three miles or so. Dehydration will make you feel like death warmed over too. If you're a heavy sweater, you HAVE TO replace your electrolytes as well as the water you lose in sweat. I've downed a quart of gatorade pre-ride and drank two 24 oz bottles on a hot 30 miler and wished for more.