Training & Nutrition - Gels and stomach upset

Yesterday, while on a 33 miler, I bonked. Had a weird feeling, and when I looked down at my computer, I was doing 9 mph! I was earlier tooling along at 17-19, since this was on a flat bike trail. I kicked in overdrive, and thought I had maxed out at about 20, but I looked down again only to see 14 mph showing. I figured that I was shot, and pulled over for a gel and a rest. I took the goo and a 15 oz of water. Soon I was back at it doing a great pace to the end of the ride.

However,...

Once I got off the bike, I started getting very nauseated. This lasted for a good 2 hours after the ride, even after I got in the car and cooled down. This was the second time I took gel (Powerbar gel) during a bonk, with similar results. I have used the gel before when I wasn't bonking, but I knew I needed energy before I finished the ride.

So, has anyone else experienced this? Is there any precautions one should take for replentishment in a bonk?

It was strange that I'd get sick on the gel during a bonk, but not before.

Originally posted by pointyhead
It was strange that I'd get sick on the gel during a bonk, but not before.

Strange indeed. It seems to me that perhaps the bonk made you ill - not the goo. Were you dehydrated? Were you in the sun all day? Maybe you just went out too hard for too long? :confused:

Well, it was the afternoon in Georgia, so it was hot! I didn't think I was dehydrated, in fact I didn't use all of my 2 28 oz bottles. What made me think that it's the gel, was that twice it happened in much the same way within a couple of weeks. But on retrospect, one time I did get violently ill on a 109 degree day, and this was way before gels hit the market.

My wife thinks I overexerted, but then she always tells me that!

Hi,
have some gel when you're not working out. Odds are nothing will happen.
It's easy to get into difficulty. I have a sensitive stomach, and gel doesn't bother me a bit. My guess is you need to replenish a little earlier than what you've been doing. One of my fave ride snacks is mini-pretzels. Salt, starch, and no fat. Wash a few down with a potassium tablet; and I'm ready.

I suspect you were suffering from heat exhaustion as a result of riding about two hours in hot humid weather and not drinking enough liquid. Two water bottles would not be nearly enough liquid for me to ride 33 miles under those conditions.

Try drinking more during your rides. Get a camelback or stop half way at a convenience store for a cold sports drink. If you are driving yourself to heat exhaustion, you are coming way too close to heat stroke.

Originally posted by pointyhead
Well, it was the afternoon in Georgia, so it was hot! I didn't think I was dehydrated, in fact I didn't use all of my 2 28 oz bottles.
If you didn't finish both 28oz bottles before the end of the ride you were probably getting dehydrated.

Did you have problems with leg cramps later in the day?

Running low on water can cause leg cramps or the symptoms you describe.

I didn't have any leg cramps, but my legs did feel real heavy all day Sunday. I thought I was getting plenty of water. I drank a 20 oz bottle of cold water before I started off on the ride, and I peed at the halfway turnaround point.

It was getting really hot the last part of the trip, so most likely I overheated without being aware of it. I'll be more careful next time, for sure!