Southern California - Bonking at the start

Finally got to ride today after not riding the last 7 days. My legs felt dead, had trouble even pulling 12mph! at the start. Tried a couple of sprints but yuk. Just tried to warm up but with no life in my legs it was weird. After about 8 miles started to feel better then stopped for about 10minutes to answer the phone. After that perked up and started to hit 14 to 16 mph. After 12 miles felt like my old(65) self again and started to hit 24 mph. Slowed down again to rest at 18 mph for a bit and got passed. After a few minutes started to run him down as my legs came all the way back. Had to pull 24 to 27 mph to catch then pass him. Held that for a bit then shut it down as my left hammy started to bark. Ended the ride with my hammy a bit thight
so i did manage 51 miles. First time i bonked at the start. Hope it dose not happen again. Have anyone else felt like that?

Yeah that happens to me when I have to force myself to ride.

Whenever I let my body decide when to go, its all good .

Certainly not a bonk but just slow to warm up. Like many, I have hills to contend with in the first 5 miles of any ride from my house...I can push things too hard at the start and suffer the rest of the ride. If I do this, I often find myself thinking "Why am I doing this? Is this fun?"...but then things improve as I warm up, which it sounds like you did.

On my ride yesterday, I was very conscientious about my level of effort during the first 10 miles and didn't push things. I only did 24 miles but I was able to meter out effort and had a very satisfying ride overall.

There are no hills for the first 7 miles just underpasses. Maybe i should try to warm up before hoping on the bike. Usually i feel good to start then tight then after 12 or so miles start to feel great. Maybe not enough sleep, or just an off day.

I felt that way back in 07 on Breathless Agony. I couldn't get my legs to warm up for nothin'. They felt fried riding through the neighborhoods at the "start" of the ride!:p My legs didn't want to move and I didn't start to warm up til after Oak Glen. Finally my legs loosened up on the way up Angeles Oaks. That was a sucky day but those P&J sandwiches at the rest stop did wonders.:D...I figure if you can make it on your worst day, you can make it on your best day. I Wasn't bonking, I just sucked that day! Felt great the next morning though!:D

My indicator for rides before going to work, is to walk around the block. Its about a quarter of a mile and it tells me a lot about how I'm feeling. Half way thru that walk, I try to do some deep breathing to get oxygenated. If that walk is not good, it translates to a longer warm up for the ride. Then I start thinking about what I ate for dinner the night before.

Finally got to ride today after not riding the last 7 days. My legs felt dead, had trouble even pulling 12mph! at the start. Tried a couple of sprints but yuk. Just tried to warm up but with no life in my legs it was weird. After about 8 miles started to feel better then stopped for about 10minutes to answer the phone. After that perked up and started to hit 14 to 16 mph. After 12 miles felt like my old(65) self again and started to hit 24 mph. Slowed down again to rest at 18 mph for a bit and got passed. After a few minutes started to run him down as my legs came all the way back. Had to pull 24 to 27 mph to catch then pass him. Held that for a bit then shut it down as my left hammy started to bark. Ended the ride with my hammy a bit thight
so i did manage 51 miles. First time i bonked at the start. Hope it dose not happen again. Have anyone else felt like that?

Welcome to getting old :-)

OK, so I just turned 70 a couple of months ago.

I think the 7 day lay off might have something to do with it.

Often, when I don't run or ride for a couple of days, I feel sluggish the next time I exercise.