Guys and Gals,

I spend my time on the 50+ and Vintage forums, but lurk regularly here. I've learned a lot from the discussions.

My question regards a 27 mile bike ride I had yesterday in very cold weather (for Oklahoma - 25F). I sucked the whole way. I rode with my regular riding buddy and about 5 miles in I commented that he was "kicking my butt" on that ride. We always ride hard but don't usually kill the one who might be a bit slower on any given day. But yesterday, I was dead. My buddy commented on how unusual that was.

Thinking about it later, I remembered that on noon the day previous, I had set a (recent) personal best 1600m swim time of 28:28 in a pool with a water temp. of 84F. (beating my previous by about 25 seconds) I gave it my all and left nothing in the pool. I ate light that evening with only a salad and a small cup of chili. I had a small bowl of semi-sweet breakfast cereal just before the ride.

My riding partner and I are wondering if I had enough "fuel" in the tank for our ride or if something else might have been going on. Neither of us knows much about real nutrition but are interested in what you guys talk about re: glygcogen debt, etc.

Rode a nice quick 17 with the same guy today and was back to form.

Thanks for any answers and for the interesting prior posts and threads.

Tyson

You did a lot the day before, to recover from that you need a high carb dinner. If you are going to hammer on the bike in the cold for 25 miles you need carbs for dinner and breakfast. I don't know much about swimming but if you're muscles were aching and sore it takes a full day off to recover to 100% too.
Not enough to eat, maybe too soon after the swim.

2Many,

Thanks for the response. It's just wierd. 35 years of being an adult athlete and this is the first time I have experienced what others call a "bonk." BTW, carbos normally account for 80-85 percent of my caloric intake. They didn't during this 48 hour period.

Tyson

Sometimes after a particularly hard day, it is best to just rest or pedal easy.

not enough fuel plus recovering from the swim plus the cold temps probably all had a say in it. maybe you're just beginning to get a cold or something as well? you might want to take it easy for your next effort so you don't run yourself down too much. it could also be mental exhaustion, of which often gets the better of me during the winter. it makes some rides a lot harder than they should be.

2Many,

Thanks for the response. It's just wierd. 35 years of being an adult athlete and this is the first time I have experienced what others call a "bonk." BTW, carbos normally account for 80-85 percent of my caloric intake. They didn't during this 48 hour period.

Tyson

I have done the exact same thing. It helped me learn the warning signs when a bonk may be coming and to remember to eat right.

In fact I tried the Atkins diet for a short time, very low carbs. I ride mostly long all day rides, 75 to 130 miles at a time, mini vacations. I thought I could carb myself up starting at breakfast and eating throughout the day. Having been carb depleted up until the day before. After my all day ride I went to dinner with my friends, ate dinner, and passed out while walking out.They caught me as I was falling I think. When I related this to my friends, three of them had similar stories. I have to keep my carbs up and start loading up for a long ride the night before.

I hate it when you learn by making the mistake first, don't you? :)

Thanks guys, for the additional responses. I have indeed learned from this little episode. I continue to try to knock off a few more pounds as I point toward a June Oly-distance tri. But I am going to pay a little closer attention to exactly what I eat before high effort days.

Tyson

You should try to eat something fairly high in carbohydrates and protein within 15 to 20 minutes of a strenuous workout. Apparently the body is better able to replace depleted glycogen during that period and glycogen is what feeds the muscles.