First of all, my father strongly encouraged me to stop riding ... when I was throwing up in the ditch, he packed up my bicycle into the car and told me to get in and that I was not continuing. For hours, I couldn't stop throwing up, but my mother (a nurse) diligently kept me stocked in ice chips, the only thing I could drink, and a bit of salt. She told me that if I was not able to stop throwing up by a certain time, she was going to take me to the hospital to have me put on an IV.

It had been quite a warm day, and instead of consuming my usual diet of salted almonds, beef jerky, and orange juice, I opted for a sugary foods and slurpies. Big mistake. Since then I've also started taking electrolyte tablets regularly on my long rides.