Autobus

I have noticed a weird thing since I've lost nearly 30 lbs in the last year: I have to eat sooner than I used to on training rides.

Is this because I have less fat reserves? Has anybody else experienced this when they get "near the razor"?

ovoleg

I notice I have to eat much sooner also. But thats probably because I'm pushing harder than I was when I was a bit bigger.

Not sure though...Probably doesnt correlate

VT Biker

My educated (uninformed response) guess is that no, it will not cause you to bonk more. This is because bonking is typically the result of burning through your glycogen-stores in your muscles, and accumulating too much lactic acid in your muscles.

Since you burn fat typically in the Oxygen zone (i.e. - < 70% MHR - which, according to the literature, does not result in lactic acid accumulation), the only time having extra body fat would be beneficial would be if you were trying to ride strictly in a low-stress, low HR ride, and using fat solely. However, even extremely thin people have enough pounds of fat stores to allow them to ride for a considerable amount of time (3,600 calories = 1 pound of fat). So imagine how long it would take for you to burn through 3,600 calories, riding at 60% of your max heart rate? Now imagine that even the most in shape people still have a few pounds of fat available for energy. Even great athletes are around 4 - 5% body fat. 4-5% of 150 pounds is still around 7.5 pounds of fat. As such, I doubt your bonking is a result of having less fat available for your rides.

My guess as to why you feel you bonk more is that the weight loss resulted in not only a loss of fat, but perhaps a loss of some muscle. It is very difficult to lose just fat, especially when using such a heavy cardio based workout.

brianallan

Appetite is also influenced by metabolism. If you're in better shape now then you were +30lbs, your metabolism might be faster as well.

DocRay

That's right. Typical cyclists bonk is not affected by body fat. Body fat is burned at lower intensity because summoning up energy stores from fat is not as efficient as from glycogen stores in muscles. Bonk is also affected by hydration.

roadfix

My general observation riding with skinny guys is that unless they replenish themselves often they tend not to perform well and tire easily on long, distance rides.

SpongeDad

But if the OP isn't porking out at meals, it may be that glycogen stores are lower.

recursive

Indeed. Body fat does not delay the bonk at all.

When I was about 20 pounds heavier, I would bonk at ~35 miles. Now that I'm all trained up, I can go about 50.

DocRay

LOL..yeah, the next Lance:

VT Biker

Is that the new Titanium chair from Litespeed? Who says they are flexy?


Off-Topic: I am usually in favor of a national health-care system until I see pictures like these. Some people just do not deserve subsidized health-care.

foomonkey

Kinda unrelated but kinda not... since I began cycling last year, my appetite is much greater. And when I get hungry (not on the bike), I MUST eat. I can't delay or I'll get sick feeling. Even if it's just an apple or granola bar, I've gotta have something.

anybody else experience this?

explanations? dr. pete?

DocRay

Exercise-induced hypoglycemia. This may be mild, but you should mention it to your doctor next time you see him, likely no big deal, but they should check your blood sugar after starvation.

rbart4506

Guess you haven't ridden with me then...

I ride with a guy who weighs about 35lbs more then me. He does his regular pulls for the first 60km's, then after that it's my wife and I pulling his tired butt around...

Some of us skinny guys do have some endurance...

USAZorro

To counter the OP's anecdotal evidence, at age 48 and 170 lbs, I now have the ability to bonk. When I was 20, and weighed 125, I could ride practically all day with no problem, and very little food.

stapfam

I am 150lbs and up to around 4 hours I am OK. At 6 hours I have to eat- a lot so I start a ride and I start eating. Not much but high carb foods and Carb loaded drink aswell.

operator

Without eating and without drinking (alochol or otherwise). I bonk around the 80km mark with medium-hard riding over relatively flat terrain.

~ 120lbs

skinnyone

It should follow that to a first order, skinny riders would have less glycogen/pound of muscle mass compared to a well built/heavier rider right?

Without eating, 35 miles is my bonk mark.. I am 135#s.. s

spunky

What's being left out of this discussion is the fact that training makes your body more efficient.
Your body adapts to higher levels of stress and over time and you won't use as much energy to perform work at a certain level as prior to training. Also, just saying that you can ride "x" amount of miles before bonking is nearly useless. You need to take into account effort levels, environmental conditions, how hydrated you are and what was eaten prior to riding and how soon before hand.

banerjek

It might be the rides that I'm on, but it seems like the long distance rides are usually dominated by skinny guys -- particularly if there is a lot of climbing. I haven't seen anyone do too well without proper nutrition.

webist

I suppose it is possible that conditioned, skinny guys are bonking before I do. I can't say for sure, but they are likely 20 miles or so ahead of me when it happens, if it indeed does.

roadfix

Perhaps I should try to lose 20 lbs and find out for myself...

operator

Yes, but the heavier guy would also user more energy?

urbanknight

I don't know if it causes you to bonk faster, but I always had to eat more often, and definitely drink more often, than the heavier riders. My coach's rationale was that I had a smaller stomach so I couldn't store as much. Not sure if that's true, but I was always prepared.

ratebeer

Can someone give me the British chuckle on this post title?

Autobus

I'm 6-2 at 176 lbs now. I don't eat huge meals, just enough where I don't go crazy...