C_Heath

Ive been riding for three years and I thought that I have bonked but I didnt. Saturday, I bonked and it was a superbonk. For starters, I slept in and didnt eat what I had planned but I did take it on the bike. I was a little rushed. The ride was myself and 3 friends, one who was a newbie 150 pound 23 year old that I knew was gonna wanna show his stuff.

The route was 50 miles, 25 miles to the summit of squirrels spur in Virginia on the VA NC border. I picked it myself but had never ridden it and a mistake it was. They waited on me once before the climb but I maintained pace most of the ride, until the foot of the mountain. If Im correct its 6.1 miles and 3,000 feet.

They left my site by mile 1, One is a seasoned rider and the other, well, you know. Im about 13 pounds heavier than my most fit weight (172) and had not ridden in 6 days. I had to stop, which I had never had to do on a climb like this. I have always had the option to hit the triple gear but it had been over a year since I had used the small gear.

At almost halfway up, I knew that something was wrong, When I stood, it lasted 5-10 seconds and I was toast, when I sat and spun, my quads were on fire. I knew it was coming. A mile later, I was unclipped wondering what in the world. Heartrate through the roof at the slightest effort.

I have NEVER in 3+ years of Road cycling, fell while being clipped in and after my rest period, I clipped in, started to spin off and the bike didnt move, instead, I hit the pavement hard. Cell phone, oatmeal cookie, water everywhere. I was in shock. Did I just fall?

I started walking and pushing and was shamed and in shock. My legs simply would not mash anymore, not even in the small ring. My buddies came back, I told them to just go, get my car and come back. We were 25+ miles from home and I had not yet made the summit.

I did make the summit and the decent but I wanted off that bike in a bad way. I made 41 miles of the 50 and the last 15 were pure agony. As for the others, they picked me up and though I was not proud, I was dam happy to see them pulling off to the side of the road to get me.

I have no idea what happened except to say that I simply was not ready for a ride like that. It opened my eyes and Im not superman like I thought.

Just thought Id share, it was probably the worse day of my cycling life.

Stallionforce

Hey man, don't sweat it. Maybe you just need a slower build-up for a while. Some careful interval workouts, and in a couple of months you'll be dropping your buddies!

csr

Issues having to do with physical fitness are never a legitimate cause of shame, except perhaps for a person who does absolutely nothing to maintain himself (I mean, nothing at all, to the point of becoming unnecessarily obese).

crghill

Hey, do not feel bad. I had this happen back in June and it was not fun. I felt like crap for the better part of two days. My mistakes were similar to yours. A light dinner the night before and little breakfast. Coupled with riding partners that were new and more advanced than I was, I bonked at mile 26 or so of a 43 miler. I limped in by myself. To me it was a combination of things. Light dinner, no breakfast, not eating on the bike and moving at a pace I wasn't used to. I also think I was nursing a sinus infection. Take it easy for a couple days and plan your ride, ride your plan next time. Food is fuel!

JBS103

Some days you can go and go and go, and others, there is absolutely nothing.

Just one of them days.

C_Heath

yea, bad planning, I agree. Thx u guys rule

enjoi07

its good you stopped, listen to the body, take a good rest and ease back into it, you would be suprized how quick fitness can fade

EventServices

Doesn't sound like the bonk.
The bonk has nothing to do with burning quads or tired legs.

If you felt weak throughout every corner of your body...
If you felt like you wanted to lie down and take a nap....
If you felt like you coult eat your arms...

Then, you're in Bonk Country.

Otherwise, it sounds as though you were visiting the village of in-over-your-head.

wfrogge

That wasnt a bonk

oboeguy

Un jour sans. We all have them, but it doesn't sound like you bonked, in the true sense of the word. It appears that instead you cracked. I seem to do that, oh, once a season or so.

explody pup

I loved that game.

C_Heath

Landis is Cracked! Landis is Cracked! Oh, I remember that one last year. Ill agree, I cracked, not bonked.

Hipcycler

....what 'event' said....agree 100 percent.

I feel for ya though....it's tough to hit one of those days, let-alone on a day when there is some sort of group ride going on.

From experience all I can tell you is that feeing really bad about a bad day somehow, some way makes the really great days even better. It's all part of the game.

Get back out there and soon enough you'll be posting about a great one.

retro_rider

I haven't ridden all summer because of a broken wrist... this story makes me dread the day I get back on and watch all my friends fly up the first hill while I pant an moan...

SA_Brak

I don't understand why you still made the climb when you were feeling so bad and had no way to replenish your energy. You certainly risked further injury instead of just packing it in and calling it a day. Especially when you could have been coming down with something and made things worse by trying to "tough it out".

within

If your heart rate is difficult to get out of zone 1, your bonking. If you can only think about food (doesn't matter what it is), your bonking. If you have to fight the urge to stop at KFC as you ride by, your bonking. If, however, your heart rate spikes, put a little more effort into it and use it as a good opportunity to see what your max observed HR is. Your getting close when you start to see stars in your peripheral vision.

CharlieWoo

What town are you in?

Gomez308

I had a hard ride the other day. I just had no pep. I felt like I was pedaling uphill into a headwind the whole ride. After I got back I noticed the rear brake was dragging pretty hard on the rim.....

C_Heath

on the NC VA border. Winston Salem area or a little further North.

CharlieWoo

Yeah, I just moved to Mt. Airy 3 weeks ago. Squirrel Spur is practically out my front door. Too bad I'm not a climber.

Hickeydog

I feel your pain. I once went on a 75 miler ride with 3 4 other people. It was a moderate ride, with some hills. At mile 50, I just lost it all. We were going up a hill and then I hit that brick wall. All I could think about was the get together with my friends at outback, but more importantly, that 20 oz steak calling my name. BUT I MADE IT!!!! keep going. everyone bonks.

C_Heath

CharlieWoo, u got a pm

mrt10x

some days you are the hammer...some days you are the nail. Definately a crack not a bonk.. to me a bonk almost feels like flu symptoms. Not that I have ever bonked.. but I had someone in the Navy describe it to me once

v1k1ng1001

there's always bowling

Nachoman

We've all been there. And we'll all be there again.