What constitutes a Bonk?
03-05-09, 10:24 PM
#26
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I've never had any trouble recovering after I bonked. I used to live in a place where most of the good rides end with a ride up a mountain, so bonking is a really bad idea. I remember bonking twice. Once was on a century, and I just went to sleep by the side of the road instead of riding a few blocks to the end of the ride. I don't think there is usually pain involved, although cramping might be. It becomes clear that there is no energy left to make the muscles move.
On the other hand, last year I had a ride with a lot of climbing where my body was wracked with pain after the last mountain. There is probably some nutritional explanation for what happened, but it wasn't bonk.
On the other hand, last year I had a ride with a lot of climbing where my body was wracked with pain after the last mountain. There is probably some nutritional explanation for what happened, but it wasn't bonk.
03-05-09, 10:34 PM
#27
Announcer
This is the right answer.
If you feel like a hollow shell...
if you feel like your arms are made of the same stuff they make those orange carnival peanut candies out of...
If your legs feel like jelly...
If you see nothing wrong with stealing food from a plate at an outdoor cafe...
If your average speed drops 5mph in the span of a mile...
It usually happens about 2 hours into a ride. Not after one hard effort.
If you feel like a hollow shell...
if you feel like your arms are made of the same stuff they make those orange carnival peanut candies out of...
If your legs feel like jelly...
If you see nothing wrong with stealing food from a plate at an outdoor cafe...
If your average speed drops 5mph in the span of a mile...
It usually happens about 2 hours into a ride. Not after one hard effort.
Last edited by EventServices; 03-05-09 at 10:36 PM. Reason: add humor.
03-05-09, 11:02 PM
#28
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Don't forget the cold sweat.
03-05-09, 11:32 PM
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03-05-09, 11:36 PM
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03-05-09, 11:39 PM
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I know that I didn't "bonk" in the traditional accepted definition, but what would you call not being able to go as fast as normal all in a single word.
03-05-09, 11:41 PM
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03-05-09, 11:45 PM
#34
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bonking is a whole different level...I really thought and felt like I was going to die...it was the worst i've ever felt in my life.
Last edited by chrisvu05; 03-05-09 at 11:49 PM.
03-05-09, 11:53 PM
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Exactly. On the few occasions I've bonked I've felt totally demoralized and depressed. Utter despair at being miles from home and unable to summon the energy and will to turn the crank. Inability to concentrate, loss of peripheral vision. It's the worst.
03-06-09, 12:15 AM
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03-06-09, 12:15 AM
#38
Has coddling tendencies.
To the OP: You didn't bonk. You blew up. It happens to the best of us.
03-06-09, 12:19 AM
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Or in my case I was only 3 miles from home, which would normally be 10-15 minutes...and I did not have the energy to get back on my bike let alone pedal home...the only reason I made it home was I realized that if I didn't get out of the heat soon I would most likely end up in the hospital. Your body can do crazy things when you think you might die.
03-06-09, 02:43 AM
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I've only had two cases where it was a for-sure bonk, but numerous others where I was on my way there and took care of it by eating something.
Once was while I was trail running, and once was at about mile 100 of a 103 mile ride. I almost didn't make it on that last one. I couldn't see straight. I was shaking. I had huge floating white spots in my vision like I had been staring at the sun. I nearly ran off the road. The scariest part was the mental confusion and depression, and fear really. I had to make a specific mental effort to push the pedal on each downstroke. Left leg. Right leg.
Luckily I haven't had it get that bad since. When I sense it coming on a bit of quick carb intake usually takes care of it. I don't regularly use GU, but I always carry one or two for an emergency shot when needed.
Once was while I was trail running, and once was at about mile 100 of a 103 mile ride. I almost didn't make it on that last one. I couldn't see straight. I was shaking. I had huge floating white spots in my vision like I had been staring at the sun. I nearly ran off the road. The scariest part was the mental confusion and depression, and fear really. I had to make a specific mental effort to push the pedal on each downstroke. Left leg. Right leg.
Luckily I haven't had it get that bad since. When I sense it coming on a bit of quick carb intake usually takes care of it. I don't regularly use GU, but I always carry one or two for an emergency shot when needed.
03-06-09, 04:41 AM
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I bonked once after only a ~20 mile ride. I tried to climb the hill to get back home and couldn't. I'd pedal for about 50 feet then have to pull over to the side and completely stop. It got to the point where I couldn't even get back on the bike. I ended up walking a mile to get to the top and coasted down. I couldn't even pedal lightly. When I got back, I proceeded to fall down the stairs to my apartment.
I was slurring words and having cold sweats for about 2 hours till the food I wolfed down digested.
I still have no idea why I bonked that day. Hopefully it never happens again.
The other time I could feel a bonk coming by around mile 65 of a 75 mile ride with no food (oops). A king sized snickers and a clifbar rescued me. I could literally feel the food rejuvenating me as it went down my throat. All was well after that.
I was slurring words and having cold sweats for about 2 hours till the food I wolfed down digested.
I still have no idea why I bonked that day. Hopefully it never happens again.
The other time I could feel a bonk coming by around mile 65 of a 75 mile ride with no food (oops). A king sized snickers and a clifbar rescued me. I could literally feel the food rejuvenating me as it went down my throat. All was well after that.
03-06-09, 05:51 AM
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Blood glucose level drop below 60 mg/dl.
03-06-09, 08:21 AM
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03-06-09, 08:53 AM
#45
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A bonk is simply when you find yourself in cartoon land and while slowing to a stop on your bike.. a cartoon wolf "BONKS!" you over the head with one of those oversized cartoon bonking mallets!
I'm right and you know this.
I'm right and you know this.
03-06-09, 09:11 AM
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Just my opinion, bonking is not dehydration, and some folks ride descriptions sound far more like dehydration than bonking.
I've dehydrated before, even when not doing physical activity. I was dehydrated so bad on a long motorcycle ride through the desert on a day when it was over 110 degrees, after many hours of riding and not drinking all day, I came up over a rise and could not remember which way to roll the throttle to slow down!!!!!
I have also bonked. My first bonk was in my first long 100 + mile road race. It was something like 3, 35 mile loops with many long climbs. The first lap I noticed folks on the side of one long shallow climb handing their riders food and drink, geeeeze, who needs that? (did I mention I was new to racing!). On the third lap, on the flats I was in no pain, no burn in my legs, no gasping for breath, I just could not pedal, my legs would barely turn the cranks. I could not figure out what was wrong with me. Just a 1/2 hour before I was moving with the lead group and now I was hopelessly behind the pelethon and no matter what I did my legs would not move any faster......I had run out of "gas". Can you say, "DNF"?
I've dehydrated before, even when not doing physical activity. I was dehydrated so bad on a long motorcycle ride through the desert on a day when it was over 110 degrees, after many hours of riding and not drinking all day, I came up over a rise and could not remember which way to roll the throttle to slow down!!!!!
I have also bonked. My first bonk was in my first long 100 + mile road race. It was something like 3, 35 mile loops with many long climbs. The first lap I noticed folks on the side of one long shallow climb handing their riders food and drink, geeeeze, who needs that? (did I mention I was new to racing!). On the third lap, on the flats I was in no pain, no burn in my legs, no gasping for breath, I just could not pedal, my legs would barely turn the cranks. I could not figure out what was wrong with me. Just a 1/2 hour before I was moving with the lead group and now I was hopelessly behind the pelethon and no matter what I did my legs would not move any faster......I had run out of "gas". Can you say, "DNF"?
03-06-09, 09:25 AM
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My wife says she can tell if I bonked when she comes home, and there is a white/salt CSI-type outline of a body on the kitchen floor. She found that a couple of years ago when I had to lay there for about an hour after I bonked before I could even change clothes. I wish I had a photo, it was pretty funny.
Like UMD says, if you have to ask, you probably didn't.
Like UMD says, if you have to ask, you probably didn't.
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03-06-09, 10:30 AM
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Just my opinion, bonking is not dehydration, and some folks ride descriptions sound far more like dehydration than bonking.
I've dehydrated before, even when not doing physical activity. I was dehydrated so bad on a long motorcycle ride through the desert on a day when it was over 110 degrees, after many hours of riding and not drinking all day, I came up over a rise and could not remember which way to roll the throttle to slow down!!!!!
I have also bonked. My first bonk was in my first long 100 + mile road race. It was something like 3, 35 mile loops with many long climbs. The first lap I noticed folks on the side of one long shallow climb handing their riders food and drink, geeeeze, who needs that? (did I mention I was new to racing!). On the third lap, on the flats I was in no pain, no burn in my legs, no gasping for breath, I just could not pedal, my legs would barely turn the cranks. I could not figure out what was wrong with me. Just a 1/2 hour before I was moving with the lead group and now I was hopelessly behind the pelethon and no matter what I did my legs would not move any faster......I had run out of "gas". Can you say, "DNF"?
I've dehydrated before, even when not doing physical activity. I was dehydrated so bad on a long motorcycle ride through the desert on a day when it was over 110 degrees, after many hours of riding and not drinking all day, I came up over a rise and could not remember which way to roll the throttle to slow down!!!!!
I have also bonked. My first bonk was in my first long 100 + mile road race. It was something like 3, 35 mile loops with many long climbs. The first lap I noticed folks on the side of one long shallow climb handing their riders food and drink, geeeeze, who needs that? (did I mention I was new to racing!). On the third lap, on the flats I was in no pain, no burn in my legs, no gasping for breath, I just could not pedal, my legs would barely turn the cranks. I could not figure out what was wrong with me. Just a 1/2 hour before I was moving with the lead group and now I was hopelessly behind the pelethon and no matter what I did my legs would not move any faster......I had run out of "gas". Can you say, "DNF"?
03-06-09, 10:37 AM
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