Quote:
Originally Posted by ToddB
Well last night basically sucked for me. I apparently didn't eat properly before the ride and had some serious issues coming back. Thank yous go out to Rick and Ben for doing everything they could to get me back. I just couldn't make it. That won't happen again!!!!!!
Seriously, Rick and Ben thank you for sticking with me. I really wanted to complete the ride but my body was telling me otherwise.
See you all next week!! (This time I'll eat something on the way to MacGregor.)
|
It happens. I think there are two groups of cyclists - those who have bonked on a past ride, and those who will bonk on a future ride. Even Lance Armstrong bonked
on the ascent of la col de Joux-Plane in the 16th stage of the 2000 Tour de France (Courchevel - Morzine). Armstrong came back to win the 19th stage and the overall Tour.
I am sorry it happened to you, but if it was not you, it probably would have been someone else. That is why I ride with the back of the group. I am not going to abandon anyone on the ride.
It is amazing how many calories are needed to ride. My computer estimates that I burned 1928 calories last night. It was probably a little more than that, because I had the computer set for the weight of my road bike and was riding my hybrid. It is also amazing how efficient the body is. Assuming one rides the same distance, how fast one rides makes very little difference in the number of calories required; however, how fast one rides makes a huge difference in from where those calories come. At slower speeds (lower heart rate) the body can convert fat to glucose fast enough to keep up with the demand, but the faster one rides (the closer one gets to the maximum heart rate), the greater the percentage of the energy is that must come from stored or dietary glucose. Once the glucose stores are gone, it it not possible to maintain that pace. With training, one can shift the point where conversion of fat to glucose cannot keep up, but no matter how well conditioned one is, there is a point where the only thing that will provide energy to the muscles fast enough is sugar.
If we had gone out slower last night, you would have been fine, but you hit the point where you could no longer provide glucose to the muscles fast enough to keep up with the demand.
I had a similar situation in last year's Bike MS. I went out with a group that I should have known was too fast for me. I kept up with them for 60 miles, but by then, I knew I had to slow down or I would not finish. At the 60 mile point, we were averaging 22 mph. For the next 15 miles, I tried to maintain 18 mph, but by 75 miles, I could no longer do that. I averaged about 12.5 mph for the last 25 miles. In previous years, I had maintained a steady 18 mph for the entire ride and felt great at the end. Last year, my overall average was still 18 mph, but because I went out too fast, I could barely finish and felt horrible at the end.
06-12-2009, 11:15 AM
