Purple patch...then boom.

morstar

Just curious really!

It doesn't matter what sport it is but what i have repeatedly experienced over the years is that when I truly do push myself to the limits of my endurance I exeperience about a 10 minute period of truly effortless performance very quickly followed by a fairly rapid and comprehensive drop in performance.

I was just curious if anybody else has ever experienced a similar purple patch of effortless performance like this just before hitting the, wall so to speak?

I went on a balls to the wall ride today with the full intention of crawling home with nothing left to give. Mission accompished but once again I experienced this scenario. I had 10 minutes of effortless riding in the high twenties and shortly afterwards was struggling to maintain 20 with a tail wind and eventually crawled home at some pitifully low mph. It's no longer a shock when it happens as I am familiar with the signs but i'm curious to know if it's just me.

CarleyB

This happens to me, a few times within a ride I can be chugging along nicely then all of a sudden it drops off. Can happen a couple of times within a ride.

daviesee

Bonk = lack of nutrition.

Or simply a lack of stamina.

jairaj

yeah it happens to me too what ever form of sport or exercise I do. I put it down to the adrenalin or something kicking in and me getting all excited and burning up all my fuel very quickly leaving me with running on fumes so I crash back to a slow pace. I think I just need to learn to release it slowly and not in one 10min shot.

morstar

daviesee wrote:

Bonk = lack of nutrition.

Or simply a lack of stamina.

It is a lack of stamina from the perspective that I haven't exactly done a huge distance but I'm more curious about this peak beforehand. Is it a documented phenomenon?

I think Jairaj probably has it with adrenaline.

daviesee

morstar wrote:

daviesee wrote:

Bonk = lack of nutrition.

Or simply a lack of stamina.

It is a lack of stamina from the perspective that I haven't exactly done a huge distance but I'm more curious about this peak beforehand. Is it a documented phenomenon?

I think Jairaj probably has it with adrenaline.

I am no expert, as many will testify

If you have not been doing long distances, it could be that you are doing enough to get the endorphin rush and then crash & burning.

benno68

I wonder what heart rate zone you're in? Everyone has a limit and there's a fairly fine line between putting in effort that can be maintained and going over the mark.

I rode up past Castell Coch last week and felt great for quiet a while, maintaining 14mph which is good for me, then it ramped up slightly and my legs went to jelly.

Like Daviesee, I'm no expert either.

White Line

I thought this was going to be about hitting some diesel and decking it. Luckily it's not.

I reckon sorting out your diet a bit will help. A lot.

morstar

Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify. I've read my original post and realise it may be slightly misleading.

I didn't just go all out for ten minutes and then blow up. I had been riding for nearly two hours when I had this gracious 10 minute period followed by the big performance dip.

I was quite happy to leave everything on the road as that was the plan. I just find this pattern odd.

Don't know if that changes any of the answers but it is all food for thought.

cat funt

I thought this was going to be about hitting some diesel and decking it.


Which I witnessed today near Falkirk-guy got a sore one, I couldn't help but remember a saying we had at school "ahh neck !!!"

benno68

I'm guessing that you've eaten before the ride, a munch on an energy bar after an hour and continuing to do so is worth doing. If you are eating it may well be that you are simply red lining for too long causing you to blow.

I dunno what level you are, but riding solo in the high 20's for 2 hours is bloody good going - wish I could do it.

Are you using an HRM - just wondering what your max heart rate is and what your heart rate is leading up to the blow out.

CarleyB

I wouldn't have said it was bonking cos I can pick the pace back up and carry on without eating anything.

morstar

Benno68 wrote:

I dunno what level you are, but riding solo in the high 20's for 2 hours is bloody good going - wish I could do it.

Are you using an HRM - just wondering what your max heart rate is and what your heart rate is leading up to the blow out.

Two hours in high twenties... I wish.
Nothing so glamorous I'm afraid. I had done an hour and a quarter into a headwind averaging 19 mph. Having had a short 5 min break and some flapjack I headed home knowing I would have a tail wind for the majority of the ride home. Plan was simple. Maintain mid twenties until I blew up, I was keen to explore my limits which involves destructive testing. After about 7-8 miles of the return I was conscious that I had hit the purple patch. High twenties for about 10 minutes and then kaput. I knew exactly what was coming when I hit the effortless patch. In the end the trip back took exactly as long as the outward leg with the headwind. That is not an issue as this was a limit finding exercise. I am just very curious about this phenomenon. Not using HR at the moment but planning to do so soon. I have an old hr monitor that eats batteries.

daviesee

Just a guess but......

For the first 7-8 miles you digested the flapjack and then got the boost of fuel.
10 minutes later the fuel burnt out and fatigue set in..........