Losing power after 50 miles then rediscovering it after 60..

barrybridges
barrybridges Posts: 420
edited April 2013 in Training, fitness and health
Another stupid question from me I'm afraid.

Today's long ride went well, except I suffered quite a bit from 50 miles.

At that point, I really started to notice the strength going in my legs. I didn't bonk (I know that feeling well!), but physically lost the strength to turn the pedals, with the result that my speed dropped from 17/18 down to 11/12 for about 10 miles.

At that point, things picked up and my speed returned.

Ignoring hills and gradients for a moment (which didn't have any effect), what might cause this? Is there some kind of adjustment going on in my body between burning glycogen and burning fat, like there might be when running a marathon (where I've experienced a similiar sensation...slowing down then having a second wind). Is this normal?

Comments

  • alihisgreat
    alihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    eat more food.

    Chances are you didn't eat enough.. slowed down and ate something.. then increased the speed again.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    I have a slightly less dramatic drop off but still a similar effect, i've done a fair few sportive, social and training rides over the years and even now i drop off around 45-50 miles for a few miles then come back very strong - no idea why.

    Last week I was in Mallorca and halfway through an 85 mile ride I picked up significantly turned around and realised I had a full train of people on my wheel chugging along at 35 mph on the flat :lol:

    PS. there might have been a slight tailwind
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Sounds like wind
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • islwyn
    islwyn Posts: 650
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    Sounds like wind

    +1, had this the other day, amazing tail wind out, headwind back and obviously speed dropped.
  • barrybridges
    barrybridges Posts: 420
    Islwyn wrote:
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    Sounds like wind

    +1, had this the other day, amazing tail wind out, headwind back and obviously speed dropped.

    The wind was definitely a factor - I was into the wind on the way back and with the wind on the way out, but even so, it was a relatively brief stretch where I lost my power.

    I think it's probably a combination of this plus not eating enough, as someone else said. For an 80 mile ride I basically had 2 peanut butter sandwiches, with 1/4 of a sandwich every 10 miles roughly. I don't think it was enough.

    Ironically, the peanut butter did actually give me wind.

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