Did I hit the wall / bonk?

jjsh

I had an incident just under a week ago that I had convinced myself was my first ever 'bonk', but reading various posts on here I'm now doubting this, and wonder if I just blew up. The reason I would like to know which it was is because, as I understand it, one is basically down to fueling, and the other down to general fitness, so avoiding it would require slightly different things, if you see what I mean.

So, I had been to work and eaten normally at both breakfast and lunch. Had a cereal bar when I got back from work, then went out on a ride. I had planned a 55 mile(ish) route, which is at the top end of what I have done before. The route also took in several hills around here. I have done something similar before without problems, but that was in a group. On my own, I have only really done this distance with little, or indeed any, hills at all.

The first 30 miles or so were fine, and I picked up a few PB's on some of the climbs. Then I came into a town, which I intended to skirt round, and cycle out for a final, flat, 20 miles or so. Suddenly, and I a mean in a matter of 30 secs, I totally lost it. I couldn't cycle up the slightest inclince unless i was on the granny ring, and in the lowest gear on the back. I couldn't really see very well, and concentrating on the traffic was really hard. I was paranoid, all of a sudden, about clipping out, as I didn't feel I had the strength to twist my ankles ~ silly, I know, but thats how I felt. Finaly, I realised things were serious when I nearly ran a red light ~ I cycled up to it, and saw it change to red but my brain took ages to proceess that this meant stop. At this point, I thought I would abandon the ride and head home (10 miles). I had also run out of carb drink by now ( 2 x 500ml bottles).

Those were the hardest 10 miles I have ever done, at a snails pace. I was mentally destroyed, felt like I would break down and cry (really, I kid you not), and the (not very strong at all) head wind felt like a gale force storm that had been sent to specifically kill me. When I got back I knew I should eat, but just sat on the sofa for an hour in a pool of sweat and self pity.

Interestingly, I thougt I would be stiff as a board the next day ~ I often am if I push myself and dont warm down properly. I wasn't ~ I just felt drained. I'll be honest, I couldn't face getting back on my bike for a few days, although I have now been out a few time and feel great again.

Strava showed that I averaged 16.1 mph, and did just shy of 40 miles. That amazes me ~ as I was crawling the last 10 miles so thought the average would be lower than that, given the first part of the ride was the hilly bit. I usually average 17mph, or there abouts, on flatish rides. Nothing amazing, I know, but it gives you a general idea of my pace / fitness levels.

So, was this 'bonking' or just blowing up by running out of steam?

chrisaonabike

Reads much more like proper bonking than just getting tired due to pushing too hard.

I haven't bonked myself, but before I started being disciplined about eating on the longer rides, I did notice the inability to process information, together with a weird, spaced-out sort of feeling which scared me.

On those occasions (it happened two or three times until I figured out what was going on) I ate some flapjack, and carried on slowly, and in ten minutes, felt a rush of energy again, mental and physical.

What did you eat on that ride? You mentioned carb drink?

jjsh

Didn't eat anything on the ride, I'm afraid. Just the drink. Not a mistake I shall be making again!

mattclinton

Bonking is the same as blowing up!

jjsh

Is it? I thought bonking was running out of muscle glycogen, where as blowing up was more a cardio, running out of puff, type of thing ~ i.e. just being tierd / knackered?

mattclinton

Well, it probably depends who you speak to, but in my book it's the same thing!

diamonddog

mattclinton wrote:

Bonking is the same as blowing up!

As above - distance runners call it hitting the wall

Wrath Rob

Sounds like you bonk'd to me. Bonking is running out of your body's fuel so you can't produce enough either to keep exercising at that level of intensity or to fuel your brain properly, hence the light headed feelings sometimes coupled with hallucinations. Not nice nor clever. You need to re-fuel before being able to continue at any realistic pace.

Blowing up is when you go far to hard, e.g. sprinting up a climb, and then can't maintain the effort, having to back right off and recover. Once you've recovered you'll be able to continue riding without having to re-fuel.

maryka

Bonking is your body deciding your glycogen is so low that it needs to go into emergency mode by fuelling your brain and vital organs only, no longer fuelling your muscles. Hence being unable to pedal and barely able to move, plus feeling lightheaded and terrible. Usually there's some warning though, you weren't feeling hungry at all before it happened?

sloppyschleckonds

Did you feel the need to get off your bike and lie down? That's a bonk. Waking up several hours later. You cannot turn a pedal.

cyco2

Because I'm trying to control my weight I find at times I get the 'bonk'. To get over it before a training ride (av.20mph 2 towns)I eat a couple square inches of flapjack or half a mars bar. This amount is good for 30 miles. I also have a litre of energy drink. But I can still sometimes bonk. So, I have now just recently bought a Glucose monitor to check on what is happening. These devices aren't expensive and if you are having problems they may help. I haven't bonked since checking my glucose so can't comment on my glucose level. But I hope I can in time see what's happening to my blood. I cannot help being curious.