Cycling hangover

StefanH

Oh boy, yesterday afternoon and evening was a complete write-off! I've been off the bike for a week (rib injury) and yesterday was the first time back on it. I needed to go to the LBS to have a new drivetrain fitted, so it was a good excuse to get back on and ride.

I forced myself to take it easy... mostly. Once the endorphins kicked in though, I gave it some effort [8D] Nothing too drastic, just warming the legs up again and getting the feel of the bike (rib injury was caused by an off, didn't realise how nervous my riding would be afterwards).

Anyway, I spend a really enjoyable 45 minutes at the shop talking with Peter Bird (whilst he's rather rapidly taking my bike to bits and telling me all sorts of things) and his lovely assistant (whose name escapes me, oops!).

So then I cycle home. Except I kinda don't, because I take a wrong turning. As it's a supremely nice day, I don't much mind and I decide to have a pootle around Ironbridge. Mistake number one.

Mistake number 2 was beleiving I'd got enough water with me and <i>then</i> climbing the longest and steepest hill I've ever climbed. Inner ring all the way to the top. A quivering mess when I got to the top (felt great though!).

After another few miles of meandering, I realise I've got a 10 mile trip back home, I'm just starting to dehydrate and I've been out in the sun for 3 hours with no protection. I dive into the nearest pub (The Meadow Inn, very nice), down an OJ at the bar and take 2 packs of salted crisps and a large cola out into the beer garden.

Then my vision starts going wonky because I've got serious calorie-debt. I drink a Bulmers, vision clears up [:I]

Taxi home (œ6.50, I give him a tenner). I make an enormous Raspberry, strawberry and orange smoothie and down half (a good pint or so). Eat a big bowl of muesli and that's it, I'm done for. Mega headache, feel like I've got a serious hangover. Have a bath, watch telly and then the best I can manage is a tin of beans for tea. Bedtime.

I am feeling <i>much</i> improved this morning, which I am eternall grateful for! The only remnants of yesterday are that my left knee has a slight twinge (stay off bike today!) and my rib is no better today than it was yesterday.

Lesson learned. [8D]

saz

Hmmmm.... flapjacks would've helped.[;)]

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StefanH

Saz: The most ridiculous thing is, if I had gone and picked them up from the sorting office yeterday morning, like I was <i>supposed</i> to, I would have been OK! As it is, I'm going there tomorrow instead.

Doh! [:)]

Vegeeta

Suns a killer... I only got 22 miles done yesterday but I drank an entire 3 litre Camelbak of water+GO and a spare bottle of just water and still ran out about a mile from home!

Time to invent a 5 litre bladder!

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Unknown

Add a 2ltr upside down coke bottle to your bag, with a t-junction to your camelbak tube. Run the hose through a hole in the lid sealed with silicone sealant. Should do the job, alternatively, freeze one at home, stick it in your bag, then halfway round it'll have melted and you can fill your camelbak with ice cool water.

My Scott

My Single Speed

Always remember to pick your Uni according to the local trails or you'll be stuck with nowhere to ride for three years!

Aux1

I rode with some oldschool hardcore guys today, they took me to the steepest uphill possible, wherever I sat to rest I left a pool of sweat lol [:D]
I thought we'd be going the familiar route with some water springs along the way so I didn't take much water... But we didn't so I ran out. Tried to drink from a creek but the water tasted strange so I spat it out. Who knows what happened upstream... [xx(]
But then, the mega experienced lead guy started pulling out beer cans from his backpack. He had a small bottle of rakia too! And as I took a few gulps, it numbed all the pain! I pedalled up in the first gear like a maniac, had a great time, lots of laughs, then did a fast and exciting descent, and the main dude invited us to his yard for more drinking... It was the most alcoholic ride I ever had! [:D] I'm sitting at home now, head hurts, and I'm still drunk... lol I gotta be careful with those mainacs again [:D] Hope I recover for work tomorrow!

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KTM Ultra Flite 2007

Unknown

I used to ride home drunk from darts games. Turns you into a pseudo freerider, looking for obstacles to hop!

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Wolf

I had a similar experience yetserday too... Went on the drink on Saturday, woke up early on Sunday with a slight headache, but ate a banana and a cereal bar, downed with a cupa tea and off I went into the sun to try out my new sunglasses (any excuse is good for a ride [:D]). Got home a couple of hours later after an enjoyable 15 mile ride of nasty uphills and sweet quick downs, locked the bike in the shed, sat on the couch to watch the rugby 7's, and a nasty hypoglycemia kicks in. Sat there for 15 min just concentrating not no pass out or throw up, managed to get up and prepare a glass of warm milk with loads of sugar in it, then back to the couch to concentrate for another 30 min not to pass out/be sick. Scared the feck out of me as I was at home alone, but then my flatmate came home and the sugar started kicking in. Have to remember having more consistent meals before/during rides...

Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07

StefanH

Is that what it's called, hypoglycemia? That sounds much cooler than "I feel like cr@p" when it next happens and I have to explain my sorry state to my housemates [:)]

futon river crossing

sounds like the symptoms of heatstroke to me

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Wolf

Hypoglycemia is the term used for a lack of glucose in the blood. I have never had headaches with it, but you get dizzy and feel a bit sick until your body reacts and burns some fats or you give it some sugar. It can actually be quite dangerous and send you into a coma if you are not careful... Headache sounds like heathstroke to me too, but let all this be a lesson to us all and eat/drink properly from now on. [;)]

Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07

Aux1

Well, after two days I feel a bit better! [:)] The beer and rakia refreshed me and helped me to get more c0cky and pedal up, and I guess you sweat it all out too, then have some food up there and drink water to make it up.

However, I think the mistake was to go drinking after the whole ride! Your body needs water, and I heard alcohol even makes you dehydrate faster! Probably that's why I felt like cr@p after the ride and yesterday... [:I]

P.s. what do you guys think, is it better to eat something saltier like a steak or beans, or sweet food like strudels, when you reach the lodge at the top?

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<font size="1">To clip or not to clip, that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind of men to suffer the dings and contusions of unclipp'd riding, or to bind thy feet against a sea of gnarly singletrack and by these contraptions, ride o'er them with ease. To clip... to slip no more, and by clipping to end the buttache and the thousand natural shocks that ryders are heir to; tis a consummation devoutly to be honed. No clip - to slip perchance to be thrashed most heinously...</font id="size1">

KTM Ultra Flite 2007

Wolf

You'll need some sugar to keep your glucose up and minerals... Lucozade/Aqcuarius style drink + cake should do the trick. I am never "proper" hungry after a ride. Usually have enough with a salad and a nice sleep...

Marin Eldridge Grade 07
GT Avalanche 1.0 07