My worst day ever on a bike

**Dial_tone** · July 17th, 2006, 11:49 AM

At 10AM yesterday I went out for a 45 mile bike ride…not really a big deal as I do that most every Saturday and sometimes again on Sunday. Usually I eat two meals before I go out or have one and a fairly large dinner the night before to top off my glycogen stores. I also add a scoop of Accelerade to each of my water bottles for another 40gm carbs. I usually end the ride feeling like I could have done another 20 miles easily.
Well, today didn’t quite go as planned. First off it hit 91 degrees today. I Second, I had next to nothing for dinner last night. This morning I had a bowl of cereal and some yogurt at 8:30am. Third, I forgot the Accelerade in my water. Fourth, I was probably underhydrated already.
The route is a simple out and back loop. The first 5 miles of the ride are mostly downhill which obviously means the last 5 miles are mostly uphill.
My heart rate is averaging about 160bpm, which means I’m 5 beats in the red as far as anerobic threshold goes; translation - if I don’t slow down I’m gonna be a hurtin puppy when I hit those last few climbs. I try to stay around 155-160, although I easily get up to 175-180bpm on super steep hills. I got about 2/3 thru the ride and I’m realizing I’m not having a good day. I’m getting passed by ass hats I can normally stomp pedaling with one leg. No shit, a guy about 60 passed me like I was pedaling backwards. Granted this is California - the cycling mecca where the 60-year olds are still riding 200 miles a week. Even on the flat section it was all I could do to keep the pedals going around. I managed to draft behind two chicks for about 3-4 miles. They didn’t really have great asses however the Buttman was desperate. I would’ve glued myself to Richard Simmons’ onion if he had been there. Knowing the hills I have to climb to get back to my car I’m trying to conserve what nonexistent energy I have left.
I stopped twice on the hilly section even though I made it up at a pretty good clip. However after that I was just an absolute zombie. On the final 2 miles which are virtually flat I stopped about every quarter mile and slumped over my handlebars completely exhausted. I didn’t have the energy to do anything. One guy stopped to check on me and apparently I managed to say something legible. I was on the verge of hallucinating. I had to pee but there was nowhere private to go on this street. I seriously debated just peeing on myself standing right there.
On a few of those rest stops I think I actually went to sleep right there on my bicycle. The last time I stopped I was less than 150 yards from the finish. I could see the parking lot my car was in right in front of me and I was seriously contemplating thumbing a ride that little distance. You ever see the people wobbling like fools at the end of an Ironman or a marathon? I was about 5-10 minutes away from being that guy. I have no doubt whatsoever that if I had sat down on the curbside I would have been there til weeds grew around me or I got arrested for vagrancy…whichever came first.
Even after spending the rest of the day doing nothing but drinking fluids and watching tv, when I weighed this morning I was still down 2 lbs.
Carbs are good. God bless the carb.

**pigperson** · July 17th, 2006, 10:05 PM

LOL!! I can totally relate, glad ya made it back all in good order though. Where in Cali are you riding?

gg3 · July 18th, 2006, 10:58 AM

I've been there. a 4 hour ride turns into 6 because of flats and missed turns. The whole team was punchy. Then I decide to open my coat up this was January in the northwest. Not only did I have the same bonking experience but I got hypothermia and a nice couple to me to the hospital when they say me slumped over next to a tree.

It's wierd how the brain will shut you down without sugars. The only good thing about it was the doctor lady was hot!

**stephenlavin** · July 18th, 2006, 11:26 AM

this one is a little bit different ...we used to play tour de france when we were younger. This consisted of cycling around our estate or doing a 10km cycle around the village. The estate consisted of sprints around the block ( about 600m) . you would do this a number of times. Anyroad my friend tore around the block and made it back up in record time. I knew i had to produce a lance armstrong performance to have any chance so i tore off . After completing one lap i felt i was in with a shout ..i turned the corner to start my second lap when all of a sudden a car is coming against me. With no other option available i had to swerve to the left which unfortuately took in into the path of a 3 foot high stone wall .....I must have been going 30 kmph when i hit . Luckily i went straight over the wall and took one of the worst falls i ever took. incredibly i could walk home but the bike was never to hit the road again ....He forgave me ....Worst day i ever had on a bike ..lol

**Dial_tone** · July 18th, 2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigperson

LOL!! I can totally relate, glad ya made it back all in good order though. Where in Cali are you riding?

los angeles - south bay

**pigperson** · July 18th, 2006, 04:31 PM

Oh yeah, gotta be hot there!! Nice big climbs to boot too.

**swss** · July 19th, 2006, 04:37 AM

I hear you man, I've had that feeling before too, and the weather in LA has been killer lately.

**FitnessPhotos** · July 19th, 2006, 10:42 AM

Been there a few times; amazing how the body can break down so quickly and so much when you don't give it what it needs. It's like an out of body experience.

eljamis · July 26th, 2006, 09:20 PM

Hi, I live and ride in south Texas so I know heat can kill hydrate well and keep going!

johnptracy · July 26th, 2006, 10:33 PM

OUch. You bonked. I can relate - been there, done that. Felt like it required a giant effort just to move the pedals in slow motion.
I lucked out the last time it happened and stopped at a Mexican restaurant and scrounged a couple of packages of saltine crackers and a stomach full of water.
Still felt like shit, but got home with a bit more energy behind me.
Things like this remind you - like wearing a helmet and padded gloves - that it's a bitch when you don't take care.

**Lil-King** · August 12th, 2006, 09:21 PM

i BEEN THERE ON ONE OF MY OFF ROAD EXCURSIONS. It took like 6 hours from when I left to get back, luckily I had cheetos chips they got me home

.
I guess you should always pack some extra energy source, even than though you might need to bring a tent lol