bonk

v. in bicycling, to become exhausted. Also bonk out and bonking, n.

According to Wikipedia:

In endurance sports, particularly cycling and running, hitting the wall or the bonk describes a condition caused by the depletion of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles, which manifests itself by precipitous fatigue and loss of energy. Milder instances can be remedied by brief rest and the ingestion of food or drinks containing carbohydrates. The condition can usually be avoided by ensuring that glycogen levels are high when the exercise begins, maintaining glycogen levels during exercise by eating or drinking carbohydrate-rich substances, or by reducing exercise intensity.

Amazing isn’t it, that you can repeat the same mistake so many times in one life. Skip breakfast, have a coffee or two, skip lunch. Hey here’s a great idea, let’s go for a long XC ride in the afternoon. Take water, nothing else. Clever…. NOT.

Not So Amazing Fact: It is MUCH MUCH harder to uni when bonked. In fact, bonking while out on a long unicycle ride is an especially unpleasant form of fun. On a bicycle at least you can go floppy and mindlessly wheel home. Not so on one wheel, it quickly becomes a long long way back home.

Here’s a tip for ya – eat well leading up to a ride, eat and drink well during a ride. Oh yeah, and be sure to top up your energy stores following a ride.

Not rocket science hey?! Until the next bonk then…