Confessions of A Foolish Biker

As I am about to disembark on my next big biking adventure, I want to post two blogs.

This is the first one.

A confession of a careless cyclist.

No. I didn't hit something while I was texting behind the handle bars.

It was, well, different. This is kind of embarrassing.

Here's the backstory.

Since the middle of May I have been enjoying some serious, exciting training and conditioning.

In anticipation of our trek (which starts next Friday!!!) on Old Route 66 west across central Arizona, I have been delighting in a disciplined conditioning program. I have ridden about 1,800 km (about 1,100 miles) to get and keep my legs, lungs, heart, and butt in shape.

All was going well until about August 15 when I went on a simple training ride of about 12 km (7.5 mi). Should have been a non-event. But when I got home I felt like I had rode over 100 km (62 mi). Totally exhausted. But even worse. Within an hour of getting home and taking my shower I was in bed with a blaring headache and severe chills. Slept for 12 hours.

I thought this was weird. But really, I thought, I was just a bug or something I had caught. (A metaphorical bug. Not the kind I always swallow when I ride because I am a mouth breather.) But I did think it strange that I felt fine before the ride.

Did a couple of easy short rides during the next 6 days.

Then on August 25 I went on an almost 3 hour, 33.5 km (20.7 mi) easy pace ride. And when I got home, you guessed it; I had the same physical "symptoms" as the previous weekend.

So I did a lot of googling and asked Brother Mark who is wise in all things bicycle. Based on these consultations, here what I believed happened.

While doing all this great training, I foolishly neglected the care and feeding of my body. I wasn't drinking the important after-ride protein drink essential to muscle repair and strengthening. And I wasn't eating enough high quality carbs to fuel my exercise schedule. As a result, I dangerously depleted my glycogen reserves (Glycogen is the food energy in your blood and tissues which your body utilizes for power when exercising). So I had weak muscles and fumes in my energy tank.

And my body essentially said, "Forget this. I don't perform if you don't provide."

The cure? Here's what I hope will help: Since a 4.3 km (2.6 mi) ride on August 31 (I was puttering along with my daughter's little white dog, Snicket, at 8.5 kph / 5.27 mph -- you probably walk that fast), I have not been on a bike. I have eaten a lot of healthy food. I have drank a lot of protein shakes. I have rested and I have gained about 8 lbs (I kind of miss my almost skinny look. But I will have it back on the third day of our big ride).

I hope I will be rested, and strong, and glycogen replenished when we pedal down Brother's Mark Prescott, Arizona driveway on the morning of September 14 and head north to Ash Fork where we join Route 66.

The lesson learned: Pay as much attention to fueling your body as you do the number of kilometers (miles) you pedal.