My only 'hard bonk' happend on a century ride that I was completely unprepared for. I went out hard, really hard, and burned up way too much muscle and liver glycogen too early. At eighty-six miles it felt like I ran into a mountain - it was that sudden and that extreme. I went from clipping along in a pack to falling off the back for no "apparent" reason, like going from level ground to a 20% grade. As hard as I told my legs to pedal, the cranks just would not turn in any gear...it wasn't a lack of focus or mental acuity, it was just physical failure, an inability to generate force anymore. It was surreal, and a bit freaky to my fragile state of mind at that point.
Fortunately, I was about 10 feet from a gas station/mini mart. Apu inside hooked me up with gatorade, candy bars, peanuts - I really wanted salt/sugar/fluids in a way I can only describe as desparate and uncontrollable, like I needed a fix. After sitting on the curb for about 10 minutes after inhaling everything in sight, I just clipped back in and happily motored it on to the finish - the absorption rate was crazy fast. Fortunately, I learn from mistakes.
Fortunately, I was about 10 feet from a gas station/mini mart. Apu inside hooked me up with gatorade, candy bars, peanuts - I really wanted salt/sugar/fluids in a way I can only describe as desparate and uncontrollable, like I needed a fix. After sitting on the curb for about 10 minutes after inhaling everything in sight, I just clipped back in and happily motored it on to the finish - the absorption rate was crazy fast. Fortunately, I learn from mistakes.