What effect does blood donation have on racing ability?
Bronzie 19 May 2005 16:12:20
As a regular Blood Donor, I am keen to do my bit by keeping up my regular donations to the NBTS .......... but this year, at the tender age of 37, I am taking the racing side a bit more seriously (time trials, track racing etc).
As I've just got my regular letter from the Vampires asking for me to attend, I was just wondering if anyone has any info on how long it takes the body to recover from making a donation. From past experience, I reckon it takes 2-3 weeks to fully recover, but others I have spoken to have raced the same day as giving blood (despite being told to take it easy for 24 hrs!). With a bit more info, I can at least then try to fit in a donation with a quiet period of the racing season.
-- Cheers, Bronzie
========================================================= "You're gonna remove my brain?!?! But that's my second favourite organ!"
Curtis L . Russell 19 May 2005 17:19:52 [ permanent link ]
On Thu, 19 May 2005 13:12:20 +0100, "Bronzie" <richardmead@NIL-BY-SPAMmead-estates.co.uk> wrote:
From past experience, I reckon it>takes 2-3 weeks to fully recover, but others I have spoken to have raced the>same day as giving blood (despite being told to take it easy for 24 hrs!).
I rode up Franklin, a reasonably short steep hill, in Monterey, CA the same day as giving blood and wouldn't recommend trying to race in that condition. It may work, but I would not have been safe in a pack if I went into oxygen debt. Pretty woozy. OTOH, drinking Boones Farm wine later turned out to be a real quick drunk (actually, I think I was riding down to buy the Boones Farm).
Next day seemed fine. So I would suggest drinking the first day, race the second. Even if you are a touch woozy the second day, they're going to shell you off the back anyway, following my advice, so no one will be at risk...
Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on two wheels...
"Bronzie" <richardmead@NIL-BY-SPAMmead-estates.co.uk> wrote in message news:428c82d6$1_2@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...> As a regular Blood Donor, I am keen to do my bit by keeping up my> regular donations to the NBTS .......... but this year, at the tender age
37, I am taking the racing side a bit more seriously (time trials, track> racing etc).>
As I've just got my regular letter from the Vampires asking for me to> attend, I was just wondering if anyone has any info on how long it takes
body to recover from making a donation. From past experience, I reckon it> takes 2-3 weeks to fully recover, but others I have spoken to have raced
same day as giving blood (despite being told to take it easy for 24 hrs!).> With a bit more info, I can at least then try to fit in a donation with a> quiet period of the racing season.>
-- > Cheers, Bronzie>
=========================================================> "You're gonna remove my brain?!?! But that's my second favourite organ!">
It takes up to 8 weeks to fully replenish the red blood cells you lose when donating blood, and each donation removes roughly 10% of your red blood cells. I would assume that would have a pretty significant impact on performance.
FWIW, I donate only during the winter months, to avoid the impact on performance/training.
body to recover from making a donation. From past experience, I reckon it> takes 2-3 weeks to fully recover, but others I have spoken to have raced the> same day as giving blood (despite being told to take it easy for 24 hrs!).
A top professional doesn't need any time to recover after a blood transfusion.
