What effect does blood donation have on racing ability?

Bronzie said:

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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

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.

GG

Bronzie said:

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.

Oh, you meant taking it out...

Quoted message said:

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.

Thanks for the info - this is pretty much what I had expected.

From personal experience, my times for a 25 mile time trial were 3 minutes
slower 5 days after making a donation, than the previous weekend (even
though the conditions were less favourable).

Looks like I may have to leave it until the end of the season before I
donate again - as I'm riding Lands End to John O'Groats in 5 weeks time with
some friends, I will need all the blood I can get! ;-)