Blood donation

[Ivor]

Does anyone here donate blood regularly? (other than falling off bike and sliding down tram lines)
and if so... how do you find it affects your riding? how long does it take for you to return to 100%?

I gave blood yesterday - bad timing since I had planned on going to Palace last night but there you go (last nights short ride left me feeling slightly dizzy, but I'd expected that and took it very easy).

Anyway, riding in this morning didn't feel too bad, took it reasonably easy and noticed that I was feeling (understandably) a bit low on power.
However, I really noticed it when I stopped though, with very bad pins and needles with toes and feet having a distinct lack of circulation going to them (left foot worst).
Perhaps I should skip a day after donating in future.

[Snoop Doug]

Did you get a biscuit? Mmmmmm, biscuits

Tram tracks my ar5e

[quote="Snoop Doug"]Did you get a biscuit? Mmmmmm, biscuits

[adrian]

[quote="Ivor"]Does anyone here donate blood regularly? (other than falling off bike and sliding down tram lines)
and if so... how do you find it affects your riding? how long does it take for you to return to 100%?

[Jon H]

Blood volume returns to nomal within a day or so, as it's just replacing fluids. Blood cell count takes longer; I think it's several weeks before it's fully restored, but I usually feel back to normal in a few days. I try and donate in the autumn after the racing season has finished, then again aound Jan/Feb before it's started, and miss out on a summer donation which would be right in the peak of the racing season.

[Nick W]

Have you put some in the fridge for another day?

[quote="Jon Hemming"]Blood volume returns to nomal within a day or so, as it's just replacing fluids. Blood cell count takes longer; I think it's several weeks before it's fully restored, but I usually feel back to normal in a few days. I try and donate in the autumn after the racing season has finished, then again aound Jan/Feb before it's started, and miss out on a summer donation which would be right in the peak of the racing season.

[kieran]

I am a regular donor and just donated at the start of April. Jon is mainly right about the effects of it, but it should only affect high end stuff. I have never noticed any real effects riding afterwards (I often donate at lunch time and then cycle home after work, anything from 10miles to 25 miles). But I do force myself to drink a lot of water before and after donating. I try to time my summer donation so that I donate just before going on the family holidays.

[Andrew G]

[quote="adrian"]I do. I find it usually takes just a day or so before you're feeling yourself again.

[Alex S]

your red cells regenerate back to normal in 24 hours, but your iron levels take a couple of months to settle apparently.