Don't you loose form quickly!

[yello]

I've been taking it pretty easy since PBP, just local rides and pootles really. I noticed on my last couple of rides that I was struggling more than I ought to do 80 or 90km. I did a 100 a month back and my legs felt it.

This morning, I went out for 115km (I had planned 150 but realised at 40km that I hadn't got it in the legs, so I cut short). Home now and feeling rooted*. I was significantly slower on climbs towards the end. Ok, it was a hilly circuit (2000m according to my notoriously over-reading Garmin, 917m according to the notoriously under-reading 'maymyride' and 1255m according to OpenRunner) but I'm not normally suffering that much!

Here was me thinking I'd retain enough in the legs to do a 100 without to much effort. Wrong! Ah well, looks like I'll have to build it all back up again!


*rooted, NZ expression = borked, f*cked, tired... whatever. The French appropriately say 'punctured' (crevé)

 

[screenman]

Nice thing is each time you lose it you get it back quicker, hopefully.

 

[Blue]

I once read that trying to keep top form all year is the wrong thing to do as both body and mind need some down time to recover. Take solace from that and enjoy the holiday

 

[yello]

I once read that trying to keep top form all year is the wrong thing to do as both body and mind need some down time to recover.

Oh indeed, I accept that. I was just assuming 'down time' would still allow me ride 100km without feeling kn*ckered!

 

[andyh]

ive not been out for around 2 months, so last week i made the time to get out and the first 5miles were a killer but i did manage 35miles in the end. my body let me know about it the day after though lol

 

[Willo]

Haven't been out for a couple of weeks, although have been on the spin bike in the gym. It feels as thought I've just eaten and drank all the effort from the last 12 months!!

 

[yello]

65km this afternoon and, nope, it's not as easy as I'd like. I was definitely in better shape 6 months ago!

 

[LouiseL]

I was definitely in better shape 6 months ago!

+1 to that! My legs are calling it a day around the 80k mark at the moment which makes the rest of a 200 pretty unpleasant! Mind you I've not stopped eating since PBP and that coupled with considerably less cycling means I have put on nearly a stone ! Think I'd better join the weightwatchers thread. No wonder I'm finding it tough going.

 

[mcshroom]

I find it easier to cycle in the summer when it's warmer anyway, so that may be having some affect. I've just been out for the first time in a couple weeks and it was definitely more difficult. I don't know how much more though as I froze in the wind and called it a day early shivering

 

[citybabe]

I'd not been out on my bike for almost 3 months. Doing 20 miles in the wind last weekend was certainly a killer. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a bit easier

 

[ColinJ]

I haven't cycled since my last forum ride on November 20th! In fact, I hadn't done any significant exercise at all until this afternoon when I did about an hour of walking including a visit to a cafe in Heptonstall, on the hill above Hebden Bridge. I can feel that my legs have finally done something again and they are crying out to do more.

I want to spend a couple of weeks doing a few easy rides, then get a 100 km forum ride in with potsy and any other CycleChatters who want to join me. Let's hope we get some decent weather now - we are only halfway through winter and I'm already sick of it!

 

[tyred]

My first ride today since taking a bad cold just before Christmas. A slightly lumpy 20mile route I do regularly. It was quite windy and my first ride in a few weeks so I gave myself the luxury of gears rather than use my winter fixed gear bike. I did it in 1 1/2 hrs which wasn't too bad as I wasn't pushing very hard but boy did my legs burn.

I could feel the effects of Christmas excess on the hills too

 

[BrumJim]

It comes back quickly, though.
I use running as my objective guide to fitness. Just before Christmas I ran 5k in 23min 22s. This was partly due to fitness dropping off, but mainly due to ice on the path, which made running rather tricky. My feet were slipping backwards at every step. Last week I ran the same distance in exactly the same time, but no ice. This was post christmas, with little or no exercise for over a week. This week, I'm over a minute quicker. Still 30s off PB, but getting there fast.

 

[ColinJ]

It comes back quickly, though.

I agree.

I used to take my bike to Spain in March, having typically not ridden it since the end of November. I'd do 350 lumpy miles in the first week which used to half kill me, take a day off, then do 350 lumpy miles in the second week which started off okay, but then I'd gradually start to feel worn out. I'd come home feeling shattered, catch a cold, rest for a week or so and then start cycling again in April feeling pretty good and raring to go!

 

[Holy Warrior]

I hope my over-the-winter fitness plans will do me good. Cardio and leg strength training 3 days a week!
I finished on 45 miles last year and my first ride will be 30 miles, if I can't do that i'm going to cry!