Fitness gone kaput.......

[speccy1]

This is a bit depressing. Have been cycling pretty much full time for the last 15 or so years, and for the first half of this year was clocking up 300 miles/week with no problems. All of a sudden I was burnt out and needed a change, so went back to my roots of years ago and hit the gym/weights again, but cycling in between training days to keep my fitness up and still doing 90 ish miles/week, but what a struggle, it is miserable and slow. Maybe this is the norm for this lifestyle but I can`t believe how quickly things have gone to rats**t on the cycling front. Is this to be expected? Or have I screwed everything up?.........................as usual

 

[Hip Priest]

Sounds like you'd probably reached a very high level of cycling fitness, and you're bound to see a decline if you reduce your mileage by over a 3rd. I bet you're still relatively fit mind, compared to the average cyclist.

 

[speccy1]

I always ride alone nowadays so got nobody to compare myself to

 

[Sbudge]

It works the other way too. I was running loads in the first half of the year but now that I'm cycling most days that's gone out of the window. Did a little at the weekend and although my cardio etc is better than ever my running times are terrible. It's not a case of you losing any fitness, more you've lost some sport-specific conditioning.

 

[MrGrumpy]

This is a bit depressing. Have been cycling pretty much full time for the last 15 or so years, and for the first half of this year was clocking up 300 miles/week with no problems. All of a sudden I was burnt out and needed a change, so went back to my roots of years ago and hit the gym/weights again, but cycling in between training days to keep my fitness up and still doing 90 ish miles/week, but what a struggle, it is miserable and slow. Maybe this is the norm for this lifestyle but I can`t believe how quickly things have gone to rats**t on the cycling front. Is this to be expected? Or have I screwed everything up?.........................as usual

did you race professionally/amatuer ?? Sounds more like burnt out due to over training!

 

[speccy1]

did you race professionally/amatuer ?? Sounds more like burnt out due to over training!

I wish! No I think I got carried away and burnt my legs out

 

[steve50]

did you race professionally/amatuer ?? Sounds more like burnt out due to over training!

I concur, weight training and cycling, two completely different diciplines and if you do heavy sets on your legs you will have nothing left for the bike, do you also increase your nutrition intake when going to the gym?
As with all forms of exercise, food in energy out, got to stay on top of your energy levels.

 

[Citius]

Gym works needs recovery. Doesn't sound like you're getting any.

 

[moo]

I've found that simply doing a few sets of weighted squats will have a negative effect on my cycling power for up-to 2 days. If you're doing full on weight training it's no wonder you have nothing for the bike.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

I don't want to start another post..

Here seems as good as any other place to post it..

Heart Rate (low) is an indicator that you are very fit? Or that you are not working hard enough?

I can tell you that my legs sure feel like they are working hard but I reeeeeally have to push hard to get the heart rate up.. I am talking a pace that is beyond my tempo..

Thanks..!

 

[Citius]

Heart Rate (low) is an indicator that you are very fit? Or that you are not working hard enough?

It's just an indicator that your heart rate is low. Nothing more. It's only low if you have something higher to compare it to.

Although you would normally expect your HR to increase broadly in line with effort.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

It's just an indicator that your heart rate is low. Nothing more. It's only low if you have something higher to compare it to.

Although you would normally expect your HR to increase broadly in line with effort.

I have a max of 195 bpm in all out effort.. And now I am getting to tops 180 and legs quit on me... Pushing as hard as I can.. I know is not an everyday thing to reach your max... but I am getting issues getting to where I can consider a tempo effort and to hold it there..

 

[MrGrumpy]

still sounds like you need to rest, could be any number of reasons for the lower max rate. Not a doctor or specialist and nobody as far as I know on here is one. Noticed my max hr rose the other day I got it to 180, used to max at 175. However mid 40s here and quite fit ( not race fit ), so figures for me are what they should be on average.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

still sounds like you need to rest, could be any number of reasons for the lower max rate. Not a doctor or specialist and nobody as far as I know on here is one. Noticed my max hr rose the other day I got it to 180, used to max at 175. However mid 40s here and quite fit ( not race fit ), so figures for me are what they should be on average.

I am getting back into shape.. Not racing anymore... a car to my knee took care of that.. Hell according to doctors I am lucky to be walking.. The way I see it I am lucky to be alive..

 

[Shadowfax]

I don't want to start another post..

Here seems as good as any other place to post it..

Heart Rate (low) is an indicator that you are very fit? Or that you are not working hard enough?

I can tell you that my legs sure feel like they are working hard but I reeeeeally have to push hard to get the heart rate up.. I am talking a pace that is beyond my tempo..

Thanks..!

A dropping HR at rest is an indicator of fitness improving, funnily enough a dropping MHR at perceived max effort is also an indicator of improved fitness.