Going backwards

[Jo25]

Not literally just before anyone says "try going forwards it's much easier".

I have been commuting to work regularly for 4 months now and I improved quite a bit to start off with, levelled out for the last month to 6 weeks (expected something like that) but now seem to be getting worse again, slower, more knackered when I get there, more out of breath on the hills....

Is this normal? Any tips for improving again? Or is it just a case of keep pressing on?

Also any tips on how to breathe properly when going up hills? I get out of breath fairly quickly on the big hills round here and on the small(er) ones I must hold my breathe or something cos start panting at the top .

 

[Crackle]

Doesn't sound quite right that: To the docs with you.

You can develop stuff like asthma as you get older which will affect your breathing (speaking from experience here). Could also be viral, stress, nothing at all - GO TO THE DOCS.

 

[domtyler]

Also any tips on how to breathe properly when going up hills?

Try breathing in, then breathing out again. Repeat as required.

 

[rich p]

Fitness can be cyclical (if you'll excuse the pun)! Sometimes I go well or badly for no apparent reason - it may be that you're just tired. Don't try to cane it for a while, just ride comfortably so each ride is fun not and feat of endurance.

 

[Jo25]

Thanks Dom, that's a big help!

 

[Globalti]

You are burning a lot of energy and you should probably be eating more. You also need to rest, you'd be amazed at how much better you felt if you didn't cycle at all for a week.

 

[Paulus]

You are burning a lot of energy and you should probably be eating more. You also need to rest, you'd be amazed at how much better you felt if you didn't cycle at all for a week.

Agreed, maybe you need a rest for a few days. Look at what you are eating. Are you getting enough carbs to keep yourself going? As you have been commuting for quite a few weeks now, maybe you are getting faster, so that you need the extra calories to help with the extra pace.

 

[Jo25]

Cheers guys, I very much like being told to eat more!!! I didn't cycle at all over the weekend, but maybe that's not long enough?

BTW Rich, no chance of me caning it on the way to work, it's a bloody big hill!

 

[Blue]

Also any tips on how to breathe properly when going up hills? I get out of breath fairly quickly on the big hills round here and on the small(er) ones I must hold my breathe or something cos start panting at the top .

Hills do have a habit of knackering people on bikes! Try spinning in a very easy gear until you are more used to climbing. If you have found that you are slowing as you climb you may actually find that your speed increases in the easier gear as you can maintain the pace all the way up and over the top.

 

[Stig-OT-Dump]

Like others have said - see the doc.

Also, keep a wide grip on the handle bars keeping your chest wide open. Sit up. Select an appropriate gear before you really hit the hill, avoid having to change down as you go up it. Get the right rest days.

 

[Crackle]

Sorry I just have to come back in. It's the "more out of breath on hills" bit which alarms me. I would agree with the others about rest and food etc.. but if what you say is true then that shouldn't be the case. If I'm really tired my heartrate is down and not up (unless ill) and I don't have problems being out of breath I have problems raising the energy to push hard enough to be out of breath. Becoming more breathless as you excercise just doesn't sound right. Are you breathless in other circumstances, feel a bit tight maybe? If yes you need to see your doc deffo. If not I'd still go.

 

[Stig-OT-Dump]

If you've been getting night sweats and have been losing weight, generally feeling fatigued, get to the doc straight away!

 

[alp1950]

By how much has your performance dropped off and your breathlessness deteriorated? If relatively modest changes then there may well be nothing to worry about, but if you're now struggling on runs or hills that caused no problems before then there might some underlying physical problem and it would be worth checking with the GP.

 

[JtB]

more wind lately?

 

[Fab Foodie]

I agree regarding rest and food. I think performance changes for all of us from time-to time. Last year I gwas going so badly by about october I all but gave-up riding, few months later I was going like Lance again. Just needed a break. Work anxieties or a lot of extra effort can also affect performance. If yo have notiuced a long decline then I'd echo others and get to the docs for a quick MOT.

On the subject of hills, technique plays a big part, especially relaxing. Sit back on the saddle, relax the upper body, select the gear that works for you (be you spinner or grinder) and then wind yourself up to the top. Being tense or fearing your performance has declined will only make you work harder than you need. and hence feel more breathless...