Hard work

[Holdsworth]

Hi,

I have been having difficulty with my commute to and from Stoke. The route I take is 16 miles each way and follows the main roads over undulating terrain with one large hill at Goldenhill.

The problem I am having is simply lack of energy. Every little incline I find I have to push harder to keep moving and I am completely flustered . Eevn on the flat I have to exert myself quite a bit to maintain a good candence in my normal 38/21t gear which I use up to around 14mph when I change up to 18t. The only time I can make up any sped is obviously on downhils, freewheeling and in the drops.

I keep myself topped-up with food, my breakfast is a bowl of cereal and a hot drink, fruit included if I feel like it. On the way home I rely on what I ate at lunch and a chocolate energy bar. I keep myself hydrated with water throughout.

Also my athma has been causing issues, even though it is supposedly under control with "Symbicort 200" I am having to take my reliever on every ride. Today I was made to walk the large hill due to being out of breath.

I have 2 more shifts this week, 2 next week and 2x 100 milers at the end of this week. I do not feel at all fit enough to do the latter rides, my energy level is so low and it would be not at all fun, just a painful struggle. I'll take the rain to my destination instead.

 

[mick h]

Yes I know how u feel what I did was to cut back on the cycling and just to take it easy for a few days sort of rechargin me batteries then I started to take it slower on the bike because it felt like I was burnt out I got back to normal after about 3 weeks of this

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

What do you eat?

 

[amaferanga]

Have you recently upped your mileage and when did you last have an easy week? Any chance you might be coming down with a cold?

Also, do you actually mean '2x 100 milers at the end of this week'? If so and you're struggling to get up a hill on your 16 mile commute then I'd sack the 100 mile rides this week.

 

[Nosaj]

Has this come on fairly suddenly, have you been commuting for long, do you usually suffer with this. If your answers are yes, yes and no then it is probably a cold / virus coming on especially if the chest has suddenly started playing up.

 

[Holdsworth]

I have been doing the commute for the past week. It was upped from my previous 9 mile commute which was to my last place of work. I am definitely sacking the idea of the 2x 100 milers over the weekend, I was planning to ride to Hereford and back for a stargazing event but I have decided that the train will be the better option. The rides would've become stressful and painful and not the joyous and relaxed ride I would like.

I have been feeling this way basically since I started last Monday, this morning was the worst I've felt since I have started but the fatigue is evident on all rides, even short ones.

I don't feel confident taking assertive positions at the moment due to my slow speed, getting a more close passes than usual.

 

[Steve H]

You need to put in some recovery time to let your body adjust. Suggest at least one or two days a week off the bike plus a lot lower time / intensity on the bike every fourth week.

This will allow your muscles to recover and build strength for more.

 

[Arsen Gere]

Hi,

I have been having difficulty with my commute to and from Stoke.
The problem I am having is simply lack of energy. Every little incline I find I have to push harder to keep moving and I am completely flustered

I keep myself topped-up with food, my breakfast is a bowl of cereal and a hot drink, fruit included if I feel like it. On the way home I rely on what I ate at lunch and a chocolate energy bar. I keep myself hydrated with water throughout.

Today I was made to walk the large hill due to being out of breath.

I do not feel at all fit enough to do the latter rides, my energy level is so low and it would be not at all fun, just a painful struggle.

Holdsworth,
Looking at the key points in your post and ignoring your asthma as I am not a Dr. I wondered if you had considered being tested for anaemia ? If you describe your symptoms to you GP and they think it is worth testing, ask them about the ferritin levels rather than just low blood counts. Also ask them to consider that you blood plasma volume is likely to be quite high relative to your red cell count because of your cycling so a low count may be attributable to that and not anaemia.

 

[Holdsworth]

I have not considered anaemia, mainly because I had no idea what it was until now. I will try and get an appointment with my GP if this hasn't gone away after a few days of rest and discuss this with him. I will be off the bike tomorrow, giving myself a rest and taking the bus in to work, a walk to town (1.5 miles) is still required but I will take it a leisurely pace. I will still require use f the bike for going to college in the evening but that is only a short 2.5 miles each way. My only other forthcoming rides are the 5 miles each way at the other end of my rail journey this weekend and that is about it until late next week aside from college.

 

[User16625]

Hi,

I have been having difficulty with my commute to and from Stoke. The route I take is 16 miles each way and follows the main roads over undulating terrain with one large hill at Goldenhill.

The problem I am having is simply lack of energy. Every little incline I find I have to push harder to keep moving and I am completely flustered . Eevn on the flat I have to exert myself quite a bit to maintain a good candence in my normal 38/21t gear which I use up to around 14mph when I change up to 18t. The only time I can make up any sped is obviously on downhils, freewheeling and in the drops.

I keep myself topped-up with food, my breakfast is a bowl of cereal and a hot drink, fruit included if I feel like it. On the way home I rely on what I ate at lunch and a chocolate energy bar. I keep myself hydrated with water throughout.

Also my athma has been causing issues, even though it is supposedly under control with "Symbicort 200" I am having to take my reliever on every ride. Today I was made to walk the large hill due to being out of breath.

I have 2 more shifts this week, 2 next week and 2x 100 milers at the end of this week. I do not feel at all fit enough to do the latter rides, my energy level is so low and it would be not at all fun, just a painful struggle. I'll take the rain to my destination instead.

That last bit says it all really, never mind the asthma. Maybe you would have more energy if you saved some. I mean a choc bar is good but its not gonna give you enough fuel to cycle for miles. I also dont think pro plus or lucozade etc, are all the ads make them out to be. Basicly you need to take it easy sometimes.

BTW why have you got a picture of a marble on a black backround as a profile pic? a bit unusual but cool tho