Rest days?

[Rob3rt]

Can anyone explain to me how doing nothing can make anyone fitter or how training every day can be a problem

It is actually quite simple, you don't get fitter while you exercise, you get fitter while you rest. Why? Well, in the simplest way possible, the exercise/training is when you overload your body. When you rest, your body reacts to what has just happened to it by adapting such that it can handle the stress better next time.

If your legs are a bit sore then throw in a rest day, it can only help. My best performances come when I’ve had a few days off after a lot of hard training.

Which is to be expected, but the reason why is probably beyond the scope of this thread. Happy to discuss, but not on this topic.

 

[K9 Block]

I think my tiredness my stem from the WP at the moment as I am still recovering from that. I've been doing the mileage for around a year now but because of the WP I did have to take almost 3 weeks off. My son said it would be harder at first when I went back but the easier. Seems I am still in the harder at first stage even though I've been back to it for just over 2 weeks.

 

[Peter Armstrong]

It is actually quite simple, you don't get fitter while you exercise, you get fitter while you rest. Why? Well, in the simplest way possible, the exercise/training is when you overload your body. When you rest, your body reacts to what has just happened to it by adapting such that it can handle the stress better next time.



Which is to be expected, but the reason why is probably beyond the scope of this thread. Happy to discuss, but not on this topic.

Yes, that was kind of my point.

 

[zizou]

Alot of the training advice on here is from guys who race who have reached a point when structure becomes necessary to keep improving. However this is at the competitive end of cycling and dont race and have goals around improving fitness, getting a bit faster, riding a bit longer and losing a bit of weight then there is no harm in going out on your bike every day. If you are feeling exhausted or started to not enjoy then listen to you body and have a rest day/break but otherwise if you feel fine then there is no harm in continuing. You'll make noticeable gains over time without needing to over complicate things

 

[fossyant]

You probably pushed your luck going for a ride on Christmas day, especially if married and with kids. A few days off doesn't hurt.

 

[vickster]

Do you warm up properly and stretch properly after riding? Should help with leg ache? If your legs actually hurt, then a physio is probably worth the investment

 

[K9 Block]

Does anyone here feel 'bad' if they don't go out for a day?

Married with older kids but it was only an hour. And no I don't tend to stretch at all. I can add that in though

 

[ianrauk]

Does anyone here feel 'bad' if they don't go out for a day?

No, but I do feel bad if I don't go out when there is no reason not to go out and I can't be arsed. If that makes sense.
I do like to have day's off the bike now and again.

 

[vickster]

Does anyone here feel 'bad' if they don't go out for a day?

Married with older kids but it was only an hour. And no I don't tend to stretch at all. I can add that in though

You really should stretch after if you can. My physio nags me constantly about stretching, I tend to be 'good' for a couple of days and then slack off Stretch all your leg muscles, plus arms, neck, lower back etc

I do like to ride outdoors time and weather permitting. Otherwise, I use the exercise bike in front of the TV

 

[Lincov]

I find it hard to push myself after a few consecutive days riding, a day off makes all the difference because, as pointed out earlier, that's when your body repairs itself and gets stronger. If you must exercise everyday maybe consider some cross-training?

 

[K9 Block]

I do walk two large dogs every day for at least an hour a day as well.

 

[Blue]

The best analogy I have used is to think of getting faster/fitter as keeping a bank a/c. When you work hard on the bike(training) you are taking money out of the a/c. When you rest/recover friom the hard work on the bike you are putting money into the a/c. If you pnly train hard you will empty the a/c and get injured etc. If you get rest/recovery in there you will build the a/c - get stronger/fitter.

When I first started I alternated days of very hard work and easy riding. I just increased speed/distance on the hard days and kept it to a hard 'perceived' effort. Things like intervals can then be added to take you to the next level when you hit a plateau.

For family reasons I have always had at least one day a week sans cycling.

 

[uclown2002]

Rest days are overrated! Keep on riding if you enjoy it.

http://www.strava.com/activities/105087729

That's my 60th ride out of last 61 days; and I'm still gutted I took that day off

Like you my legs are permanently stiff and sore but I like the feeling

However, unlike most others, my job and lifestyle allows me the time to ride every day.

And of course I am not training for anything so I have no reason to take the day off.