General Cycling Discussion - Days that you just ain't got it...

Cycling can be a harsh mistress... it's one of those mystical love and pain relationships.

So while there some days that I can't wait to get out and blow off miles and miles, there are some days that I don't even wanna carry the bike up the stairs and ride out.

The problem is, how can you tell the days you just don't got it from the days that you are simply feeling lazy?

Take today for instance, all day I delayed my ride, not too eager to ride out. Finally I get myself together and think to myself that it's just Mr. Negativity telling you shouldn't go out today. Everything was cool. I had a good night's rest, I had a good meal, everything was set on the bike... why shouldn't I go?

But within a few kilometers into the ride I knew I didn't have it. I had a hell of a time just mainting 30 KPH on flats... then I got to the climbs. Just yesterday I had zipped up through here at 14 KPH, but now I was huffin and puffin at 9 KPH. After that I pulled to the side, and said to myself: "Sorry buddy, I just ain't gonna do it today". Then I head back home.

On the other hand there are days that feel like I can't do it before the ride, but once I do go riding I feel that I can do it easy.

Does anyone else have similar experiences to these? What suggestions do you have?

My rides seem to be split in halves.On days I feel great starting out I end up draging tail all the way home.And on rare days I ride when I not really in the mood and poke along I usually kick in later and have a better average speed going home.If I feel like crap before a ride it always means I need a day of rest.I learned that lesson the hard way!

Riding should never be work. You should never do it just for discipline's sake. If you don't feel like riding, don't.

On the other hand, it could also be that you just haven't found your legs yet on a ride. Yesterday, I wen't out with two buddies for a fast [@30 km/h average] 110 km ride. The fastest among us, who I guess was really the ride leader, set out on his typical warmup leg, which means going flat out at 35-40 km/h from the word go. I was at 155 bpm HR within a few minutes.

At 8 km into the ride, I was thinking "this sucks... I don't have it... I don't want to do this."

At 15 km into the ride I told my buddy "I don't want to cramp your program, so I think I'll turn back in about 20 km."

At 30 km into the ride, though, I had found my legs and found my rhythm. I was warmed up [it took almost an hour] and feeling good. I stuck with it and ended up having a great ride. Our final average speed was 29.3 km/h -- that's three guys over 112 km.

The moral? Sometimes you feel like you've left your legs back at home, but all you need is a warmup.

Just like early today I went out (June 25,2002) was planing to ride like 50 k to 80 K but about 20 k, I got a flat, I fix Its then rode after above 5 K, had another flat, that's it I just went home

A few weeks ago I had a crummy sleep and then went for a ride the next day- I just wasn't able to hack it and had no pep at all. We did the ride, but I wasn't able to go as fast as usual. Also, on certain days (girl stuff, guys you can cover your eyes now) I will just take the day off, when I feel particularly blecchy, tired and I know I can't hack it. I think for guys, though, it's biorhythms as well that dictate when you just don't have it, it's just that it's not as regular or predictable- you don't know until you get out there that you're not up to it.

... then there are the other days, when you don't feel at all like riding but get on the two-wheeled contraption and LOVE IT !!!

I find that I always need about 15-30 minutes to really warm up. When I go on rides, I find that I really can only push it 30 mins in to the ride. High-speed crusing for me just is not possible until I properly warm up. Until then, I feel that I was beat with a stick. Every ride, however, I just push through the "dead zone", and come back feeling great (except for the general tiredness).

I dunno, but lately I've been riding my dad's 40-lb. Schwinn to just ride on while my bike's in the shop. After a hilly ride with the Schwinn (I know- hill hunting with a superheavy bike is stupid), I feel just great. The endorphine rush is just so much better.

Point is, if the ride feels "sucky", just try pushing through it for a half an hour or two. I try that and I've never had a "sucky" ride while I was able to ride the bike back home.

:beer: