Road Bike Racing - Off the bike training help

So here's the deal.
We are heading to Florida next week, I have a race two weeks after that. My problem is this: My father in-law, who paid for the house we are renting, has basically asked all us (me and my brother in-laws) not to bring our bikes. They want this to be a total family outting. Not training. No early or late rides. Nothing. It sux but I want to be a good son and do what he wants.

I was thinking of maybe running and even sneaking out to find an gym to hit a stationary a few mornings.

What do you guys think?

Sounds like you FIL is a bit of a control freak. Have you and your BILs given him reason to lay down the law by blowing off family reunions for bike rides?

Not really. He rides as well. I think he might have been persuaded by someone. Don't know really. I just want to make everyone happy.

Don't go. Stay home and RIDE!

Where are you in your training? A week off might not make much of a difference, and in some ways may make you stronger if you've been pushing it really hard lately.

My training has been good. I don't feel like I've been off in anything. And hopefully, I'll be training hard this week to pack it in.

Actually, I've been on a better training regimen this past month. In the past I’ve done what I could, when I could. But now, I feel better about what I’m doing.

There was a thread on this a few days ago.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=323499

How important is this race to you?
If you are hoping to earn points for an upgrade then you might need to have a sit-down with Dearest FIL, if it's just a race then you should be ok.

I'd try to find a gym with a stationary bike, or do stairclimbs...

what's the difference in taking time to hit the gym and riding your bike. if one is ok then both should be ok. i mean time is time. if you can be away to hit the gym for an hour then why not a ride for an hour? personally, i ride my bike. that is what i do. later.

i would sit down and talk to him. a week is a long time to not be on the bike, if even for mental reasons. and if your family is like most, a constant week without time to yourself is enough to have you all wanting to kill eachother

so everyone has to be together for a straight week!? that's rough.

Yes - very rough.

I'll be talking to him Thursday. This just ain't right, you know?

I dont know how old you are or how long you've been married, or what the dynamic is in your family situation, but honestly, IMO - that's disrespectful of your F-i-L to request this of you, and using the "I'm paying" card is BS. If you want to take your bike, take your bike. Tell your wife before hand and commit to making the accomodation that you'll be riding at 6 a.m. and home by 8 for family breakfast. No one will even be up at those hours. If you want to spend the next X number of years being bossed around by your wife's dad, leave the bike at home and be prepared to hyphenate your last name. Just sayin'.

Well, it's not anything like that. He didn't ask me as much as he suggested it to all of us. And he never used his clout in any form. I was merely doing this out of respect to his suggestion and the appreciation I have for him covering the $3000 bill for the condo.

He's never - ever - tried to boss me or force me into anything. He's a real good guy and I look up to him and respect him. He has helped my wife and I out of some huge problems. I guess this is why I want to follow in his suggestion.

It upsets me that it's close to a race and in the middle of my training. But in the end I'll get over it - and probably have found away around the road block. And more than likely, when he finds that I have a race at the end of the month, he'll reconsider.

This was manily a question to ask those of us who had to deal with a "non-bike" vacation type situation while training.

plyometrics may be a good idea. i think a combo of that, jogging, hiking, and some core excerises would be pretty good.