Fifty Plus (50+) - Days Off Helped

Due to weather and family commitments I had 6 days of no riding. Today I took a 23 mile ride with a few good hills and some headwind on the way home. I thought 6 days off would be too much but I felt surprisingly strong and rested. At 63 it's easy to lose your base but in this case I think the rest worked to my advantage.

We tend to think riding hard every day will make us perform better, at our age - resting is equally important if not more so.

At 71, I find that also works for me.

Heck, I'm a young'un around here at 56 and I find that I benefit from a few days off or as it happened this week, a couple of days when I only had some easy leisure rides of 10 miles or less.

At 66, I find that my recovery takes much longer than it did ten years go.

I remember last year I did 10 or so days in a row and finally forced myself to take a day off. The next riding day after the rest was a huge improvement. I do my best to take a rest day once a week and bike no more than 6 days in a row. Occasionally, weather has or circumstances have forced 2 or 3 days rest--but I get really antsy about being off the bike that long.

I will be 66 in a week or so and I've had the same experience. Just don't make it your schedule or you will be riding once a week.

Four days on to one day off seems to work for me depending on the intensity of the rides.

Took yesterday off to do yard work, 44 miles today, not sure about tomorrow.