salreus

Right before I left I rode 30 miles in one day. Now 2 weeks later without riding and I had a hard time riding 10 miles. I am really hoping it was the head wind or just a bad day due to recovering from all the travel. I feel like I am back to my first few weeks of riding. Would taking less than 2 weeks off really set me back this much?

TrojanHorse

It depends on how much fitness you had before you stopped for 2 weeks... When I used to run, 2 weeks off pretty much hit the reset button for me. I've never enjoyed running... at all. With cycling, it's not as bad.

I had ankle surgery last summer and was off my bike for 2 or 3 months and it took a long time to get back to where I was. My motivation also suffers unless I'm consistent.

I'd say don't let it worry you and keep after it and you should be fine in a few weeks.

WonderMonkey

Adding to the above post.....

If riding the 30 miles was a push for you then two weeks off could set you back but I don't see all the way back to just 10 miles. In theory you should be able to get back to 30 miles quickly if you work on it. The first nice day you get ride 15 miles away from home and do whatever it takes to get back.

chasm54

You don't lose much fitness in two weeks.

salreus

30 miles as a push for us, but we did do it 2 weekends in a row. I just hope it was a head wind, low hydration, sleep issues due to time zone changes and bad eating habits for a week. We are going out again tonight. Wanting to get back to my 50 miles a week and hope to be back to where I was.

WonderMonkey

Let us know how it goes.

Mark Stone

↑↑↑ This. ↑↑↑
There's a slight fitness loss that would start at around 7 days of inactivity, which has to do with the number of mitochondria in muscle cells beginning to decrease. But just a couple of days back in the saddle should restore your former strength and endurance. The strength of your heart and circulatory system, and your lung capacity, don't degrade that fast.