I forgot how quickly your fitness level can go away.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tucson Az
Posts: 1,678
Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 337 Post(s)
Liked 228 Times
in
138 Posts
I forgot how quickly your fitness level can go away.
We flew up Seattle three weeks ago to visit our families, and I brought back an unwanted gift, a nasty cold. I finally felt well enough to get back on the bike Thursday after work and rode 25 miles, and yesterday I got back to the gym and did half of my normal workout.
I'm sore today.
I was planning on doing my normal Sunday morning 50ish mile ride, but I'm thinking I might cut that back to 30ish miles tomorrow, and take a little more time getting back into things.
I'm a bit surprised that I lost that much fitness in three weeks. It's funny, my family participates in a lot of different physical activities, but when we get together it seems we all just drink beer.
I'm sore today.
I was planning on doing my normal Sunday morning 50ish mile ride, but I'm thinking I might cut that back to 30ish miles tomorrow, and take a little more time getting back into things.
I'm a bit surprised that I lost that much fitness in three weeks. It's funny, my family participates in a lot of different physical activities, but when we get together it seems we all just drink beer.
Last edited by Wileyrat; 10-10-15 at 07:11 PM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,719
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 258 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Feeling your pain here. Two 3-week vacations cut into my riding season this year. Each took a week or two to get back up to speed.
#3
Senior Member
I always have this problem when returning from a vacation. Squat and Deadlifts not so much but the bench press is really noticeably weaker.
#4
Beicwyr Hapus
After just returning to cycling after around seven months following an injury I knew I'd lost a lot of fitness. I wasn't too worried as I've kept myself reasonably fit all my life and had managed to fully recover from an injury lay-off quite easily in recent years.
Disappointingly, this time it's been different and after about a month of riding I'm still struggling to get anywhere near the strength in my legs before the injury. Perhaps it's just age catching up with me (now 68) or possibly rose-tinted spectacles help me exaggerate my previous fitness.
But I am better than I was a couple of weeks ago so there is still hope.
Disappointingly, this time it's been different and after about a month of riding I'm still struggling to get anywhere near the strength in my legs before the injury. Perhaps it's just age catching up with me (now 68) or possibly rose-tinted spectacles help me exaggerate my previous fitness.
But I am better than I was a couple of weeks ago so there is still hope.
#5
Banned.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Uncertain
Posts: 8,651
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
One loses fitness dramatically, disappointingly fast. Here's a cycling weekly article on the truth about losing fitness.
After three months you're pretty much detrained. After six months you're virtually starting from scratch, though it may be true that those who have been trained to a high level previously may respond more rapidly to subsequent training.
It's made worse by being old. Older people lose VO2 max and threshold power more quickly. As a result Friel recommends continuing to do occasional high-intensity intervals even when just doing base training, because otherwise one loses capacity quite fast. My experience is that if I have three weeks off the bike it will take me at least that amount of time to get back where I was.
After three months you're pretty much detrained. After six months you're virtually starting from scratch, though it may be true that those who have been trained to a high level previously may respond more rapidly to subsequent training.
It's made worse by being old. Older people lose VO2 max and threshold power more quickly. As a result Friel recommends continuing to do occasional high-intensity intervals even when just doing base training, because otherwise one loses capacity quite fast. My experience is that if I have three weeks off the bike it will take me at least that amount of time to get back where I was.
#6
Old Fart In Training
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,268
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times
in
16 Posts
I ride, I ride fast and work out very hard on my bikes sometimes, other times I ride for fun.
I've missed rides, sometimes up to two weeks between rides, but I don't couch potato it between rides, I stretch daily and continue to eat well.
On the first ride back I push a little less and it all comes back without too much pain.
I am not training for a race. I simply don't turn on Strava on these 'comeback' rides. I don't feel the need for pushing so hard.
If I make it into my 70's I want to make it there on my original knee's and riding bikes
I've missed rides, sometimes up to two weeks between rides, but I don't couch potato it between rides, I stretch daily and continue to eat well.
On the first ride back I push a little less and it all comes back without too much pain.
I am not training for a race. I simply don't turn on Strava on these 'comeback' rides. I don't feel the need for pushing so hard.
If I make it into my 70's I want to make it there on my original knee's and riding bikes
#7
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,799
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,326 Times
in
837 Posts
I do not have much upper body strength or bulk to begin with, and that is what I lose fastest when I do not exercise.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,296
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8281 Post(s)
Liked 9,052 Times
in
4,479 Posts
If I stop doing climbing rides for 2 weeks and then do one, it makes a huge difference, even if I have been doing moderate level club rides.
Also, if I do a lot of climbing rides I suffer when trying to stay with the fast riders on the club rides.
I guess I need to quit my stupid job so I can train more effectively.
Also, if I do a lot of climbing rides I suffer when trying to stay with the fast riders on the club rides.
I guess I need to quit my stupid job so I can train more effectively.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Los Alamitos, Calif.
Posts: 2,475
Bikes: Canyon Endurace
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1041 Post(s)
Liked 924 Times
in
541 Posts
I forgot how quickly your fitness level can go away.
You're telling me! I've always seemed to lose it faster than I gain it and getting older is not helping at all.
You're telling me! I've always seemed to lose it faster than I gain it and getting older is not helping at all.
#10
Senior Member
Daniel brings up an interesting point regarding strength-training. I discovered by accident one time that a two-week hiatus from the weight room leads to only a small easily-regained loss of strength, but there is a huge benefit to occasional lengthy recovery periods. I take a couple of weeks off about twice a year now (usually for some bike touring!) and I find that all those little pains & twinges have gone, my joints feel good, and I feel totally renewed. Furthermore, as I slowly add back weight I can usually max out higher than before. I suspect the same benefits apply to riding, even though you temporarily lose some aerobic fitness.
Last edited by NVanHiker; 10-12-15 at 04:27 PM.
#11
Shredding Grandma!
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,803
Bikes: I don't own any bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I had an accident April 18, was not allow to ride a bike (even a spin bike) until screws came out of my ankle Sept 25. Just now riding again. Clearly I've lost a ton of fitness but surprisenly, not as much as I thought. The first ride was brutal... I think I went 3 miles on pavement. Saturday I did a fairly tough 22 miles on dirt... My ankle is killing me today and I was really tired after the ride (slept all day) but if I keep at it; I should be back at normal in no time... thing is, I have to keep at it! My right leg has little strength, my speed is really slow but I see improvement in big leaps and bounds. I just hope and pray nothing keeps me off the bike again so long!
__________________
______________________________________________________________
Private docent led mountain bike rides through Limestone Canyon. Go to letsgooutside.org and register today! Also available: hikes, equestrian rides and family events as well as trail maintenance and science study.
______________________________________________________________
Private docent led mountain bike rides through Limestone Canyon. Go to letsgooutside.org and register today! Also available: hikes, equestrian rides and family events as well as trail maintenance and science study.
#12
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,790
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3590 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
An ulnar nerve problem kept me off my bike for the entire month of July. I'm only now starting to feel like I'm back in riding shape. Just in time for winter.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tucson Az
Posts: 1,678
Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 337 Post(s)
Liked 228 Times
in
138 Posts
Well, I chose yard work over riding yesterday, and I'm a bit sore today so I'm taking a break. I'll be back in the gym tomorrow and Thursday, and hopefully I'll be able to ride on Friday (if it cools down from our unseasonably hot weather). I'll see how things are next weekend and decide on a ride length then.
I'll get back to where I was a few weeks ago, since I have a couple of decent rides planned out for some time next month.
It sure isn't like it was when I would get in shape in a matter of weeks 40ish yrs ago.
I'll get back to where I was a few weeks ago, since I have a couple of decent rides planned out for some time next month.
It sure isn't like it was when I would get in shape in a matter of weeks 40ish yrs ago.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
North Coast Joe
Fifty Plus (50+)
5
10-30-13 02:34 PM
MinnMan
Fifty Plus (50+)
12
01-31-12 08:05 PM