2003 and I was going to do a hard ride in June. Started training in january and from quite a low base. For June I had to be A.1. fit.

started 2 days a week at the gym aswell as Sunday rides. By End of Feb was up to 1 hours hard Cardio workout and the sunday rides were up to 40 miles. March started a further two rides of 30 miles twice a week in the evenings. April and the Gym work on Tuesdays and Thursdays was getting intensive- sunday rides were up to 60 miles and the speed on the midweek 30 milers on wed and Friday was getting higher. May was hectic with The gym work being till I collapsed on Tuesdays- Wed was 30 miles at average of 12 mph off road with 2,500 ft of steep climbing- Thursday was Gym with a 45 minute spin class- 1 hour cardio and then weights room to loosen up Friday was the offroad 30 miles again and Sundays we were just finding offroad hills as steep as possible and getting 60 miles in.

In 5 months I had to the fittest I had been in 30 years but all that training had a good variety within it. Endurance with the Sunday rides-speed with the evening rides-Gym work and the cardio gradually became harder and then got varied--And just as important- 2 days off a week. There was bike riding but the Gym Work was where it payed off.

So look at your training programme. Too much of one type of exercise is not good- Vary it a bit- ---and take time off to recuperate.