Originally Posted by
Dudelsack
Now you've gone from preaching to meddling, youngin'.
I'm 59. Interestingly, looking at my 'business productivity', I'm working at full capacity.
Long rides leave me wiped. I know about recovery. I think part of the problem is often I only have two days a week I can ride, so they tend to be longish (30-55 miles). I tend not to do a lot of 15 milers.
Maybe your riding them hard enough to illicit a training response? This is a good thing. If I don't feel wiped out by a training ride that usually means it was a waste of time (I am time strapped as well).
I feel much worse after a 40 mile training ride than I do after a 200K brevet. I am hammering parts of the 40 miler, but I am riding an even, intelligent pace on the brevet. (Even and intelligent meaning never going anaerobic if I can help it.)
Now, do you routinely feel wiped out on days you don't ride or do other hard exercise? If you do, then something's wrong.