no1mad 

This could just as easily fit into the General forum, but thought I'd post here. Move it if you feel it is warranted...

Find myself without a job again. Haven't been on the clock or the bike for 7 days now. I suspect my fitness level is already dropping off, but I'm more concerned with the gluts.

How long does it take for your arse to "de-condition" itself from cycling?

Spld cyclist

Sorry to hear that. Personally, I would ride at least a few miles at least every couple of days. Exercise is critical to my mood, and I wouldn't want to face life without having that boost regularly. And hey, it's free!

Best of luck to you....

SlimRider

Awe Man... Again! Dammit!

Sorry to hear about that, No1mad.

Don't worry! Just remember, the end of something old is always the beginning of something new!

You'll be guided. Just give it a little more time...

Take some time off and relax!

unterhausen

they say you don't lose fitness until the layoff gets to be 2 weeks long. Good luck on the job search

AdamDZ

Sorry about your job. Let's hope you'll find something soon. It's hard to relax when you're out of work, but try to take SlimRider's advice and use the time off to recharge your batteries.

Back on topic. Hard to tell, if I'm off the bike for more than a week, that usually means I'm sick so I get weaker from whatever I may have plus not riding. Otherwise, a week is not enough for me to become weaker and I doubt two weeks would make a big difference either.

Myosmith

Actually a few day break every once in a while is good in any sport or fitness activity. It gives the body a chance to rest and rebuild. If you've already been off the bike a few days, get back in the saddle and take a few recreational rides to get things moving again, then resume your training. The physical and mental boost will help both in coping with your current situation and with getting a new job. Employers like to see bright, alert, and fit applicants.

Mauriceloridans

I know this is a different level of "in shape" but touring cyclists tell me they notice they have to pay a price after a lay off of only four days.

benda18

resting is good, keep an eye on your weight but don't sweat a few weeks off the bike, or even months. it'll come back.

i've noticed that my fastest times commuting to work are usually in the spring, and usually the first time back on the bike. i think it's because i'm not worn out, like i get mid-summer from riding 4 days a week.

Zrane

I noticed a pretty precipitous decline in my length strength after taking a month off due to knee pain. When I took a week vacation there wasn't much difference.

Hope you can find work soon, I imagine the American facility closure is doing bad things to the Tulsa/NEOK job market right now.

HardyWeinberg

You can google 'detraining'. It's not as grim as you might fear (dropping from 'professional' to 'all-world' is pretty quick, but 'avid' to 'less avid' takes quite a while). But hey it never hurts to take some rec rides.

Bummer about the job, hope you get a replacement asap.

no1mad 

Don't remind me. IIRC, that's roughly 1,200 people that will be either relocating or in competition for whatever band-aid jobs they can get. And so will the 300-500 from the Tulsa USPS plant.

Back on topic- I am by no means "in shape". I don't race nor do I do group rides on the weekends. I'm just more worried about how sore my butt is going to be if I don't keep it conditioned.

I'm thinking that I might actually 'invest' more time in riding though. Don't know if I'll be able to find something within a 5 mile radius or have to extend out to 12-14 miles one way to the nearest bus stops...

Booger1

I'm in a constant state of atrophy.....I'm just a regular guy who likes riding bicycles,I don't have a fitness level that I have to maintain.....If I wake up in the morning,I'm in excellent condition,no matter how much it hurts.....

My brain has atrophy,I don't use that much anymore in public.....most everyone is using some type of electronic babysitter of some kind.

alan s 

Sorry to hear you lost your job, but what's keeping you from riding? Surely you have more time now that you're not working. Probably be a good thing to keep your head clear by getting out for an hour or two a day.

no1mad 

Honestly? Laziness.

There was a Job Fair in town yesterday. My wife also had a Dr. appointment smack dab in the middle of the event hours. Logistics and distances being what they were, I ended up dropping her off at work after we both did our thing.

Anyway, I decided to visit my primary LBS to rent a bike. I selected a Giant FCR3 from their fleet in a size M, which was the easiest one for the kid helping to get off the rack. I wanted to rent the bike, as I have had a crazy idea to buy one of these rental bikes for a while now- and a rental ride means that I'm doing more than loops in the parking lot.

My intent was to do a 6-7 mile loop using the MUP that runs on both sides of the Arkansas River. I headed west across the 71st bridge over the river to climb up to Turkey Mtn. Came down the hill (didn't know v-brakes could lock up that tightly...), passed the sewage treatment plant, soccer fields and the power plant. Was within sight of the Pedestrian Bridge (31st) when the path was blocked by two humanoid shaped blobs waddling shoulder to shoulder. Instead of passing them, I turned around and headed back the way I came- primarily because I didn't know if there were any closures on the other side of the river going back to the starting point.

Impressions of the bike itself: aside from the seat post kept sinking, the grips kept moving, and the shifting wasn't what I'd call crisp... it's not what I thought it would be. I thought I'd be able to tell the difference in ride characteristics between my CroMo framed Kona with it's 26"x1.5" tires and a aluminum framed fitness bike sporting 700c wheels and either 32 or 28 rubber, and I couldn't. And the size of the frame has me second guessing myself on whether or not my bike is too big...

And the ride kicked my butt. Between the ill fitting frame, the head wind, the hill, and the lack of cycling, I felt the soreness in places I haven't had more than minor discomfort in quite a while. Strongly considering doing rec rides as training rides for if/when I get another job.

Mos6502

I feel like muscle goes away faster than fitness. Since moving to Texas I rarely do rides much longer than 6 miles. In two years my legs have lost a lot of tone, but I find if I want to I can still ride all day without losing my breath, which to me is more important.

Contrast to the first time I rode a bike and felt completely dead after only 1 mile - I feel like I must still be relatively fit compared to the general populace.

ddez

I think it has alot to do with how fit you are to start with. Probably 3-4 days maybe a week without riding if your really fit wont be noticed and is probably good for you. It worked for me when i was younger anyhow.

What i notice is that the older i get(60's) the less i can afford to sit around between riding if i want to maintain muscle tone and endurance, but my butt seems to be alright for a few weeks at a time.

Artkansas 

Don't worry about it.

Just find some places you enjoy riding and go for it.

gerv 

Yep. Now that the job no longer limits your riding, time to get out and enjoy the road. It'll give you an opportunity to ponder new and exciting job search strategies.

treebound 

I was laid off about three years ago, found contract work which saved us financially, and am now currently 90 days into a new direct hire job. So, there is hope, never give up. We spent a week in Tulsa several years ago, and apart from the occasional tornado and marginal job market it seemed like a nice place to live.

How about riding your bike to various companies and business parks and dropping off resumes. Just tell the receptionist that you are trying to find work within bicycling distance from home (even if it is 15+ miles from home), and that their place seems like a nice place to work. Also mention that you have a car and driver's license for those bad weather days so they don't think you lost your license. If nothing else it will get you remembered and help separate yourself from the hundreds of other applications and resumes they receive.

Good luck on the job search. I think the Milwaukee and Wisconsin job market is every bit as bad, if not worse, than there in OK.

acidfast7

i don't know your financial situation ... but a cycling holiday may be in order ... in can be quite cheap if you head to certain regions of the world.