Had to take 5 days off, affects?
 

2 days after a great Sea Otter for me(15th/60 begginer 15-18 cross country for my first international race) I got sick. That was last tuesday and I havent been able to ride since. I am healthy now and Ill ride tomorrow. How much fitness do you think I may have lost. I think that it would't have affected me much because it wasnt a full week even, buy hey thats what I think. I know what happens from 2 weeks off(scary) from the friel books. Thanks

I think you'll be fine. I mean, you may be slightly compromised because you were sick, but I think it will be minimal. Just remember to pace yourself, keep yourself hydrated, and bring some quick energy food (ie: Gu) in case you need that extra uumfph.

Koffee

What happens after two weeks off? I've quite often had two weeks off with a cold or something, and haven't noticed any major difference afterwards?

From the Friel book its something like 50% less aerobic capacity and 200% more lactate acid production. Dont remember all of it though. Will post the actuals when i find the article.

Sounds pretty extreme. I recently had 4 weeks off the bike due to chronic bronchitis. Only trained for 2 weeks after that using a very abreviated routine and just tied my 30 minute personal best TT effort on the trainer and even had a 2% lower average HR. If I had lost 50% of my aerobic capacity and had 200% more lactic acid production I wouldn't have been able to do that. No way.

I'd be interested to see the article (or more about it). Is this loss of capacity something that builds back very fast with training? Like Dr Morbius says, I feel back to normal after about a week of training following two weeks off.

Unlike him, though, I have noticed a more severe drop following four weeks off. I would start worrying a little about losing performance if I was forced to take a month off the bike; with two weeks, I'd just be pi$$ed that I couldn't go riding (BTW, do people really get offended if we don't use those $$ signs? ;) )

well if you don't use the $$ signs it'd just be ** instead. So.....

What, the system bleeps those words out automatically?

And anyway, what was I doing using pi**ed in that context?? That's an American expression! Aaargh! I've been assimilated! :eek:

Edit: (obviously the system doesn't bleep it out automatically. I tried it and it got through!)

Oh trust me, I was very pissed. I had several goals planned for the month of May, such as doing a century on my Cycleops Fluid 2. Losing a solid month's worth of training will push everything back. I was hoping to have 2 fitness peaks this year - one in May and the other in September. Summer heat is just a tad much for this old man.

I had to take 5 days off right before a race this week, very sick. I came back and had my best race ever http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=101895 , do not worry about it, just go out and ride. All the advice above ^^^ is good!

My58vw's experience may match yours... a full week of recovery (in spite of the ailment) and you get a good idea of what you're really capable of (and a good idea of why tapering for a major race is important).

OTOH, some ailments can leave you weak for some time after the worst symptoms leave. If it's the former, don't worry about it. If it's the latter, do what you can, and what your body will let you.