Training... taking a seasonal break?

carl_p

Found this article...

http://easycycling.com/?p=3780

For those who race, October might seem an appropriate rest window, but for those who don't then it seems a wasted opportunity, especially with the weather we are having.

Is there any any real benefit to be had in taking a rest? I get the impression that most people are pretty much full on all year round.

whyamihere

It would be worth it IF your fitness was high enough that you're likely to hit a plateau. Most people don't have this level of fitness, frankly. I know I don't, so I shall certainly continue training through the winter.

Herbsman

I'm having one week's rest as I feel totally fucked. I will be catching the bus everywhere

ilsassocycling

The benfits are not always just physical and the mental benfits of a rest are really underated.

When you work in cycling and it's your bread and butter, a rest is really needed to keep the motivation going and I think the same can be said of racing at a high level too - the head needs the rest as much as the body does...

Come back stronger and hungry!

SBezza

If you are not racing or training very hard I doubt you will need a break mentally or physically. Those that do however, enjoy the little bit of downtime to relax, get some recovery from the hard season, before we start building for the next race season.

I don't think you should lose too much fitness though, I will still be out on my bike, but I will enjoy a brief period and not train to any power figures, and just do what I want.

ut_och_cykla

Rest doen't mean you have to stop - just backing off a bit and riding when its nice can be enough - perhaps dropping a ride and running instead? Fitness wont just disappear if you take a week or 4 off, just build up slowly again aiming at the big goals next spring.

phreak

I've had an enforced month off due to hernia surgery so shall be able to tell you over the coming months. Not being able to ride has certainly enhanced my appreciation for the bike though.

ride_whenever

Only worth if it you're training to race at a fairly high level. At which point a month or two of rest (light cycling for fun etc.) doesn't go amiss.

simon_e

It would be a shame not to take advantage of the good weather just because some article says you should. I'd suggest you shouldn't follow someone else's rules or methods slavishly. Listen to your body, you should know when you need rest, and whether 'active rest' or time off the bike is more appropriate.

When it's midwinter and cold and dark I find it taxing just doing the commute every day, never mind any training! That's when I'd be more likely to choose to take a week or so off.

ozzzyosborn206

i always take october off to recover from the season and it also kind of helps make the transition from race training to winter training a bit easier, and of course if gives a good few weeks where you can go on the beers and not regret it the next day when everyone is giving you a kicking, training 6 times a week 12 months of the year would be very hard for me, but that one month off makes so much difference, normally do a few coffee rides and the odd run and game of football too just to use up all the energy i have stored up from not doing anything

mclarent

good to see the author of that article still shaves his legs, even in the off season. I'm a bit concerned by how white they are though...