Terrible Ride Today

GiantMike

I've been off the bike for 3 weeks but have done quite a bit of running in that time, nothing too long or hard but I thought it was enough to keep my fitness ticking over. I went out for a 60 miler today with 3 repeats of my favourite hill and I was absolutely RUBBISH. Shockingly rubbish.

My best ever time/power up the hill is 404W for 7:04 (and I was pretty fecked after this effort) and a normal effort is 360W/8:00.

Today I managed a measly 302W/8:58, 292W/9:37 and 273W/10:05. After the last climb I felt quite ill, slightly dizzy and my throat felt like it was quite constricted.

I've been quite well-rested, it wasn't too cold or wet, I'm not showing any signs of illness, eating well etc etc etc

So what's going on. Can I really have lost this much fitness or is there something else going on?

andyk19

Whilst the power meter readings don't mean a huge amount to me, as I don't own one. I think it's generally considered that you will start detraining after 2 weeks off the bike and running isn't the best cross training.

Personally I've always found that after a week or two off the bike I feel a bit sh*t for the first couple of rides but after that things come back, seeing as it's 3 weeks not 3 months I would have thought in a week you should feel a lot better.

GiantMike

Thanks Andy

I had a day off and then decided it would be sensible to do a 20 minute power test so I could see exactly what was going on. I managed to produce the same output as I was this time last year,a lthough last year I was in the middle of a hard cyclocross season and was doing a lot of training too so I'm quite pleased with my current performance now.

suddons

I think regardless of condition some days just go like that.

Today for instances same route I have ridden many time . . . Bang! Blew up after 60km I mean proper blew up.

Just had to tap out the last 10 km

GiantMike

I think you're right. The human body is a strange tool at the best of times and I really don't understand it. On the 'bad ride' I felt like I'd bonked but was then still able to bang out another 90 mins at a fairly reasonable pace all the way home so I felt like my top end power had faded.

Anyway, I've decided to use the experience to set targets for the winter; a combination of power increases and weight loss to improve my power-to-weight ratio ready for the race season.

nevman

Interesting subject.I`ve come to this view of time off the bike, for me at least-

x (time off) = x (time back to get fit).

I`m also sure that age plays a part and the younger you are the shorter this will be.There must be a formula for this variable?

suddons

It's funny if I have a little time off the bike due to work say a week to 10 days.

First 50km ( 700 m of climbing )I feel great - almost like I needed that little rest. But soon after this my power starts to disappear.

Which kind of makes sense I guess.

ozzzyosborn206

i feel like i am creeping at the moment but with no racing until March it doesn't bother me in the slightest as long as your getting the ks in your form will come in good time

1_reaper

I had a ride like that on Sunday. Worst ever time on that pertilicular route ever. When I got back and looked at the figures it didn't look so good. Went to the Drs next day turns out I had infection in left lung and respiratory system. Answered a lot of questions and now off the bike for a week or two

Reane_Machine

I spent September off the bike with a broken hand and once I managed to get back on it at the beginning of October, it took me until the beginning of November until I was registering similar speeds on Strava to before the accident.

That above formula is pretty bang on, although I was surprised at how much I was affected.

Also makes me realise that I can't let my ride time slip though winter as I intend to enrol in the local club next year after my wedding in April, with a view to entering some sportives soon after.

Need to maintain (read as 'acquire some') fitness.

GiantMike

Had another mini-wobble. 2 days ago I was unable to (more like unwilling to put up with the discomfort of) complete a fairly straightforward 60 min turbo session. Last night I managed to do it quite easily.