Detraining

buckles

Training & racing for 2 and a half years, I have a knee injury that's had me off the bike for three months, and I can see me being off for another three. Am I going to end up back where I was when I started training? Is there any point even thinking about racing next year given that I won't be able to train until at least January?

LegendLust

Buckles wrote:

Training & racing for 2 and a half years, I have a knee injury that's had me off the bike for three months, and I can see me being off for another three. Am I going to end up back where I was when I started training? Is there any point even thinking about racing next year given that I won't be able to train until at least January?

Yes aim for races in August & September

amaferanga

You'll be fine. Start racing in April and use those races as training.

ric/rstsport

Buckles wrote:

Training & racing for 2 and a half years, I have a knee injury that's had me off the bike for three months, and I can see me being off for another three. Am I going to end up back where I was when I started training? Is there any point even thinking about racing next year given that I won't be able to train until at least January?

Don't be disheartened. Coming back from a challenge, is both hard work, but can be immensely satisfying. Sure, you may not be going great in April, but don't let it stop you. A focussed approach from Jan or whenever you start will mean you could bet quicker than if you were less focussed.

Additionally, there may be other exercises you can do. Obviously, i don't know how you've injured your knee, but perhaps you can do other stuff until it heals? Can you swim? Can you walk? Can you cycle one legged (on the turbo)? Can you do some upperbody gym work? Can you work on flexibility? Is there anything you can do to help heal your knee faster? (some conditioning exercises? seeing other medical specialists?).

Give me a shout if you want. I've helped a few come back from various debilitating injuries.

Ric

BenderRodriguez

I would say that January is about the right time to start serious training for most people aiming to last till September, unless they have some particularly important early season targets. Just take care not to pile any weight on between now and then and do whatever other exercise you can.

Given the time out you probably won't make any significant gains next season, but should be able to reach whatever level you were at this year. I had to take about 3 months out due to a tachycardia problem earlier this year, and the first time back on the bike was as weak as I ever remember being. A couple of months of solid training later I was pretty much back to where I had been before my break.

Also, if you don't 'give it a go' next year you will be trying to race in 2015 after having taken a whole year out! Just take your time and then come July/ August kick the backside of all those 'winter warriors' who are already thrashing away on the turbo and will be wasted by May!

BenderRodriguez

Ric/RSTSport wrote:

Give me a shout if you want. I've helped a few come back from various debilitating injuries

If you have at least £450 to spare that is.

dennisn

Don't over think it. Start back training when you can, ease into it to see how it goes, and you'll be fine. Obsessing over when you'll be able to do this or that won't help a thing. When you're able then you'll "be back".

Toks

I was off the bike for about 7-8 months in 2012 and didn't bother doing any training at all. When race fit I'm not a bad 3rd cat racer. When I made my come back it took a month of riding 5 days per week to get back to feeling OK (e,g.just holding 250watts or 20mph for 60mins) After 3 months I was fit enough to race but not really good enough to consistently light things up from the front. Everyone responds to training differently of course; as a vet racer (48) its been bloody hard work to get my fitness back so hopefully I''ll remain injury free next year too. Good luck, just keep working at it you'll be back soon enough.