Getting cycle fitness levels back

rock_bus

I’d got up to fairly decent club member riding ie comfortable at 50\60 miles at c16 mph and could do 100 mile sportive.
But gave it up to focus on running as had place in London Marathon.

Now trying to get back on bike but finding it REALLY tough - can’t do 16 at easy pace!

It’s frustrating and thinking of just giving up cycling and sticking to running.

Any tips on getting back in it or is it just case of being patient and time on the bike?

slowmart

Lots of rides, 1 hour plus mix it up, sweet spot, sprints etc and allow for recovery.

daniel_b

I think if you 'want' to do it, you'll be able to make yourself put the hours and variation in to get your cycling fitness back to where it was.

But if you prefer running, then maybe just stick to what you like AND are good at.

maryka

Forget about speeds and just get riding... long easy rides, shorter harder rides, solo rides, rides with groups, hills, flat etc. go off perceived effort and just build up again the way you did with marathon running. Patience, not stressing about it, and not beating yourself up with rigid ideas of what "good" or "fast" is will help.

But as above, either you enjoy riding or you don't. To my mind (and this has happened every time I've lost fitness or taken time off for whatever reason), if you are driven by wanting to get better at something then you have to enjoy the journey of rebuilding otherwise you won't find any joy in riding. Accept that you're slower than before, appreciate the chance to improve (again), and just get out and do some riding.

Yes it does take time -- no different to marathon running I guess. You wouldn't expect to stop running and then do another marathon 6 months from now at the same pace/time you did recently, right? Cycling isn't that much different especially if you don't have years and years and years of building up a base in the first place.

fenix

Rock bus wrote:

Now trying to get back on bike but finding it REALLY tough - can’t do 16 at easy pace!

I think just ride the bike as much as you can. I never give up cycling properly - even when Marathon training I'll keep my weekend rides.

It will come back - also its baking hot out. That has an effect too.

andyh01

I'm the other way done cycling and trying to get into running which I found harder.
Depending what running you're doing (club races), cycling as you may remember can build thigh muscles as well as calf's so depending on your body shape n how you feel could make you top heavy.
I do enjoy the cross training when I've pushed on a hard 10 mile run at approx 4min/mile I can do a recovery ride on the bike as well as mix it up.
Maybe after you've done a ride the next day go for a light jog.

itboffin

Lots of cycling and don't worry about the speed for a good while, get as many base miles as possible which will most likely mean solo riding until you've got them under your belt.

As its August now I think a realistic target is next summer to be back where you were before, as much time on the bike as you can. Turbo sessions are also good.

It'll come back if you work hard and stay consistent

DeVlaeminck

AndyH01 wrote:

I do enjoy the cross training when I've pushed on a hard 10 mile run at approx 4min/mile I can do a recovery ride on the bike as well as mix it up.
Maybe after you've done a ride the next day go for a light jog.

Id stick with the running !

dubcat

DeVlaeminck wrote:

AndyH01 wrote:

I do enjoy the cross training when I've pushed on a hard 10 mile run at approx 4min/mile I can do a recovery ride on the bike as well as mix it up.
Maybe after you've done a ride the next day go for a light jog.

Id stick with the running !

Haha I was thinking just that.

whyamihere

Dubcat wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

AndyH01 wrote:

I do enjoy the cross training when I've pushed on a hard 10 mile run at approx 4min/mile I can do a recovery ride on the bike as well as mix it up.
Maybe after you've done a ride the next day go for a light jog.

Id stick with the running !

Haha I was thinking just that.

4 minutes quicker that the world record for 10 miles. Impressive stuff.

Barry danger

whyamihere wrote:

Dubcat wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

AndyH01 wrote:

I do enjoy the cross training when I've pushed on a hard 10 mile run at approx 4min/mile I can do a recovery ride on the bike as well as mix it up.
Maybe after you've done a ride the next day go for a light jog.

Id stick with the running !

Haha I was thinking just that.

4 minutes quicker that the world record for 10 miles. Impressive stuff.

Indeed !

Matthewfalle

as someone who's name escapes me who was quite good at cycling once said, if you want to be good at cycling then ride more.

#heknewwhathewastalkingabout

Matthewfalle

Rock bus wrote:

I’d got up to fairly decent club member riding

so not really very good at all then?

#clubbies

ric/rstsport

Rock bus wrote:

I’d got up to fairly decent club member riding ie comfortable at 50\60 miles at c16 mph and could do 100 mile sportive.
But gave it up to focus on running as had place in London Marathon.

Now trying to get back on bike but finding it REALLY tough - can’t do 16 at easy pace!

It’s frustrating and thinking of just giving up cycling and sticking to running.

Any tips on getting back in it or is it just case of being patient and time on the bike?

do you want to get back into your cycling?

andyh01

Dubcat wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

AndyH01 wrote:

I do enjoy the cross training when I've pushed on a hard 10 mile run at approx 4min/mile I can do a recovery ride on the bike as well as mix it up.
Maybe after you've done a ride the next day go for a light jog.

Id stick with the running !

Haha I was thinking just that.

Apologies, me bad was obv typo and it should read KM so10k @4 min/km -=40min total run time

def_defyr

Why not join a tri club? that way you can work both running and cycling into a routine. My Sunday ride group is actually a tri club (I can't run due to hip surgeries), but I can tell you that those guys can go hard on the bike. Many have done full Ironmans.

dubcat

AndyH01 wrote:

Dubcat wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

AndyH01 wrote:

I do enjoy the cross training when I've pushed on a hard 10 mile run at approx 4min/mile I can do a recovery ride on the bike as well as mix it up.
Maybe after you've done a ride the next day go for a light jog.

Id stick with the running !

Haha I was thinking just that.

Apologies, me bad was obv typo and it should read KM so10k @4 min/km -=40min total run time

No need to apologise! That's still really fast compared to a slowcoach like me. Good running mate

bflk

AndyH01 wrote:

Dubcat wrote:

DeVlaeminck wrote:

AndyH01 wrote:

I do enjoy the cross training when I've pushed on a hard 10 mile run at approx 4min/mile I can do a recovery ride on the bike as well as mix it up.
Maybe after you've done a ride the next day go for a light jog.

Id stick with the running !

Haha I was thinking just that.

Apologies, me bad was obv typo and it should read KM so10k @4 min/km -=40min total run time

That's still some pace for a training run, what's your current 10k pb in an actual race?