First One In (Knackered Now)

[Deleted member 1258]

After three weeks off the bike, one of them in hospital, due to illness I got the fixed out this morning for a pootle in the sunshine. Chose a favourite café, Ye Old Pound Café in Henley In Arden, and a route that I had done many times. The pootle out wasn't, it was a lovely morning, but with a stiff headwind and I worked far harder than intended, I was knackered by the time I reached the café. The café was full of cyclists, as it always is, including a lot of my mates. I spent far too long in the café gossiping and left with three old friends of mine for a steady ride back, 10-15mph, left them at Kenilworth for the shortest ride into Coventry, starting to feel it by then, arrived home about three in the afternoon totally knackered but happy, should sleep well tonight, will have to make sure I rest tomorrow. I did 48 miles and now know how much the illness has taken out of me. My speed is down about 5mph, my endurance is questionable and there's nothing in the legs to climb with. All the work I did in the winter on the turbo was for nothing, the fitness has all gone. Its going to be a long hard road back, but at least I've taken the first step.

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=366398

 

[biggs682]

dave r it wont take long to get back where you were

 

[Deleted member 1258]

dave r it wont take long to get back where you were

I hope so, I was shocked at how far my fitness had fallen.

 

[ColinJ]

You're on the mend now Dave, and that's what matters!

I don't think your winter training was wasted - it is probably helping you recover more quickly, and you will get fit again much more quickly than you would if you'd let yourself go for over 2 months, like me.

I'll be cycling down on my Basso some time in June and am hoping that totallyfixed will be able to organise another Rutland forum ride to coincide with my visit. If he can't, then I'll organise something instead. I hope to see you on whatever ride takes place! (If Steve & Helen are not free, I'd rather like to tackle the route of the Cotswold Challenge from Meriden again, having ridden the official audax event in 2009.)

 

[Hip Priest]

Sorry to hear you've been ill.

It helps to remember that being able to cycle 48 miles probably makes you a million times fitter than yer average bloke.

 

[GetAGrip]

Sorry to hear you've been ill.

It helps to remember that being able to cycle 48 miles probably makes you a million times fitter than yer average bloke.

+1 I'm sure you'll soon be back on form!

 

[simon.r]

I have no idea if this is true, but I'm sure I read somehwere once that one loses 50% of one's fitness after 2 weeks of inactivity.

Mind, as others have said, being able to do nigh on 50 miles, on a fixed, after 3 weeks off and (judging by your avatar and signature) at an age where many would consider a 100yd walk as exercise, seems pretty damn impressive to me!

 

[simon.r]

Just spend a few mins Googling it and it looks as if I'm being pessimistic!

According to this site http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/anatomyandphysiology/a/Deconditioning.htm fit athletes take about 3 months to lose 50%, 'beginning athletes' lost all fitness after 2 months.

 

[snorri]

Sounds like a big step in your recovery dave r , have a big bit of you've earned it.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Thanks for the encouragement lads, snorri I treated myself to a doorstep sized chunk of swiss roll after my tea.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I have no idea if this is true, but I'm sure I read somehwere once that one loses 50% of one's fitness after 2 weeks of inactivity.

Mind, as others have said, being able to do nigh on 50 miles, on a fixed, after 3 weeks off and (judging by your avatar and signature) at an age where many would consider a 100yd walk as exercise, seems pretty damn impressive to me!

Thanks for that, looking at it that way I should be pleased with the ride, most of it was enjoyable and reminded me of what I had been missing. What really drove home how far my fitness had dropped was the ride home, the three friends I rode most of the way home with I have known a very long time and two of them are a lot older than me, I'm 60, normally I would have to make an effort to keep my pace down to ride with them, this afternoon I was having to work to stay with them.

 

[totallyfixed]

Sorry to hear you were ill Dave, but from past experience I know how rubbish you feel when you first get back in the saddle. The good news is, and we always forget, that after just a week or so the legs and fitness return remarkably quickly. Depressing at first but look forward to hearing how you are getting on towards the end of next week.
Regarding the Rutland ride in June, I'm aiming for a Saturday and will have a much better idea in a couple of weeks time, hope you can make it.
Exciting news today, the first Osprey has returned to Rutland Water, can't wait to get down there to see it. [him actually]

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Sorry to hear you were ill Dave, but from past experience I know how rubbish you feel when you first get back in the saddle. The good news is, and we always forget, that after just a week or so the legs and fitness return remarkably quickly. Depressing at first but look forward to hearing how you are getting on towards the end of next week.
Regarding the Rutland ride in June, I'm aiming for a Saturday and will have a much better idea in a couple of weeks time, hope you can make it.
Exciting news today, the first Osprey has returned to Rutland Water, can't wait to get down there to see it. [him actually]

Thanks for that, I was a bit low when I got back, as I've already said I was shocked at how far the fitness has fallen, but there were a lot of positives to take from the ride and it brought into focus what I had been missing the last few weeks.
I'll look forward to the chance to do a Rutland ride again, I'll have to be nice to the MRS so I can get a passout that day