Over rested ?

[foo on patrol]

Tell us more Paul B, or is it in the health thread?

Foo

[Paul B]

Yea... more in the other thread Foo.

[am50em]

Came across this link the other day (off another forum topic???) which may help explain the initial poster observations and backs up views in Xplora's first post:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/06/ ... -us_290785

[Crawf]

Interesting reading. Personally 2-3 weeks off would send me back about 3-4 years in cycling ability, 7 days off will get me back to absolute base fitness... I wouldn't even call it base.
One thing I need to take away from '14 training is holding back on going too hard to soon, then setting myself back 2 weeks with a forced lay off as a result.

[boss]

Interesting reading. Personally 2-3 weeks off would send me back about 3-4 years in cycling ability, 7 days off will get me back to absolute base fitness... I wouldn't even call it base.
One thing I need to take away from '14 training is holding back on going too hard to soon, then setting myself back 2 weeks with a forced lay off as a result.

Agree with you here.

I spent 3 weeks off the bike earlier in the year, went backwards something crazy. Peak fitness and very strong, back to square one.

A week with no bike at all will take me back a few months. Not a rest week (that's different to no bike for a week).

I feel like people who say that they don't lose serious fitness after an extended break either aren't very fit or aren't very aware of their fitness.

I did like the article but felt it kinda took the long way around to say "ride hard, then rest". One of the best quotes that I hear going around is that riding hard doesn't make you stronger, resting makes you stronger. I play it over and over in my head when I'm trying to resist going for a hard ride.

[cyclotaur]

Here's my recent experience to chuck into the mix.

I don't 'train' per se, just ride. I recently did a 14 day trip in Italy which saw me ride 12 days out of 14, cover 835kms, and climb between 15500-1700m (depending on wheteher you believe Garminor Strava ... ) Leading up to the trip I just tried to keep up my usual 180-220kms per week, and I threw in a Donna Buang climb 10 days before. I only rode twice in the 8 days leading up to the trip.

The first week was hard, rode 6 days straight for 450kms/8500m, then a rest day. The second 6-ride week proved easier (despite being in the Dolomites) at 385kms/9460m with a rest after 4 days. I then didn't ride for another week until returning home. Then I rode a 250km week here then had a very light week last week (lots of gardening and ad a chest thingy going on) 50kms no real climbing at all.

This week I'm over the chest cold, jet lag and gardening and I've ridden twice. Yesterday I smashed several Strava PBs without realising, although I certainly felt strong on the bike. My base speed is up, I'm riding one or two gears higher most of the time and I'm totally smashing the short power climbs.

So ... I rested in the week prior to the trip. I rested in the week after the trip. I rested again last week. Considering the 2 week trip as a hard training block, the sequence of the last 8 weeks has gone:

Normal>Rest/Easy>Train>Train>Rest>Normal>Rest/Easy>Better Riding.

I'm now riding better and stronger than I was 8 weeks ago, and by a fairly big margin. I think the training effect of the two week block in Italy has kicked in. Oh, and I lost 3 kgs during the trip ...might have put a little back on since.

[toolonglegs]

3 days off with a man flu ... feel way over rested!

[am50em]

Another data point.
Had 2 weeks off the bike with an OS holiday. Not much exercise other than city walking.
Been back riding for last two weeks and two days and have found my power down but noticed it was more a mental struggle (rather than physical) trying to keep power high.

Today did my standard weekend ride (50km/850m vertical) and it was third fastest time which is 19s slower than my best on 18 Jan 122 min 44s (7364s) which makes it 0.25% slower.
Strava fitness/fatigue (power meter and heart rate)
18 Jan 60/70
13 Feb 69/82 start of holiday
14 Mar 60/77

Set PRs on last couple of segments coming home and legs feel good with no sign of cramping which I usually get after a hard ride.
I have set 27 PRs so far this month so my fitness does appear to be close to what it was before holiday.

[Paul B]

40 weeks off with another 8 left to go (medical treatment). Makes my former concerns a trivial joke.

[am50em]

That sucks but at least the end of the enforced layoff is in sight. Hopefully you will be back to top end fitness by end of year!

[am50em]

40 weeks off with another 8 left to go (medical treatment). Makes my former concerns a trivial joke.

I think it is 8 weeks - can you get back on the bike?

[Paul B]

Yea. Just finished the 48 weeks. Totally wiped out but making plans to get back out there. Going to be a very slow start mind you.

[am50em]

Good to hear!