As an unusually motivated rider, I sometimes fail to grasp how some people can go from super-fit to off the back in a couple of months. It makes no sense to me. The pain of getting back into shape is far, far worse than simply staying in shape to begin with.
This, of course, isn't a condemnation of anybody in particular. It's just a thought in my head. After this week's workouts -- all super-easy, since it's a recovery week -- I can see how the downward spiral begins. If there's nothing on paper in terms of a plan, getting on the trainer with no goal sucks. There are few things more boring than an easy one-hour spin on the trainer with no power or HR numbers in mind. And this week was full of them.
Despite the thought entering my mind every morning, I never turned off the alarm and stayed in bed. today, just to make it feel like I was accomplishing something, I stayed in a specific power window for the duration of the workout. Nothing stressful, but at least I was riding with a purpose.
So ... I now understand why the trainer gets so much hate. Personally, I don't mind it. The dues must be paid.
19 comments:
Yup. When you don't need speed, all the training and purpose of consistent riding goes out the window. I do miss hammering along with the fasties, but I'm also cool with just nice easy conversational pace rides most the time now.
That's the good thing about a structured program. Breaks from the stress help you refocus and keep your motivation.
I'm just taking a few year break, that's all.
If I ever get out of this stupid splint, I'm in the mood for a good 4-5 ride that starts with coffee and features a steady, comfortable pace.
I'm in the mood for one this weekend, because I'll be in Omaha for spring break (Glamorous, I know). BUT... I am having invasive facial surgery to correct a deviated septum on March 2nd, so I don't have much time to ride. Anybody got a bike I could borrow?
I am in a Recovery week too. I have skipped a couple workouts. That's ok... I feel good and guilty about missing them. I should be ready to get back on the wagaon next week.
Ahh yes, sometimes its fun to get your doors blown off because you show up to a race unfit and just have a horrible day. Its a good motivator that can remind you what the trainer's all about. Though I use it, I still think the trainer is one of the worst devices ever made. A case in point that trainers aren't necessary to build winter time fitness....I did ride with a good example of a guy last week from Maine that never spends more than 6 hrs a week on a trainer in the wintertime. He schooled me for 5 days and still thought it was kosher to pull at 30 on Sunday (the 5th day). I was content to sit 2nd wheel and wonder if death would arrive soon.
Don't worry he's not on the couch eating chips all winter he just finds other things to do to stay fit.
Oh no, I didn't need reminding that I'm currently going from fit to fat ... and how much it's going to hurt when I can start training again ...
My theory is 6 weeks from semi-fit to 90% of max performance. To then reach 100% it is 5 years at 2% every year. My bro went from semi fit to USAT Champion in 4 weeks. Serious he swam 1 hour a day biked 4 hrs a week and ran 4 hrs a week to maintain. He got invited to race and kicked it up and BAMM 4 weeks later he killed the field in Las Vegas. We just bank that our 90% is better than your 100% or wherever you are at the time.
Muson would be at 90% in 4-6 weeks and kill all cat3 ass. He has miles and miles of base. He is in the weeds waiting for better financial times he will be fit and back and all the strong guys who have seen him strong will say Whoa.
Johnny-
I'll cover Mike's entry fee to the race of your choice in 4-6 weeks. I've got 50 dollars that's says he won't be in the top 3 in a local Cat 3 race.
What cat are you? Talking is easy.
Bryan-
I hope your finger heals up soon so we can finish the ride we started and get some more in. Best of luck to you this year; I look foward to racing againts you. We have different training and lifestyles but we both are trying to balance our family lifes and our cycling. Just be glad you don't have to work on keeping your MTB skills in tune to race the local talent around here also.
Mike-
Don't take this wrong, that's just a slap in the face to guys that are trianing. I think you'd be the 1st to admit that you worked hard to get the results you had a few years back, more than 4-6 weeks. You also had a good training partner.
I am not saying that about myself. I do think if Mike went from riding 4 hours a week to 14 or you would see dramatic improvement. Maybe not abck to where he was but close to 90%. The rest would take years. Me I for what it is worth I am the US Road Race Champion. I compete in a field you don't want to be in. One where all the competitors have had a Organ Transplant. So I guess I am cat transplant. I wish I could be normal again but not going to happen. If I race and manage to finish with the pack I feel like I won.
Kev,,, I was just putting numbers on it. Remember how fast you made improvements when you started riding and how hard it was to make improvements after you got to 90%??
I have no idea how my body would respond to 4-6 weeks of serious training. Maybe I'd get just fit enough to hang with the Wed night group and maybe I'd get to 80% of my former self. 90% is pushing it. Motivation has always been my pitfall. That's why guys like Bryan and Jon Randell who can train nearly everyday like it's nothing impress me.
It will be interesting to see how much work it'll take to get my old self back. Not sure how soon that will be, but I'm having fun just putzin around on the bike now anyway, without all the stress of training and racing.
Bry, Let me know about the coffee and 4-5 hours. I will be there with bells on... and hopefully not lobster mitts and tights and windstopper.
Better weather and times are coming!
I can't wait to watch us all race this year.
Okay 80%-85%. Joel Freil says that there are people physiologically predisposed to be great cyclist, great runners, great basketball player. Lots of times they are not even invloved with sport. He uses the guy smoking working in a mine in Uzbekastan that is superior to Lance in every way but doesn't know it and never will. Your gift will only take you so far hard work will get you the rest of the way. A friend of mine Alan Craddock went from cat 5-cat1 in a year because of the gift. He can take off for months come back and in a short time it will be like he never left.
Wow, brutal! As someone who happened to witness the rise and fall of Mr. Mitmon I can tell you this, he and Jon Randel went from cat 5's who were getting lapped on a regular basis at the weekly training crit to competitive cat 2's pretty quickly, 4-6 weeks no way, 4 - 6 months? I wouldn't rule it out. As I remember the key was a kick ass winter putting in the time when nobody else was.
shim -- careful. You'll reveal my secrets.
For the record I wasn't saying I'd be in the top 3 either. There are plenty of fast guys around here with much better training plans than mine. Two or 3 of them commented on this. I was also seeing if I could light a fire for Munson; I guess not?
I'll say you would be in the top three.
Kev, sorry, no fire has been lit. Plus, it's a little late to get serious about this year. If I wanted to shoot for a cat 3 race in August, then maybe. But that would require lots of training, doing races that I don't have the money for, and a request to downgrade from cat 2. This summer is going to be pretty busy with lots of little vacations and a marriage. All of which is going to take the place of usual spending money. So, maybe next year when things settle down a bit. Don't worry, you'll know when I get serious again. You'll be seeing a lot more of me when that happens. Then, you won't see me cause I'll drop your ass! HA! (Ok, that last part is funny now, but in time, it could be true. Just you wait, yessireebob.)
Just make sure when or if you start dropping me that you make sure to show up the Expert MTB races so I can redeem myself. And I'll just start racing Masters on the Road.
Post a Comment