Hondo Gravel

jimincalif

How many days a week did you ride these last 5 weeks? Days off are important too.

I ride with a club on weekend, that's my primary social circle. So I want to ride, I've told them I'll be there and I want to see friends. During the week more often than not I ride solo. Try to get out at least 2x during the week for minimum of an hour. Even though it's solo, I'm still being motivated by the club. I know if I don't ride some during the week I won't be able to hang with my friends for very long.

Barrettscv 

Motivation is my biggest challenge, I'm 63. I'm constantly changing something to keep it interesting. I'm outdoors in any weather that's above freezing and dry. I'm indoors during bad weather. I use different bikes and I have different routes: some routes are gravel, others pavement, some are hilly, others are flat, some rides are long and easy, others are short and hard. I have numerous bikes. One is 50 years old with French components. Another up-to-date with carbon everything and electronic shifting. I rarely repeat a ride or workout.

Cycling is a chance to not behave monogamously. Enjoy it!

caloso

I'm on my bike 5 or 6 days a week. 3 or 4 days are training or racing days, depending on the week and the time of year. Other days are just easy riding or commuting. I can't hammer it day after day after day, but usually an easy spin is better recovery than no ride at all.

Sgvpicker

Hope you feel better

TimothyH

This isn't surprising. Your body is telling you something.

Five months is a long time to be off the bike and you probably need an easy week to recover after five weeks of riding.

jppe

I’ve hit the wall too, but it’s my golf game. I’ve been swinging at it for 55+ years and it’s never been this bad. I’m wondering if it’s a residual from the hip replacement???? Time to take a break and possibly ride a little more. I wish I could make myself ride shorter distances?!?!!

jon c. 

I've been at it 45 years. Played my best in my 40s. Lost my short game and 8 to 10 strokes a round in my 50s. I didn't return to the saddle until I was in my 50s, so when it comes to riding I started out in decline. At least I have no illusions there. It's harder with golf because I know I could be better.

Clipped_in

^^^^True!!!

Hondo Gravel

fastcarbon

I haven't had that exact experience in about 10 years but my primary care physician at a University Medical Center had me start taking Vitamin B 12 and Folic Acid tablets. I don't get as tired and recover much faster. I did find a couple recovery rides a week for around an hour under 100 watts and low heart rate helped a lot.

TakingMyTime

Your question is "What strategies do we use to keep on going?"

I ride when I feel like it and I take time off when I don't. There's nothing wrong about trying to maintain a balanced and regular training routine, but if you're off the bike for a couple of days, weeks or months don't beat yourself up about it. Personally, I enjoy many other things that more than fill the gap in my cycling routine. I think the trick is to just stay active and mix it up a bit.

Lemond1985

I find that recovery (i.e., reaching new fitness levels after a difficult ride) takes a little longer these days. But better late than never.

freeranger

I'll generally just start out the cycling season with less challenging, shorter rides, and build up. I am out every day, regardless of weather, feeding and making sure our (one) large pet (a horse) out back has food and water, and cleaning up (in winter, involves carrying buckets of hot water to unfreeze the frozen buckets!). So I do get some exercise every day. But I still have to build up to more challenging rides. "Bonked" out bad once (only once) on a rail trail-out of hydration and energy bars. Scary! So now, I'll build up gradually and make certain to have hydration and some food along.

ZIPP2001

Been riding for close to 45 years now and raced for 15 of those years. Still get out and ride 5 to 6 days a week and this past winter returned to riding outside and scraped the indoor trainer. I like to mix my riding up between my road bike, single speed, time trial, and 29 plus trail bikes.

Hondo Gravel

17 weeks 2,133 miles mostly gravel. Going to ride the GAP in a few weeks. Week 18 and 19 basic gravel training here in Texas then on the road to Ohiopyle Pa. Riding the GAP for the second time. Awesome ride I can’t wait and is a reward for myself rehabilitating my surgically repaired foot. Personally victory for me! My family doesn’t get it but they don’t ride bikes

IronM

Motivation is tough. I use to race masters mostly so that I would have a purpose to train. Now that I don't race, I mostly train out of habit and ego. I allowed myself to put on 20 or so pounds, so climbing is much more challenging. I've got a few gravel buddies that still race the stuff, quite successfully too. I've let myself go the past couple of years - so my motivation is to lose the weight; raise my FTP and be able to keep up with them again. Not to race or anything, but just to hang with my buddies on a again. Problem is - off the bike, my motivation wanes - so instead of training, I might fire up the grill, grab a beer (or two) and cook up some nice, juicy burgers (!)
I was a bit more disciplined when racing...

Overall, I intend to ride 5 days a week (M, F off) but usually it turns into 3 or 4 days. I've found that after hard efforts (like 60 gravel miles with 6,000 ft climbing) that I just need extra recovery days.
I guess that's good enough

MinnMan

Good for you.

Yeah, non-riding family and friends won't understand. Nothing to be done about that.

Hondo Gravel

Going to ride a light week so when in Pa I will be fresh. Probably some off days from riding so the non riders can do what they want. Frank Loyd Wright Falling Waters will be cool and Fort Necessity we will check out. Might ride some of the Ohio To Erie Trail and the dry part of the Katy on the way home. I don’t want to start off tired.