My recent experience with riding every day for long stretches could be interesting, but it comes with a
don't try this at home warning.
My 84-year-old buddy signed up for the
Huntsman World Senior Games this coming October, and he inspired this humble 64-year-old, fully detrained rider to do the same. So after essentially no riding for 7 months, I started my own personal "
crash course" of training -- riding daily with no rest days.
I worked out 33 days straight (one of those days was a hilly hike because my butt was sore). Mostly endurance-tempo pace, with some threshold segments and uphill springs when I felt fresh. Easier ride if I wasn't feeling it. After day 33 ride, I was feeling quite tired, and I had a low grade fever, so I rested the next day and ate everything in sight. Thus the streak was broken. The ride after rest day felt fine, and I'm back to daily rides.
Results: In just over a month, Garmin Connect says my estimated VO2 has increased 10 points, and I've been setting PRs on some shorter uphill segments. My "best power of the year" curve is inching close to last year's, when I riding consistently. So I'm pretty happy with the progress -- and delighted that I'm still in one piece after that long bout of training.
Am I fit enough to do well at Huntsman? LOL, not even close. But I'm fitter than I was, and there's still time.
July Totals
Activities: 31
Energy: 1,072 Calories/day
Time: 131 minutes/day
Distance: 32 miles/day
Power curve comparison -- current vs last year