Feb 12 2009
Ready to Ride
After spending a month off my bike and exchanging riding for running on the beach, swimming, surfing, and lifting weights, I rode my bike for the first time today. I was curious while I was gone how my fitness on the bike was changing from not riding. Was I losing my bicycling fitness level? Maybe it is just in my mind, but I feel like not riding has improved my overall fitness and I don’t notice any loss of performance. In fact, I felt stronger on my first hill. Then too it could be I am happy to be riding again.
The month long change in environment and lifestyle was over due. I was in multiple ruts. Bicycling, work, and life. Cross training physically and mentally disengaging from day to day life has done me well.
I am ready to reengage and play in day to day life.
I had a similar experience — after a few weeks not cycling, my fitness level was actually better. Maybe the cycling muscles need to rest once in a while.
Congrats… I notice the fitness loss if I don’t ride regularly for a week, nevermind a month. And good to see you back as well!
I think I didn’t notice any performance loss because I was very active the time I was on vacation. In fact, I loss 7 pounds when I was gone.
And now that I am getting back into the day to day life, it is nice to be back.