THE TRUTH about ROAD CYCLING
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Let me know how you feel about this. Do you ever experience the “cycling reset” from just a couple weeks off?
This video hit home for me because I'm going through the same thing now. Less willingness to ride, weight gain, slow gains in cycling due to life issues. This sport is very unforgiving, unappreciative.
Excellent. thank you
Tbf i totally disagree. Cycling isnt different to basically any other physical activity. In any Sport progression to a certain level is easy and after that it takes massive time to get minor improvements and you will lose those very easy and fast if you doing nothing for a while. Obviously some skills you learn may come back faster than others, but also your examples with basketball or football have been not compareble. Hitting a shot in basketball is more compareble for example with cornering/descending skills on a bike. Those skills you can maintain pretty easy, but if you playing at least 4 times a week basketball for an hour and suddenly stop for severall weeks without other physical activity you also see a sudden decrease in general and sports specific fitness.
But i agree in cycling it can get quite fast frustrating, because we tend to messure basically anything like avg speed, Power, NP, distance, weight, RPM and so on. I guess basketball gets way more frustrating as soon as you no longer just track the score, but also track your avg speed, max speed, number of sprints, acceleration and you would suddenly see that in basically every fitness stat you suddenly plateaued or decreased just by taking a couple sessions off. Obviously if you just play once a week you may not see such big difference if you take one or two weeks off, but thats the same with cycling if your fitness is only based on one sunday ride every week you wont lose to much of you "progress" even if you take a few weeks off.
I always come back stronger but I think I'm pushing it a bit. Wife and kids probably don't remember I exist for long periods...😅
I haven’t experienced it yet, but I know it’s coming soon. Even though I won’t stop riding completely altogether, the upcoming fall and winter weather will reduce my hours outside drastically compared to what they’ve been this spring and summer (~150-200mi/wk). It feels like I’m finally getting into a groove, dropped about 10-15lbs, and I’m keeping up with the A groups. But I know the season is winding down and soon, the group rides will become sparse and it’ll be dark by 4:30. I’m not mentally ready for all that, but I’ll have to be, I guess
As a cyclist who trains daily with monthly training blocks / structured training that consists of mostly intervals, SST and hammer rides, i find it highly beneficial to take a week off to just chill out. Maybe ride 2-3 times in that week, ride slow, have fun and socialise without even looking at power numbers, and just enjoying the simple joy of cycling.
Not only would it allow my body to absorb and adapt to all the training load I did prior and allowing me to come back fresh and stronger, but it also keeps me sane and prevent burn out.
I always tell myself. I am not paid for this, and this dosent pay my bills :)
Correct attitude! 👍
Working with a coach and this is pretty much built in to my schedule too. Pretty much proven scientifically at this point
5 week rotation is normal for professionals. You body cant go hard forever. One high week, 3 normal, 1 low week.
I go through this every fall/winter here in the midwest. My riding tapers off somewhat. Then when the weather breaks, I just suck for the first month or so. But, I don't really care about progression anymore. Don't race anymore, just love riding. It's all good.
Why not ride during the winter? 😃
@@jamescourier1545 I do some indoor stuff. But I can't stand riding in place (indoor trainer) for no more than about 30 minutes, lol. I ride outdoors until the snow starts.
@dhale751 try fat bikes in the snow. Its a hoot. Michigan here
@@jamescourier1545 Nice! Hadn't thought about that 👍
@dhale751 just to see if I would actually ride in the snow, initially, I bought a modest pre owned fat bike for $500. Loved it for 2 seasons, then went crazy and built an all carbon fiber bike! looking forward to the snow. 🥶
Kills me when the training channels say “time crunched athletes who only have 10 hours a week will only make limited progress”. Time crunched doesn’t give you 10 hours haha. I manage tops 6 with a long ride Sunday.
Having just 6 hours for yourself out of 168 hours a week is just pethatic. I would rather kill myself to be honest. I would seriously consider it at that point. No amount of income or child love could get me to that point. Mental and physical health is by far my number one priority. I've never in my life had a depression. I say no to lots of job offers just to have time to ride my bike or do other fun things. Life doesn't have to cost a lot when you ignore what others do and tell you to do. Working 32 hours a week can be enough if you sell your time with high value. Learn to be good at something, and you can work less for more. Being stuck in a wage slave lifestyle is a choice, not an obligation.
@@YannickLB pleased for you, by the way, it’s spelt pathetic. It’s clear you didn’t spend a long time in education either. And why aren’t you a pro? Basically you’re broke or sponging of people, probably your mother, riding your bike a lot and to a reasonable standard. Yet you’re not good enough to make a living from it. Well done, not working many hours has served you well.
@@YannickLB You obviously don't have kids, and with your attitude I'd highly recommend you never do.
@@YannickLB Would not say pathetic, but I agree with most of what you say anyway. Usually it is excuses that hinder somebody from doing the training they need to do. Cut some TV-hours or internet hours, Some could even ride to work, and get a lot of good training that way. Being in better shape means also having more energy for things to do with kids etc. Plus like you say, it is vital for mental health.
Amazing how people feel the need to tell you how to run your life, without knowing your life. I’ve always found those who make negative comments or who’s aim is to attack/belittle others. Well they’re always not truly happy. And always struggle with pathetic spelling.
Yes, you should pick a weekly training load that you can sustain and stick to it. Don’t over do it or put too much pressure on yourself or you won’t make it. Life is all about balance and consistency.
This is so true, you can take 1-3days off, but one week off you getting into regression and you can feel it instantly, when starting again.
Regression is only short term and does not affect your base fitness unless it weeks off…
Even if you take a month off or 3 rides in a month it's a good break and let's you reset your body and mental state. I do this during winter time and right before spring I'm up amd ready to hammer out the training again.
The sport is so demanding on your body, time and diet. You forgot the wallet.
Also so demanding on the wallet 😅🤑
IMO, this is the bigger issue...people don't have the same spending power or disposable income. A lot of people just stay home instead of going to that grand fondo or race out of town. People just pocket the several hundred they would've spent on hotels, gas, and food and just stay home with the family. This causes them to lose motivation. Cycle repeats until they just give up.
Yes this is the biggest issue to me. My wife will never understand why it costs so much for just a bicycle
So true, and double if you MTB as well!
So true, and double if you MTB as well!
@@NoJourneyTooSmall too many bikes to have, not enough time or money!
Have to have a third baby……. Nothing like self punishment
Road is tough if you care about numbers/performance and have time constraints introduced. Not much you can do when you have an infant in addition to two other kids. Just gotta ride when you can Grant for the next 6-9 months until the routine gets established. Even 30 min on the trainer is better than 0, the fitness will come back next summer when you have more time. The good news is that fitness comes back fast!
“Not That I Am Blaming Her”… My wife was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer Feb 2023. She would tell me to train and go ride, but the second I would try to get ready to ride, my guilt of leaving the house would stop me. I just started training last month (Aug 2024) Since her diagnosis I’m put on 18lbs, FTP drop by 80 point. It’s like starting over.
When they first found the cancer they rushed her into emergency surgery. She since has had Dose Dense AC and Taxol chemotherapy, followed by 10 weeks of radiation. Her last radiation treatment was Dec 2023. She currently gets chemo seed implanting once a month, and takes daily meds. She’s doing better and this is the “New Normal”.
I used to ride thousands and thousands of miles a year. I even learned how to build my own steel bikes. Totally passionate about the sport. No racing but did brevets. My wife and I had a wonderful marriage, no kids, but much love. She was diagnosed with breast cancer about 10 years ago, had major surgery and chemo and that was supposed to be that. But six years ago we discovered the cancer had metastasized, and there is no cure then. I simply stopped riding. No tapering or slowing down, one day I was riding, then I wasn't. I was her caregiver, 100 percent. She died about a year ago and I have slowly begun to ride again. For now, just short rides of 30 minutes or so, on my street and yet I have recaptured some of my former passion. In the meantime, I've gone from 62 years old to 72 years old, so I ride just for health and fitness. At my age, I could be and have been very old school. But not entirely! I just bought a new SuperSix EVO Mod 2 with Ultegra di2. It's SmartSense compatible so I'll add lights and radar to this full-on racing bike. And Wolf Tooth flat pedals and Lake shoes. The joy of riding is the most important thing. Fitness, at some level, will follow. Stay awesome.
@@TonyRentschler Thank you for sharing that, and I’m so sorry for your loss. Stay strong. Always improving and pushing forward. 🤙
Hang in there. Training even minimally will keep you strong mentally and physically. She needs your strength... I lost my wife to MBC 7 years ago and truly know how hard of a journey it can be. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🤙🏼
I had shoulder replacement in February and I’m still chasing my January pr’s I had!! Every time I start to make progress something happens/comes up…. 2 steps forward, one step back….
I had shoulder AC joint reconstruction last year. No work for 3 months. But in reality it was a year of my life and my whole body went to shit from inactivity. Still can’t do 50 push ups year later.
That's because you got it all wrong. If you stop one of a sudden that's because you were ridding for the performance and not for the sole pleasure of going outside and getting some fresh air. "I stopped cycling and started cross-fit"...
my friends who i ride with have basically decided that the weekend Saturday ride will be long miles plus a hammer session. So essentially no structured training. Glad its fall cause I'm getting back into zone 2 to maintain fitness over winter. I've had to say no to the group rides and the nice thing is they don't care so much now that the season is over. I see alot of older guys who I don't ride with a ton come out and get discouraged. I think that's why we have so many people just doing the gravel scene which i don't mind either but only for zone 2. My allergies hate dust. In the meantime, I just enjoy the nicer weather and I've actually started running. I ran 5 miles the other day. Its good to work the other muscles and really helps stability while riding. Along with that I do abs and start up weights in October. Zwift really helps with the time change when it gets dark after work so I actually can ride with more people who I don't normally.
Only a weekend rider and i don't ride in the winter. I love riding but I'm perfectly fine with this. Can't become obsessed.
That's how I started, after I quit swimming 2 decades ago. I hit the swimming pool 4-5 times a week, doing 2 km per training. Sometimes extending the distance up to 4. That gave me perfect fitness, but literally trashed my nose sinuses. Said sorry to my best swimming friend and quit the sport within a week. Fitness dropped and belly started to grow. I found a solution after 3 years - that was biking. Today - I'm maybe not obsessed, but addicted. Or maybe is it obsession, but I didn't realize yet. What's the indication? 😀 🤔
@@madyogi6164
You want to ride any moment you have free. That's how I was when I was younger. Sadly age creeps up and the desire fades. But riding makes me feel like a kid. It's a lot of fun especially pushing yourself to the limits.
@@michaelpaticchio2426 Stay young! ;)
On the spot ! How about feeling that guiltiness for taking a day off ?
All about W/KG. Can increase one or decrease the other.
Hi GC Performance
I totally agree.
Had my 55th birthday last month and I’m doing the same miles on the same roads and getting slower and need more recovery time. Most importantly I’m still enjoying 🚴♂️ . Very informative video as always 👍🚴♂️
same here buddy - turned 55 last month...I'm getting more time effective on my training by using Zwift more....more of a weight management/social activity Vs trying to kill myself to get faster.
@@andrewb6541yeah I'm only 42 and I'm already in that mindset where my rides are all about mental health. I don't care about fitness or performance as long as my mind is clear and fresh when I get home. I used to go to the gym til I tore my shoulder and knees from power lifting. The same mentality, lifting is not a hobby, it's a lifestyle...cycling to me is the same it's not exercising its a lifestyle thats part of my life.
Exactly~ Life priorities get in the way. There are some individuals who are in a relationship where they can raise a family and keep their intense cycling schedule. I dunno how they do it but they do it. For the rest of us we have to rearrange our priorities which can mean cycling takes a back seat for a while.
I think many people who quit cycling because they are not as fit as they once were are the ones who don't really have a true passion for bikes. They are more concerned about being the fastest and strongest and was never about the sport of cycling it was just a way of showing off. (I don't mean all cyclist who quit but I believe many of them are this way)
Honestly, for those who can afford it they should consider getting an e-bike. Not because they're too old but simply because they don't have the time to keep training. If you REALLY love biking then it shouldn't matter as long as you are out there riding.
Definitely,😮 all well explained, I’m one of those riders, since I was 25 years old. On for some years then off d bike for other amount of years, then because I love road cycling so much, I get the fever again and decide to start riding, but have to start all over again maybe with new bike and gear, but as a Fred, “pájaro” 😂 it’s a vicious cycle no way to win
Man I'll do mountain biking thank you for changing my mind and I'll save shitloads of money 🤑
LOL - my XC MTB costs more than my gravel bike.
You ride walmart bike? Because mtb also cost as much as roadbike
With MTB, progression can be more of the lines of clearing a hard feature you couldn't previously clear without giving two shits about your FTP or VO2max. I ride MTB to enjoy the trail, the fitness gains are a side benefit.
it's not about speed any more. I need time. If you could develop a product that gives me more time, you can take all my money... ;)
Zwift....this is the most time/training effective cycling tool I'm aware of....
Facts ❤
There is your problem, you think you have had children. 🙄
Unless you’re racing for money, setbacks don’t matter. Have a setback? Fine. Just start riding again until you are back up to speed.
this is true, 100 percent but int his world where everyones sucess is right in your face because of social media or maybe a friend group you ride with, it can cause fomo, this is all on the rider at this point to seprate from this but it is human nature to want to compete and get back to there
I'm bearing down on 70yrs. Now that is the age when quick regression can be properly defined. Outside of "life" getting in the way you get an injury that forces an extended period off. You need a huge carrot to get back to how it was. I have had a heart attack and a stroke due to ignored diabetes so FEAR of gaining weight again is what get's me back on the horse (run&ride). Retirement helps quite a lot also due to more free time.
Good luck with your adjustments to life getting in the way.
What works for me is a daily 30 minutes in the trainer. You gotta keep that heart pumping.
Ride your bike to work every day. No heart rate, power, computer.
Just ride and enjoy it.
Your fitness for performance rides will surprise you.
yea this is true I have become such a numbers guy recently probably because of youtube and also all my customers coming into my store as well and I am always comparing and talking shit and always having people ask me If I riding or inviting me to go ridiing with them
I'm sure you'll stick with it. Good news is cycling is a lifetime sport and you can still get pretty fast later in life. PS love the videos.
thanks so much!!! and yea I think so too because it is my business as well it will always be in my face but i know far to many who leave and take to much tiome and leave for good
Hey all... I generally disagree with people who say if you don't put in the hours you cannot be a decent cyclist... that might be true competitively, but as a hobby... you are perfectly fine riding times a week on a time crunch. For example, 2 of my 3 rides are indoors, doing a structured workout, still growing my FTP about every 12 weeks because I just keep doing these structured work-outs and workout plans. These two indoor rides never take up more than 90 minutes each and the 3rd ride of week is no more than 2 hours and half mostly on a sunday morning, in case the weather sucks... I just ride indoors again, but no longer than 90 min. Every month I do one longer ride in the weekend (80 to 120km)... and that is how I manage my time between kids, wife, dog, family, work, friends and other occasions... And I still get to compete in gravel races... Do I win? No, but I do have a lot of fun, I pace myself according to my current fitness level and I finish every time. For longer events (200km+) just eat and pace well and you'll get to the finish line, even if you only ride 120km once a month and the rest in smaller training blocks. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, enjoy drinking it, then do it again 🙂
All I see here are a bunch of excuses why people cant get out riding in order to make themselves feel better about being lazy.
cycling is easily the most demanding sport/hobby to maintain. it's actually crazy how fast you fall off. I also play golf and I took a few years off when I got into cycling for fitness and went back and was about 80 percent back to where I was with a few range sessions and a couple rounds and I would say golf is the second hardest to maintain lol. it's actually really depressing to lose cycling fitness even if it's not that difficult to regain it just because you go from a 100 percent to like 50 percent or even lower in a couple months off the bike.
Sry to say but this is a depressing video lol.
lmao I know its brutal, btu this was where I was at the current moment of being a dad of three with a newborn and no free time missing out on riding seeing my fitness start to recede lol
Stop crying and work out. And stop eating junk Mr. GC.
The first two minutes of your video says it all. If you want to be a strong Cat-1 racer you need to be single, work at a bike shop, have your own tiny/low rent place, and always have the urge to ride at least 30 ~ 80 miles a day without fail and do it all with a smile! ( :
Also hook up with a good local team with a very good coach. How do I know? Cause that was me, in 1979 ~ 1984 in So Cal and was fortunate enough to do some incredible training rides at the Rose Bowl and Griffith Park. I always had plenty of race buddies to do some really long distance, super fast 100 mile plus training rides on the weekends. Best of all, I did most all my pro racing in Mexico and it was as close as you could get to racing in Europe... Then I married the secretary of the president of Shimano USA. What an experience that was..!
truth
2:00 here you hit on something that is worth following up on: depression. In cycling, depression is real. It's like a wall that sometimes feels impenetrable and futile to push against.
I watch a lot of TH-cam videos of guys who ride in Florida or wherever, and they're doing all this work on the flats. I would love to find some flats anywhere, and I do mean anywhere, around here. My town is like the Himalayas.
Which means you're always climbing. Yes you descend in relatively equal amounts, but if you think about it you're descending for like 40 seconds maybe, and then you're climbing for 5 minutes. Which means you're always climbing.
I turn the corner, there's another effing hill. And the depression just kicks my butt. I just get tired of it. Some people love to climb, I don't mind climbing either but when climbing is all you ever do, it gets depressing.
So I load my bike up on my car and drive fifty miles where there are actually some flats. So that adds three to four hours to my ride, which means it's an all-day commitment now.
So yeah, if you want to make a follow up, depression is real and it's probably a major killer of interest in the sport.
yea that is true, I think we all have this in our own head, we always say over here we get bored of riding the same roads and its always flats and strait we would kill for rolling hills or windy roads and it makes you sometimes not want to get on a bike because you know you are going to be riding strait for 3 hours.... so this hits home, I coulnt imagine riding the same mountain and suffering up the hill all the time
@@GCPerformance18 hey, thanks for the reply. Love the channel and the no BS approach you take.
I will complain a lot, but rest assured I’ll be back out there anyway. Face it, we are addicts.
Dude, way too up tight. I'm 70yo and still CX racing. Hit your own pace, do loads of different terrains and enjoy. Rollers are huge too when I can't get out. Other sports? I have a TKD black belt, did that 11 years. Nothing gets easier. But your work load is mega, crushing that is keeping you fit too. I'd put a trainer and shower in the shop if you feel need to spin. Ride on!
I find cycling time efficient relative to other sports. Out the door, on the bike, 2 to 4hrs later, 50 to 100km. With zwift even more efficient. 20 minutes to hr each day on trainer depending. Not trying race the olympics.
If there's a will there's a way. Cycling is my health insurance.
Oh, I've peaked and even at my peak I wasn't that fast. The world tour pros climb mountains the same pace I can do flats. There is no way I could be that fast so why am I trying to go faster, to get to the coffee shop first? Then in my old age I've gotten to a point where I'm in decline and I can't go faster no matter what. So, I sold all my race bikes, got me a couple gravel bikes that I use for road and gravel by swapping wheels and just go out and have fun. I don't care about the numbers anymore and I actually enjoy my rides and the scenery. It's like being a kid again.
For me cycling is just fun, I am 58 yrs old and love the feeling it still gives me
I feel like in hobbies like bodybuilding it is even more extreme as you get to see all ypur progress decline in the mirror very fast. Also it becomes harder and harder to regain that mass once you lose it as you get older whereas endurance stays with you far into your old age. Furthermore cycling is a fun activity you can enjoy once in a while but it doesn't make much sense to go to the gym just for the sake of doing it.
Time management and priorities. If something is important to you, you make the time. If you want more time on your bike, try riding to work and back instead of driving. I’ve been doing this for 30 years, I average about 5 days a week on the bike, 45min -3hrs depending on what my day looks like. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
yes you are ocmplety right I just think I have to many important things to me right now
Enjoyed this video GC. Consider diving into these topics some more if you can. And yes the consistency required for cycling success is next level.
Thanks so much!! I will try to touch more on these subjects, i get alot of feel when it comes to bike riding in general
This is why we all eventually will go to steel bikes with no power data
That's why a lot of us are doing it as a midlife crisis. About 10-15 year gap raising a family and saving for retirement. It used to be all about the rider, but now it's all about the machine.
hahahaha
I like your thoughts here, Grant, and at 65 with a lifetime achievement medal awarded to myself, I'd say just enjoy the whole everything, fitness and bikes and community and whenever you do you own thing for a stretch of your life, be it hardcore training and racing or recreational or commuting or whatever. And it is okay to not get the trophy and I learned that in '79 when I learned my sprint wasn't quite fast enough out of the gate to get the holeshot and besides, those guys were into hitting, lol, just the way the game was played. And yet I continued to ride BMX recreationally for two more years, riding for hours and having fun with it. Same with road bikes. I gave USCF crit racing a good go in '83 and '84 and I collected almost enough points to advance to Cat. 2 when, ka-boom, I flipped in a crit and landed on my back and bent my frame and my faux teammates didn't even help me get my broken bike and body to my VW GTI in the parking lot. And yeah, that was easy, bailing out of that scene. I had a real life. So let cycling compliment your real life. And don't let daily demands separate you from it. You need fitness today and it'll pay dividends in the years ahead, Lord willing.
thanks so much!!!
Not blaming you for using it, Grant, but I dislike calling any athlete a 'weekend warrior.' Not even National Guard troops like it and, ha, I know from calling a Guard guy that in a casual conversation. So maybe weekend riders or weekend racers or something about the weekend not involving combat training.
sounds good man
All of this is relatable, but don't be that guy who keeps pushing the pace on group rides, especially if you know your friends are struggling with form! Just adjust your pace to accommodate to weaker riders👍
ypu
Cycling is as hard or as easy as you make it
100 percent correct on every point
I c your point but that’s life man, always something but u have to make time for yourself. I don’t do group rides, I ride solo at my own time and paste . If u worried about speed get ready to dig deep in your pockets
yea I hear you
Fun video!!!hmmmm
100% agree. throw in a injury a few grey hairs and you're starting to look at ebikes
hahaha this is the thruth on why I see so many ebikers
You’re not wrong. My entire lifestyle is built around cycling.
yea it needs to be almost it is sucha time demandikng sport
Accept that you can't always be at your pinnacle, but the ambers are there to stoke the fire. Great post !!!
this is truth!!!! we always want the success story and the glory posts but sometimes it takes being in the trenches to get there
So true, you take a week off to let some body part heal, and you get back on the bike and you feel like you’ve been off for a month
the sport is so demanding lol
Doesn't matter how much I ride, My days of progression are over. I'm old af lol.
But you slow down the decline A LOT by still being active. So compared to those your age you may progress.
hahahah as long as you riding thats all that matters
No group rides no problems :)
but the group ride is what you are training for, just get a group were you are the fastest if that is what you need 🙂
👏 for Honesty & Bravy for talking about a subject No One DARE to Talk about 👍My observations is that (1) Competitive Cycling isn't sustainable for any Middle-Age ♂️ with family & work (2) increasingly expensive High-End roadbike with an AGING customer (3) high price deter Young rider from taking up cycling (4) 🥱 lack of innovation otherc than Aerodynamic (5) young people has moved on toward Gravel & Mountain Biking. Without younger new customers, road cycling is already a dying sport
yea trhe first part is true I have a ton of customers and also riding buddies who are 50/60 ion age who I love ot ride with but they are established and also have th eschedule and no kids to care for because they are all moved out so I see there time and dedicattion on the bike and i want it but they always tell me they would trade all that just to go back to where I was in life, so it is something like I said I know I am grateful for but a middle age sport tight now is tough trying ot be present with a family kids and wife and also provide while maintaing a time demanding hobby
@GCPerformance18 👏 Family comes 1st, even if you have to give up on competitive Group Rides. Unless you're kids are grown, you simply don't have the time to train for Crit Races & competitive groups rides. For me, it simply isn't SUSTAINABLE for family men like you. Keep up the good work 👏
@GCPerformance18 th-cam.com/video/jrac4xv__Rc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=U7E1baAmY_4RG5u-. He complained the chore & lack of time to mtb. It's a full day commitment that's difficult in everyday work life
GCP The Peoples Champ!
:))
I'm a smaller, older cyclist. I've never been a beast, but I'd say my FTP has dropped by 15% the past couple of years, and the few pounds I've added don't help climbing. Life gets in the way for all of us, but I'm trying to dig my way back out.
I switch things up in the late fall, winter and early spring. Mostly gym workouts with either swimming or elliptical sometimes running on the treadmill after lifting weights. I also work a second job during this time frame so the hours are just not there. Once the spring and summer roll around I usually ride 30 to 40 miles a day 3 to 5 days a week. gotta find the time and I can't do everything all the time. Plus taking the winter off gives my body and mind a reset for more riding.
Tout cela arrive car vous recherchez la performance mais,je prend mon exemple,j’adore le vélo d’un point de vue matériel et non de performance,j’ai un SL7 avec tout ce qui peut se faire de meilleur mais avec je me balade et je n’en ai rien à faire de ce que les autres font,mon plaisir c’est rouler un beau et bon vélo,des fois à plus de 31km/h de vitesse moyenne et d’autres fois 25km/h.Mon plaisir est d’être dehors ,profiter des jolies routes et si je met 15 minutes de plus qu’est-ce que ça va changer ? Personne ne m’attend au Tour de France …
I guess one has to make certain life choices. I don't aspire to have kids and I'm fine with earning less with a 30h/week job that I enjoy. That way I can prioritize having time for cycling and other activities in my work week. I will never buy a house, expensive car or stay for a holiday on the Bahamas, but I can enjoy my everyday life more than I would probably do otherwise. But you can't have it all. Most people at least
It is not even up to the regular training, but our DNA and structure of muscles, if you are born with pre-disposition to certain sports, it would be much easier to train and achieve excellent results. Unfortunately, 99.9% of us are not so lucky. When I caught COVID-19 and stayed 10 days of compulsory quarantine, a day after I started cycling and I felt like new born, with zero issues with breathing, heart, or muscles.
Nothing but good info here! I'll use it when needed. On day one. When my wife and kids get in the way of my fitness..........Sorry fam! On GC's orders! I'm outty 5000!!!!!!#yolo#justkeepspinning
You are kind of correct and I agree that all kind of endurance sports requires consistency in training and lifestyle but only if you have some targets :) . If you are thinking about performance it is like binary system zeros and ones. You need to live for sports and you should eat good, sleep well and train well and you will get 1 otherwise you will get 0. There is no way to drink three sixpacks in a week and ride like a horse... I think every level of endurance athlete can live in a cycle like pros. I mean for 2-3 months (off season) with less acticity and giving themselves more time for family, resting and etc. And for the remaining part of the year they can focus on training gradually and racing during the peak.
One major difference between road and MTB, with MTB there's also the technical side so even if you're not in peak physical shape during the off season, the technical skills deteriorate less so you can still hit most of the big features that you could hit when you were in peak fitness. And for a lot of MTBers we're not riding to crush climbing PRs constantly, we ride to enjoy the downhills and the climbing is just a necessary part of that and the fitness gains from climbing are more of a side benefit rather than the focus of riding for us.
My experience is different, if you can set aside 10hrs a week, 7 on the bike and 3 in the gym you can (with some effort) make steady progression, but it HAS to be structured and it has to be organised around your life, this means eating well, getting up early and doing your research but tbh that’s what most adults should be doing if they want to take their sport seriously. If not just ride your bike, that’s cool also.
I have done weight lifting for a decade and having a week or 2 off you will see a loss of strength and and your muscles might soften up a bit but the drop off is nowhere near as strong as cycling. 2 weeks off of the bike and I'm basically back to my baseline, no training power.
Over the last 8 years of riding I've only had 2 years where I actually seen progression in my endurance and power, it's such an incredible feeling to double your power up a climb, but have it feel no harder to do so.
Absolutely truth ! That's why in joke i said to my friends wy i don't choose golf .😅 But i love cycling 😊
This was self explanatory 😅 don’t ride = get slow lol have a family = get slow 🤷♂️ simple math
I agree it’s demanding, but if you consistently get some for of excercise, it will be easier. I hop on my casual bikes in regular clothes for about a 1/2 hour ride twice a week at minimum. Helps me with my neck muscles, and they keep me strong since they’re single speed bikes.
I mainly do casual weekend coffee rides with friends. Not competitive at all, however some of my riding friends do train seriously. I take the winters off and get back on the spring.Our rides are anywhere from 15-18mph for 40 or so miles or so which I have no trouble hopping back on after the winters over. I do commute all year weather permitting so that helps with maintaining some fitness.
Cycling is one of the toughest forms of exercise. I go to the gym as well and when I'm forced to take a week or two off, my strength doesn't regress all that much... not so with cycling. No gym session will ever compare to the pain of VO2 intervals or bonking on a long ride. Short of a major injury or life event, I don't see myself ever stopping. It's humbling, one month I may be as fast or faster than my friends, the next they're waiting for me at the top of the climb or pulling me back home. Accept the ebb and flow of fitness, coming back consistently after life gets crazy is more impressive than a high FTP imo. At the end of the day it's all for fun, our personal health, and appreciating the fact we have the ability to get out on our silly bikes at all. I love cycling so much.
I can totally relate to this having small kids (2-3) in your 40s it is so challenging. And you forgot the spaceship(s) for 15k picking up dust... Cherrs from Bavaria
I agree with everything you sais, brilliant episode, that's why i transition to Triathlon, mixing the 3 sports is more fun, swim and running helps overall
Excellent content! I, too, picked up cycling during COVID. Cycling is tough but it is fun, group ride or otherwise. All of the curveballs you speak about, yep, right here. So, 4 years later and rationalizing an indoor trainer, 2 bikes, a pain cave😂, thousands invested in jerseys, bibs, helmets, shoes, upgrades, tune-ups, repairs, etc., to my wife, I’d only stop riding if someone sawed my feet off! Maybe?😅😅
Sharing my experience, I started riding during covid. I lost a lot weight (20 kgs), got fitter and mentally better. I even started running did a 10 km run. But got into accident in oct 2022. 3 months, i was off the bike due to injures. The routine was gone, was very difficult to back to cycling consistently. Some what started being consistent from may of 2023.
Then again in dec 2023 was diagnosed with ankle injury, and had to get a surgery done. So, 4 months off the bike. Gained a lot of weight . But ,I am slowly getting back to riding, but mostly do indoor rides. But having a structured workout plan helps me be consistent.
But still I am not able to join group rides which i used to do in 2022, as my friends have gotten stronger now.
My father took some UK Veteran TT championships in his sixtys and did a hour record too. As it ebbs and flows there'll be chances if you want them. Never sure how proud of him i am because he was dropping me :)
This is the case where I completely disagree with you. If you talk about perfomance, and if you care about perfomance in first pleace, you have to do:
a) a lot of riding;
b) a structured (self)coached routine;
c) both
Out of all three, the second option is the most boring, yet the most reliable way to keep and maintain fitness. It won't be a problem if you skip a week or two completely, your fitness wont disappear completely, if you devote a little bit of time into proper training instead of noodling around, you save a lot of time and maintain the fitness you farmed for such a long time.
Is it fun? Depends, most likely not. But your goal is not to lose hard earned gains and wait for the oportunity to ride again the way you want, right? Then hop on the trainer 2-3 times a week whenever you can for 30-90 min lung burning? legs diyng HIIT session. Don't know what session to do? Go for a Zwift race.
If you consistently stick at least to short intense session, you can keep majority of your fitness with very little regression.
I’ll add that I bought a trainer to keep up since I moved to a place where the path isn’t right outside. I effing hate it! 10 miles on a trainer feels like I rode 50 outside because I’m just bored. Not to mention Zwift keeps going up in price so I cut it off. I can’t get myself to sell the kickr yet though because I sold one before and kinda regretted it. Also sucks that now you have PAY to ride at home.
And as you get older (I'm 71), the fitness falloff that used to take weeks now takes days. The key for me when starting back after a period off, is to say "so what". I'm not racing anyone (although I do pay attention to my PRs in Strava). But I do it for the sake of doing it and nothing more. Sounds trite, but the wind on my face, the buzz from the tires and the rhythm in my legs is what it's all about at my age. I never feel defeated. I never regret a bike ride. The "results" are entirely secondary.
Cycling for many can be a life changer. I can understand those new family's priority's agues there is always time even for few hours per week can be done depends theirs partners communications. I'm long distance syclist usual my milage are 5K to 6K The only problem is my high metabolism causing issues with my weight 5.7 120 lb max 130lb wich is hardly to reach 126ld my Dr taking Blood and other physical exams every 3 months. So far things look normal :)
Things I dont care =Bike raises, Group Rides etc.Nothing wrong with but it can be destructive sometimes unpleasant results. Cycling its fan also can enlight our lifes :)
100% truth. Just had 2nd kid. Carpenter. I don’t got nearly as much time these days.
Sorry but I would like to disagree, last year I broke my back, shoulder and hip in a collision with a car, that forced me completely off the bike for 3 months. Then I had a month more where I couldn’t push more than a 100w because of pain. But after that I was back to a normal. Of course I lost a lot of fitness but never more than I would be able to follow the groups. Being able to ride in a non-drop ride group shouldn’t take much effort. I know I’m not the weakest guy in the bunch but then I’m riding in such a group I never come home with an avg over 2watts Pr/kg which I think is sustainable for the majority on a 2 h effort 😅🤷♂️
I've found a 3:1 ratio of training harder to recovery works for me. I'm mostly managing 10-12 hours a weeks on my weeks on, 8 hours on weeks off. I had a slower week of just 2 hours before an event week - and shortly after that event week I hit a new 20 minute PB and a new 16 PB (329 > 345 w). So I'm a believer that, at least for me, the body needs the slower weeks to be able to build and you don't lose that much.
Sure, if you're taking a whole week off, or two weeks even -- yes, you'll feel a bit shit for the first week as you're mostly too fresh. But the actual endurance fitness takes a long time to build and a long time to detrain.
I dont race or do touring. I just enjoy cycling. I ride my bike just everyweekend just a total of 4 miles. I dont care if you say its a short distance, i just enjoy riding short distances. It makes me feel that I saved a lot of money by being less exposed to cars on the road, thereby avoiding costly surgeries. And I tell you, I've seen a few of my friends hit by a car, some of them cant even walk until now without canes or walker. So take the risk if you want. If you got hit by a car, dont tell yourself that youre not aware of it
You can definitely keep a good level racing on Zwift twice a week.
The most annoying is that your friends don't take time off while you do...
As we said in our group: “fueled by teaspoon, gets empty by buckets”.
Grant - you need to shake things up and think outside your box - which in your case is your shop.
You should set up a training zone in your shop - 2 or 3 fixed bikes w a screen in front. Get on one for 2 * 30 min blocks a day and ride z2. Organise for other people to be able to block/book an hour on the bike.
Get a computer stand - do work whilst on the bike - edit your TH-cam vid. I frequently take my lunch in the gym on a bike w my laptop doing just this.
You’ll soon have z2 hours up - maybe 5 a week - just start. No excuses!!!
[1] You can train as hard as you want, at ANY level of the game, when race day comes, you're dead!
[2] Comeback cyclists buy the latest bike and the latest gear, expecting instant fitness!
No!
INDOOR CYCLING.
Just get up an hour earlier, jump on the trainer and get your work out in. Then over the weekend program a 3-4 hour ride on the trainer and you have your long ride in. No more, no less.
Cycling isn’t time dependent; an indoor trainer keeps your workout focused and time efficient.
Now, if you choose to ride outdoors which is such a waste of time, then that’s really just on you.
I guess I come from a different perspective than most people watching this channel. I'm primarily a transport cyclist, though I do dabble in the performance end. As much as I enjoy going fast and far, sometimes it's nice to just take it easy and enjoy a gorgeous day out on the bike. Or go on a fun social ride with friends. Not everything needs to be about getting fitter and faster. At the end of the day, if you're being reasonably safe and having a good time on the bike, you're doing it right. Who cares if you're not as fast as you used to be? Priorities change; that's life. Go out and ride your bike
Yeah, we had a week of bad weather (severe storms and pelting rain all day) and I couldn’t get out for about five or six days. Next group ride I was toasted on segments that were normally no issue.
I used to train at a boxing gym and own a race-out classic Miata.. 30 minutes of punching the bag was enough for my fitness and taking the Miata out for a 20-30 min spin is all I needed for my therapy. After I discover cycling and got really good at it, Miata is gone, gym or boxing became a rare occasion.. Doing group rides, hearing that wind sound from my wheels, fast cornering, climbing, descending, training for a crit/rr, etc.. at 2 hours 4-5 days a week, I still think it's not enough and want more.. that's the real truth about cycling!
Finally someone who's telling the real thing. I can relate. I'm that guy that gets to a certain point with my fitness. I ride 3 a 4X a week, with long distances on weekends, Saturday or Sunday. I used to combine road on weekdays, MTB on Saturdays and sometimes road on Sundays. But Normally I go to church on Sundays.
But then comes that time. I need to follow courses or upgrade training for work. I need to do homework, get home late after work or I need to attempt the upgrade courses on the same day I do my group rides. And you know what happened next. And Cycling is a sport, like you said...The moment to stop, you can feel it immediately the next time you go for a ride again. Mind you I do have a home trainer, but even that is a problem to sit on.. lol
I was talking to a friend today about this exact subject. We were talking levels in sports. He was an A grade footballer (think 3 levels behind pro league) and he asked me about cycling. I said I wish I was 3 levels behind a tour rider. He was shocked and asked if it was that big a difference. With an FTP above 300 you wouldn’t even win a local B grade crit race and that takes years to get to that level.
I'm 61 and only started road biking about 3-4 years ago. Mountain biked for 7 years prior with my two sons. They graduated college and no longer live in the same state as me. I work M-W-F. During spring, summer and fall I ride T-TH-Sat and or Sun weather permitting. I resistance train 4 days a week. I rode 6120 miles last year and I'm on pace for at least 7000 miles this year. My wife is a bike widow instead of being a football widow. I couldn't imagine doing anything close to this if I was at a different point in my life with raising my boys. It would be too tough being away from them as much.