De training

[nightrider]

Does anybody understand the effects that a lay off from cycling has on the body ?and how long does it take to reach a resonable level again ?

[mike]

dont know about cycling but in rowing we used to recon that you needed half as long to get back to where you'd been - so if you had 2 months off, it would take 1 to get back.

[MSeries]

Does anybody understand the effects that a lay off from cycling has on the body ?and how long does it take to reach a resonable level again ?

I can't claim to understand it. I had a 5 month lay off from cycling and 4 months from all exercise, not even a walk to the shops. I was quite lightweight and very fit when I started this layoff. I started cycling after 5 months, four months later I'd say I am at a reasonable level, not where I was but capable of 100 miles in a day and the journey to here hasn't been very difficult. It's a difficult question to answer without knowing your start point and goal. It was important to me that I was able to get back to fitness and not get demotivated so I think a different person will have been able to get this far sooner than i did.

[border-rider]

It also depends on your history - if you've got a good many years of fitness and strenth behind you I think it comes back faster.  I'm not very fit at all right now, but I'm still strong despite few miles.

[nic]

In my experience,  I tend to struggle a bit more than usual if I miss 2 club runs in a row.

[andygates]

That fits with the general wisdom which is that you don't lose form over a layoff as much as a fortnight, then start to fade.

[nightrider]

Thanks for the replys, back cycling 15-20 miles now.Low gears and leaving the computer at home..Will tell you how I get on later.

[nightrider]

Ive done a few longish rides now ie..100k or so.These went quite well riding at a steady pace.Speed and power as declined a bit(last one up the hill on a club run)No more time trials this year.Will do some audax rides though.