On Vacation without the Bike. Advice Please

[Talus3535]

I'm new to the forum but can already see that this a great place to seek advice.

I'll be leaving for vacation in 2 weeks and be completely off the bike for 12 days. The problem is I am near peak fitness now and will have a 3 day stage race (Tour of the Catskills) about 2 weeks after I return.

Questions are, 1. Should I expect the time off to hurt, help, or make no significant difference 2. Will 2 weeks be enough time to regain fitness when I return? 3. What has helped you stay somewhat fit when on vacation off the bike in the past.

Thanks bunches in advance.

-ap

 

[pgk]

Is renting a bike a option? If not what about jogging.??

 

[jhuskey]

My opinion is that you will be fine unless you adopt some bad eating and or drinking habits while on vacation.

 

[Beverly Stayart]

Twelve days will not affect your fitness level. Do a lot of walking and avoid junk food.

 

[SolarEnergy]

My voice will probably differ from the other answers you got so far. Be very comfortable to to listen to it though.

I'll be careful and limit to answer some of your questions:
Should I expect the time off to hurt, help, or make no significant difference 2.

It's a Stage race we're talking about? (so I assume you are of a certain level)

If your Base, your work capacity, your CTL has been brought high enough, you should avoid the collapse or the catastrophy.

However, 12 days off is some bad tapering strategy. I don't see how it could help (unless compared with an even worst tapering stragtegy such as training to failure and/or injury 4 weeks into your main event). And logically, compared to a better tapering strategy, I don't see how the end result could be the same.

Will 2 weeks be enough time to regain fitness when I return? 3.

These will greatly help. And again, I don't know your profile, meaning I don't know what your goals are during this Stage Race. But no matter what, these two weeks will help regaining lost CTL and sharpen your knife as well.

What has helped you stay somewhat fit when on vacation off the bike in the past.

This would highly depend on your background in other cyclic endurance sports. If you're a competent runner, then running is certainly a great option. If you are not at all a runner, maybe putting on some bad running shoes, and then starting to run quite fast (which is what your cycling fitness would probably allow you to do) could lead to an injury which could mean the end of your cycling season.

So really, without knowing your more as an athlete, it's very very hard to tell.

 

[SolarEnergy]

for what it's worth (sorry for the double post), If there's an activity I might put more trust in (as a replacement)? Roller blade. Very serious skating workouts (especially if you're already a decent skater) can certainly help cycling fitness. And a pair of these can be far easier to carry with you off country. Be very careful though. Any change in biomechanics (same muscles but not same angles, not same distribution) will be much more taxing on the neuromuscular side, and can cause injuries. Be very careful therefore or else you could make matters worst.

If you haven't skated for a long while, that might be a good idea to test it few times before you leave.