So, after my retirement from bike racing I didn't ride a bike for 6 weeks. I did, however go running for 1hr 4-5 times a week, and I haven't gotten fat, and my heart hasn't exploded.
However, as running has murdered my hip, and as I am still addicted to pain and exercise related euphoria I slung the bike onto the KK on monday and did some 10 minute blocks for an hour.
To my surprise I saw that I was putting the 10 minute blocks out at 330 watts, and even in the "rest" periods was cranking 200+. My HR was also as comfortable as it used to be, and the only major differences I noticed to my workouts last spring was that 1) I was enjoying it, as it was a once off, and not a daily grind and 2) After an hour I was fu&*ed and 3) The next day my legs were sore which never happened before ;-)
I really wish I had known just how long you can stay "fit" when I was a racer and used to fall into deep anxiety if a cold meant I couldn't train for 3 days!
For a moment I was almost tempted to make a comeback ;-)
However, as running has murdered my hip, and as I am still addicted to pain and exercise related euphoria I slung the bike onto the KK on monday and did some 10 minute blocks for an hour.
To my surprise I saw that I was putting the 10 minute blocks out at 330 watts, and even in the "rest" periods was cranking 200+. My HR was also as comfortable as it used to be, and the only major differences I noticed to my workouts last spring was that 1) I was enjoying it, as it was a once off, and not a daily grind and 2) After an hour I was fu&*ed and 3) The next day my legs were sore which never happened before ;-)
I really wish I had known just how long you can stay "fit" when I was a racer and used to fall into deep anxiety if a cold meant I couldn't train for 3 days!
For a moment I was almost tempted to make a comeback ;-)