Forced layoffs this time of year.

fat bloke

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of illness or other afflictions around this time of year and what effect missing out on the winter building phase can have on the season to come. As well as how to deal with being off the bike.
I had a great year on the bike last year, and the year before and was flying for the winter. Plenty of turbo time, gym work, club spins and thoroughly enjoying my training and the resultant fitness. I've also got the Marmotte to look forward to so I'm mindful of needing a proper long-term preparation to do it right and do it well.

2 weeks ago I got a cellulitis foot infection so I've basically had absolutely zero training now for two whole weeks and I've at least another week of enforced rest and antibiotics to go. Pretty frickin frustrating, so it is. Sitting here, losing fitness and inevitably gaining weight, though I'm really trying to keep my discipline in that regard.

I suppose if I actually get going again in a week then it won't be so bad but it seems to be hard to shake these types of infections. Any science out there on how quickly sloth reverses fitness??

RockWerchter

I wouldn't worry about it. Forced of the bike for two and a half months last winter, still did the Rás.

Have been forced of the bike for four months since August, Rás is still an option next year. You only need 24 weeks to get to peak fitness, 12 weeks to build a really good base fitness.

I really wouldn't worry about it.

cdaly_

No idea about the fitness -> sloth equation but why not spend the time working on core strength? Hunt out a Pilates class and get those abdominal muscles into action. You'll still have fitness to recover once you get back on the bike but you'll have better body stability to help...

Eamonnator

This time last year, I was six weeks off the bike, due to injury. At my age, I was really worried, that I would lose fitness and would be unable to regain it. I got back on bike in January, I worked hard, and by the end of March, I was pretty much back on course. It was tough going, particularly as I put on about 8kgs, during my layoff.
So for me, at age 63, it took about two weeks hard going for every week, that I was off the bike.

fat bloke

Yeah, some people have said in an ironic, or at least a silver-lining, sort of a way that it's the best time of the year to get sick. -I might be more in agreement with that sentiment in October/November, but around now things are kicking off a little bit - club spins are getting a little bit longer and a little bit faster, the end of season rest is a fading memory and people are getting into their winter training proper. It's hard not to start getting worried about being left behind.

I suppose another week is one thing, and not that bad, but if I still haven't shaken it by next week and 3 weeks becomes 4, becomes 5.... apart from the fact that I want to bludgeon myself into unconsciousness with the tv remote, then I'd really have something to shout at the four walls about.

Solobally8

I missed 15 weeks from July to October, was back 6 weeks when I had to have surgery so I'm off again for at least 6 more weeks. I'm screwed! Luckily the race season is long so instead of being ready for February I'm hoping to be back fit and racing by May/June instead. Gonna be very tough.

Jawgap

Good luck with the cellulitis. Probably best to rest - I had a dose in the summer and only realised how ill I was when the infection developed into the calf muscle - I'm still struggling to get some condition back into it.

Sort the cellulitis first, would be my advice.

8 weeks is supposed to be the timeframe over which fitness is lost.

fat bloke

Jawgap wrote: »

Good luck with the cellulitis. Probably best to rest - I had a dose in the summer and only realised how ill I was when the infection developed into the calf muscle - I'm still struggling to get some condition back into it.

Sort the cellulitis first, would be my advice.

Yeah, I'm definitely taking the "rest" prescription seriously. I had one dual course of antibiotics but when they ran out, the infection flared up again, so I'm back another course. It's very annoying to be ground to a halt by a little toe, but apparently it can become very serious if left to spread and get into the blood/bone etc.
It's wrecking my head as much as anything else. :mad:

In the meantime - Any netflix recommendations??

whacker00

Had planned on getting a great winter base in to give racing a go next year. Fractured my finger in October and had to have an operation to install a k-wire. Couldn't even go on the turbo to try and keep some fitness. All removed now and physiotherapy started so back on the bike this week....so here goesssss

andy69

fat bloke wrote: »

...it's the best time of the year to get sick...

yeah I'd kind of be thinking like that also - I'm doing the Marmotte as well and if I could choose a time to be off the bike, it'd be now rather than say the likes of May when I could miss the Mt Leinster Challenge and the Orwell Randonee etc.
Most of the people you see ramping it up a bit now with their training will be focused on racing (I guess), so they have to be fit for February. We are aiming at a different peak, months after that, so although I'd hate to be laid off the bike, and sympathise with you....think of the bigger picture and in longer terms - think how fresh the legs will feel now after the 'rest', and that you've loads of time to build up to July.
You can use the time off now to make yourself a structured training plan to slowly build yourself back to full tilt for July - the glass if half full
(anyways....I was out today for a spin and my bike was covered in all sorts of sh1t from the mucky roads, even before the rain arrived! You're not missing much!!)

Jawgap

fat bloke wrote: »

Yeah, I'm definitely taking the "rest" prescription seriously. I had one dual course of antibiotics but when they ran out, the infection flared up again, so I'm back another course. It's very annoying to be ground to a halt by a little toe, but apparently it can become very serious if left to spread and get into the blood/bone etc.
It's wrecking my head as much as anything else. :mad:

In the meantime - Any netflix recommendations??

It ended up taking two courses of iv antibiotics to shift mine.

House of Cards, Brotherhood, Sons of Anarchy! And (ahem) Orange is the New Black.....

manwithaplan

I had cellulitis a couple of times - the bad news is that you're more prone to it if you have had it before. In my case, it has spread each time from insect bites. As you say, rest is very important. The antibiotics will do their job but need some help.

It pretty much did away with the end of my season. I couldn't ride the rescheduled vets champs in September as well as a couple of races leading up to it. It recurred in October as well.

I think I would agree with you that October/November is a better time to be laid up than December but you won't lose all that you've gained in the last couple of years in three weeks. You are aiming for events in mid summer. By then, this will be a distant memory and you won't be behind the curve. It will mean your base period extends a bit longer and you might be a bit later hitting your peak but it's not going to affect your form for something like the Marmotte.

The main thing is not to worry about it. You have no choice but to rest so you just need to get this sorted and then move on.

Sr. Assumpta

Well fats, the word from the latest edition of Cycling Weekly is that your Trench Foot induced period of "detraining" doesn't quite spell disaster.... http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/fitness/training/detraining-the-truth-about-losing-fitness-22330

Extract:
...(after) "One month:
All of the detraining changes outlined above continue to progress, but fundamental muscle changes are now becoming prominent. By now, your muscle capillarisation will have returned to your pre-training baseline. However, it is still likely to be higher than that in people who have never trained. Alterations are taking place in your muscle biochemistry.

The biochemical pathways that help your muscles burn fat for energy start to become less efficient, making it harder to burn while you ride, which in turn reduces your endurance capacity. On top of that, not only is your overall muscle mass declining (reducing your maximum power and strength), muscle fibres known as Type IIa (used during high-intensity sustained efforts) start to revert to Type IIx fibres, with greatly reduced endurance capacity.

In short, your ability to maintain a full-out effort, for example, a sprint to the finish line, diminishes dramatically"

colm_gti

Race yourself fit in March, be grand

Ken1975

fat bloke wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of illness or other afflictions around this time of year and what effect missing out on the winter building phase can have on the season to come. As well as how to deal with being off the bike.
I had a great year on the bike last year, and the year before and was flying for the winter. Plenty of turbo time, gym work, club spins and thoroughly enjoying my training and the resultant fitness. I've also got the Marmotte to look forward to so I'm mindful of needing a proper long-term preparation to do it right and do it well.

2 weeks ago I got a cellulitis foot infection so I've basically had absolutely zero training now for two whole weeks and I've at least another week of enforced rest and antibiotics to go. Pretty frickin frustrating, so it is. Sitting here, losing fitness and inevitably gaining weight, though I'm really trying to keep my discipline in that regard.

I suppose if I actually get going again in a week then it won't be so bad but it seems to be hard to shake these types of infections. Any science out there on how quickly sloth reverses fitness??

Stressing about being sick and stressing about when you'll be fit enough to resume training is putting more unnecessary stress on your body and will ultimately result in recouperation time increasing.

Chill, watch what you're eating (Apple and Cinnamon rice cakes are a personal fav) and as Manwithaplan says, let the antibiotics do thier job.
Perfect time for core workouts and resistance training (zero impact).

Now move away from the mince pies...and pass them over to me.