Every year I seem to hit a wall. Not a real wall. It is a point where I do not recover from the ride the day before. So it is a physical wall. Most of my rides right now are just commutes of 12kms one way, once in the morning and once at night. So not a lot of exertion on my part. The morning ride gets me ready for the day and the ride home clears my head. The next day I am ready to ride again usually using the weekend as a break.
Every year it comes to a point where I dread getting on the bike or have still not physically recovered from my last ride…er commute. This can go on for a few weeks. Usually I have been lucky that this happens in late January to mid-February so it is an excuse to avoid the harsher winter weather. I am told it is pretty normal when you train at higher exertion levels, usually not commuting. This year though my body seems to have hit the wall a lot earlier. The weather has been surprisingly quite pleasant for November and I have not been keen on riding though I have been. I got to a few points this month when I think I have the problem licked and thought that I was flying along. Only to be demoralized when passed by a senior citizen with plastic bags on each end of their handlebars. I really hope that hitting the wall this early does not mean I will be itching to ride when it is -20c outside come January.
It could be purely psychological too. Many times before CM I find myself not wanting to go due to lack of energy. I force myself to go telling myself that I will take the subway for the ride home, this will cut down on effort it will take me. I get so energized from the CM ride I end up riding home, wishing that I lived even further out. I expect in the morning to be worn out but I am raring to go. I found myself in a worn out state the other day and ended up in a conga line on Danforth east of Coxwell of all places. Riding with those cyclists for even a short bit gave me more energy, enough to help me fly up the Pharmacy Avenue hill.
Maybe it is a combination of both, the body needing a break and the energy of a few group rides.
Anyone know? I think they used to call ‘hitting the wall’ as I have defined it “bonking”. Probably dating myself asking this but if anyone can help me with this tidbit it would be appreciated. I thought it may have been “boinking” too but I am pretty sure that is reserved for randy pigs.
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2 responses so far ↓
1 electric // Nov 24, 2009 at 12:04 am
Ne quid nimis… Though what you describe sounds more like psychological fatigue than physical fatigue.
Change routes(one with less cars) or upgrade that bicycle part… Maybe you feel October has lasted one month too long – hah!
Don’t cycle yourself into a deep rut.
2 amh // Nov 29, 2009 at 11:43 am
Are you running out of useful things to complain about, you old curmudgeon?
Or is this your long winded way of saying you’re kinda lonely, and need a riding buddy or two.
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