Last year I had a strong run through the year and 2 weeks in the French Alps, and a 5hr Ride London meant I was strong all the way until the point that I got knocked off. I was off the bike for over a month and although I was riding again 5 weeks later it was no where near at the same pace. In fact it probably took until 6 months later in May/June 2016 that I was anywhere near where I had been in November 2015.
I was fit enough for 2 weeks in French Alps and Pyrenees and felt OK for a while after that. However there were no rides that, when I'd got home, I felt that it had been great, and there some that I barely made home at any sort of pace at all - I got to 60 miles and it was like a switch going off
In October the shoulder I injured when I got knocked up flared up. I could not lie down and I had had to abort a ride after only 9 miles and ring my wife to come and get me - the first time ever.
This meant another 2 weeks or so off the bike and by now the days had shortened so I had also stopped riding to work - I am still nervous about the dark after the accident.
As a result I had even started riding my turbo trainer 1-2 times per week in the evenings to keep some level of fitness. I hate it to be honest, but its a chance to get a level of high intensity riding in some form of controlled manner. I got up to 45 minute sessions with some semblance of intervals.
I am not sure it is enough yet to make a difference. One of the end results is that, despite just wearing shorts and short sleeved jersey, its like I have had a shower whilst riding as I end up so sweaty!
As an example I rode Saturday 29 Oct and my average HR was 150bpm - it was not that high in the Pyrenees! Its rides like this that make me wonder what I need to do restore a level of consistent fitness.
However today (30 Oct) I rode to the Marina at Barton-under-Needwood where my wife picked me up before we went to the National Hill Climb Championships 2016 up Bank Road, Matlock. I had ridden to the Marina before and estimated 2.5hrs ride time. However once I'd left home having banked on 2.5hrs, I did the sums again and reckoned that at my usual recent pace (16mph) I'd be late meeting my wife so I had to up the pace. What surprised me was that I was able to hold this speed pretty well all the way. Apart from almost grinding to a halt up the last two inclines (no way were they hills) in the last 3-4 miles I felt really good and it was reminiscent of fitness back in August 2015.
I averaged 17.8mph which is by no means great in comparison but this was a solo ride of 44 miles and for me a big improvement - just in time for the weather to be closing in and my mileage to start to plummet over the Winter!
Here's the Veloviewer data:
