First outdoor ride of the season=bike fit woes

[DMC]

My bike has been on the trainer all winter, and today was the first day I've ridden outside since november.

Today I felt like I was pushing a lot of weight onto my hands. Felt better in the drops, but really felt cramped when I was on the hoods. I was fine on the trainer all winter, and I was fine last fall.

Is this a flexibility issue? I've been training consistently over the winter, why would I feel so much more uncomfortable when I went outdoors?

[KnottedYet]

Core strength?

All winter your bike was in the trainer and steady. All your core had to do was hold you up.

When you rode outside for the first time, suddenly your core had to hold you up AND deal with the movement of the bike. (like it had in the Fall)

Maybe your core got a bit out of practice after being on a nice stable trainer stand for a few months.

A few more rides, and it should strengthen back up and get coordinated again.

[DMC]

I HAVE been ignoring pilates class for the past few months...

Makes perfect sense, will report back if a few weeks of crunches, planks and outside riding don't improve things.

Thanks!

[zoom-zoom]

I've dealt with some of this, myself. Funny thing...I got a new road bike in Dec. that didn't see the light of day until recently. On the trainer I actually thought the reach was a hair long...outdoors I discovered the opposite to be true and swapped my 80mm stem for a 100mm stem...SO much better! But my neck and shoulders are definitely a little achey. My leg muscles are hurting in different spots now, too, since I have to balance...and my back is definitely a bit stiff.

All last Summer and Fall I was very diligent with regular core work, as well, so part of my issues are almost certainly due to slacking on that for many months. When my core is strong it takes care of a wealth of aches and pains.

The worst thing about riding outdoors, though...the lack of fitness. 50 miles/week on the trainer can't touch 100-200 miles/week outdoors. I am sure a slowpoke now!

[nscrbug]

Today was my 5th ride of the season. It's been a slow-going process for me. My first ride over a week ago was a windy 38-miler, the second, third, & fourth rides were all 30-milers, and today was the longest yet...60 miles. I felt like we were out there FOREVER! Left my house at 7:20am, and returned just before 12 noon! Yikes! That's a long-@ss time to be in the saddle this early in the season...at least it is for me. I feel like I lost all of my cycling fitness...and it's not like I was sitting around all winter doing nothing either. I was at the gym 7 days a week...running, spinning, cardio, strength-training, core work, and stretching! What gives?!?! Every spring it feels like I'm starting from scratch all over again. Tomorrow will be another 50-60 miler...hope it starts getting a little easier soon.

[Crankin]

Ah, why don't you try building up with shorter rides?
I have too many bad memories of painful early season 30-40 mile rides in March or early April, despite being very active over the winter. I know if you are training for a specific early season event, you want to ramp it up. This year, I'm not doing that. I started with 15 miles, going up to 25-30 tomorrow. I'll stay there for a couple of weeks, before progressing.

Just a thought.