Rest Days?

[ny biker]

Well I have never wanted to ride my bike every day. But my general approach to exercise is to do something 4-5 days per week, depending on my schedule, the weather, etc., and alternate difficult workouts with easier ones.

In general, my schedule is:

Monday: weight training
Tuesday: walk for an hour or day off
Wednesday: hilly bike ride, 60-90 minutes
Thursday: weight training
Friday: walk for an hour or day off
Saturday or Sunday: long bike ride
Other weekend day: run errands, get stuff done, etc, maybe go for a walk.

Years ago I used to go to the gym 5-6 days per week, but even then I would alternate difficult days with easy ones and always have at least one day off.

So I would say that if you want to ride your bike that much, plan ahead to make some of the rides easy.

I generally know at the beginning of each week what my activities will be on each day, with allowances for switching things up if the weather is bad on certain days (and for days like today, when I cancelled my hilly ride due to a combination of sleep deprivation, a stressful day at work leaving my brain mushy and a huge rainstorm that left the roads full of big puddles). Since you've already had a problem because you worked out for 12 days in a row without realizing it until the pain kicked in, I'd say it would be helpful for you to plan out each week in advance so you don't overdo it.

[Catrin]

Good advice, both of you, and NY Biker, that is what I am trying to do, think ahead and make plans for riding/exercise/rest days. I never set out to over-do things but the week passes so quickly... I am under a lot of stress right now which does make me more prone to working out too much as exercise is my primary form of stress relief.

I really don't want to ride "every day", it just feels like that right now because the warm weather is finally settling in. I think my body would be more forgiving if I hadn't spent 49.5 of my 52 years on the couch...but things are improving. I cannot complain when I look at the things I can do now - which I once would have never thought possible.

I do try to alternate hard rides with easy rides when I ride consecutive days, but sometimes that is easier said than done. I need to be more strict with myself on this. I probably would have taken an easy spin tonight if my quads weren't sore from the gym last night, so am kind of proud of myself that I took it off Speaking of which, time to stretch now.

[SadieKate]

I'm currently still in winter running mode (yeah, I know I said I was retiring from running 2 years ago but I'm supporting a friend who couldn't run with me for my bucket list half last year). Whatever, long story, I won't switch to riding mode for another couple weeks.

Monday - run about an hour, try to find some hills, keep it mixed up with both terrain and intensity.
Tuesday - strength
Wednesday - run with the LRS group because they'll push me out of my comfort zone
Thursday - spin in the morning and strength train with the same coach in the afternoon
Friday - OFF, completely, seriously OFF!
Saturday - long run
Sunday - strength train and then go fishing (which for us could mean a lot of hiking)

I can't think of anything I want to do every day that wouldn't cause mental and physical burnout. Oh, and I'm 52 . . . chronologically.

[malkin]

Tossing in a play ride every now and then works for me.

Casual, ride around the neighborhood. Stop at garage sales, chat up the neighbors, stop for a beer, check out the clearance table at the store, see if there are any local (non)events happening...stuff like that. Maybe don't even look like a real cyclist.

[Crankin]

I have to stop running during this time of the year, so I don't get an injury from doing too much. I have a 5K on June 2nd. After that, no running until the late fall. It's either that, or quit the boot camp/core classes I go to and I am not doing that, since I paid for the gym through November.
So, after the 2nd, my schedule will look like:
Monday: boot camp and walk 2 miles/ride 5-6 miles with client
Tuesday: rest or easy 10 mile ride in the early AM
Wednesday: medium ride (20-35 miles) or sometimes a short ride, lots of hills or intervals. If it rains, I run or go to spin or step class
Thursday: circuit training class
Friday: medium ride, usually at an easy pace
Weekends, usually one long ride 30-60 miles and one short ride, sometimes it's a ride to breakfast or farmer's market.
I also don't stick to this schedule strictly. I may just take a rest day on a Friday if I have a lot of errands, etc. I also sometimes go canoeing or hiking on one of the weekend days.

[solobiker]

I have a very hard time with taking a "rest" day. I know I should....I just don't..maybe once every month or so. ( I guess this is my addiction ) I just love to move/exercise so much.

On weekends I usually do something pretty long up in the mountains..long hikes/climb, mtn bike, or a long run. Weekdays it is riding my spin bike and weights or running. I have the best intention of resting but by the time I get home I change my mind and go out and do something. I have noticed that the older I have gotten the slower I recover. I am in my early 40s.

[ny biker]

The older I get, the easier it is to say, never mind, I'll workout tomorrow instead.

Everything in moderation...