running your battery down

[sundial]

I stopped in a bookstore and was thumbing through Road magazine when I came across an article about staying off the bike to recharge your "battery" per se. I didn't get to finish the article but I gathered it was about staying off your bike during the winter to completely "run down the battery" so that it could be recharged 98% in the spring. Did anyone else read this article? Can you enlighten me more about the suggestions made?

[Aquila]

Sounds silly to me. At least, for me, as an average person who rides to get out in the fresh air and feel good and have fun.

But I'd be out there right now, if it weren't so danged cold!

Me, I take a weather enforced break, pretty much, but it means I come back in less-good shape.

I can see doing something else really active, and maybe it's different for hard-core racing types, but I'd think that you could "recharge" with a couple days off, some good sleep, and good meals. On the other hand, at the level I bike at, taking a day or two off (during decent weather months) just makes me want to go play on my bike some more.

[alpinerabbit]

"Serious training plans" are periodized into macrocycles, mesocycles and microcycles - over the course of a year, a season, a month, a week.

For "everyWOman", surely it also makes sense not to do the same thing every month of the year because it won't get you further... even without grand training ambitions.

Allowing your body to repair, rest, cross train, collect motivation - that's winter business

[tulip]

It doesn't mean "sit on the sofa and eat pizza for three months!" Stay active, but if you are on a serious training program, take this time to cross train and do other activities. When I was racing, that is what we did in the winter.

[jobob]

It doesn't mean "sit on the sofa and eat pizza for three months!"

Oh. rats.

[Blueberry]

Oh. rats.

And I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean sit on the sofa, eat pizza and drink beer for 3 months. Double rats

[jobob]

I resemble that remark.

[Aggie_Ama]

What about wine and pasta? That seems to be my diet right now.

[tulip]

What about wine and pasta? That seems to be my diet right now.

mmmm! And I can't even make pasta! Okay pity party over

[solobiker]

I think cross training would be the best bet. The body tends to get "used" to the same type of activity so it becomes more effecient at that particular task..such as riding a bike. During the winter months you can challenge the same muscles in different ways which in return can increase your stamina, power, and endurance. Well, that is just my .02

[lunacycles]

As someone who used to train all the time, cross-training in the winter, training and racing March through September year after year after year after year....I think there is some merit to the advice to simply rest during the winter. Not completely, but more than you possibly allow yourself when the weather is great, the air is warm, and you itch to ride all the time. I have battled and seen many of my friends battle illness and things like chronic fatigue due to, imo, too much exercise. Exercise, like anything, can be addictive, so, as all things, done best in moderation--and if moderation during the summer isn't your thing, winter is an excellent opportunity to practice.

I also see it as respecting the natural cycles of life. Winter is about losing your metaphorical leaves, shutting down, slowing the metabolism. Or maybe that's just my excuse as I am presently enjoying the sofa, pizza, beer, and relative inactivity during a beautiful winter here, except for the occasional ride and daily dog walks. And getting middlin' of age, I am also--as a result--enjoying watching my middle grow

[sundial]

The article also mentioned about people who become a January "star". What does that mean? Pushing the miles at the start of the new year? It also pointed out the pro cyclists usually take off November and December and then start training again by January.

I'll say this much. I rode April '07--March '08 and ended up overtraining by March and lost most of March because of it. What I've noticed this year is that by November the idea of even sitting on a saddle seemed almost repulsive to me. So I think I'll check out of cycling through December and may noodle around some on the mtb just to keep my legs somewhat conditioned.