Cycling well-when it doesn't make sense

[shootingstar]

Some days it just must be good karma to be cycling so well. At times, there's no explanation why I would be cycling well. Like a well-oiled machine, limber and flying along today for 42 kms. Whereas last 4 days I was cycling less than 30% distance what I normally do. Usually by then, drop in cycling fitness is noticeable for self.

Combination of rain and lack of drive plus feeling sad, resulted in alot less cycling distance last few days.

But today, so strange. And there wasn't much tailwind to help me along.

Maybe it was just doing some of those yoga, pilates exercises yesterday evening. Maybe it was the temperature which was about 15 degrees above freezing or so. Or just being inspired by some bright fall colour on trees all along the way.

Or maybe just because it wasn't raining today. But I did better than expected.
I have such unexpected experiences in cycling fitness /strength every few weeks or so. Tends to happen on a day.

[Owlie]

I'm having the opposite experience today--not cycling well for no reason. It was a little chilly, and windy, but even given that, my leg muscles went "oh, no thank you!" when I got to the first stop sign!

I had some kind of similar experience with fencing, though. Last bout of the day (this was at 3pm--we'd started at 8am with a 1/2 hour break!) I fenced really, really well, even being exhausted. I don't get it.

[shootingstar]

I had some kind of similar experience with fencing, though. Last bout of the day (this was at 3pm--we'd started at 8am with a 1/2 hour break!) I fenced really, really well, even being exhausted. I don't get it.

Interesting. Fencing must quite an overall workout. Do you need to stretch to relax the body after such a long workout??

[Owlie]

It's a very good workout. It's a pity I've had to give it up for the moment because of schoolwork and an ankle problem.
A little gentle stretching between bouts and afterward was all that I needed. For those long tournament days, we spent 2.5 hours in a car to get home, so my not needing much to relax my leg muscles was a good thing!

[nscrbug]

I'm in Owlie's camp, on this. My last two rides haven't been quite up to par with my expectations. I rode 53 miles on both Monday and today. I struggled on both days. Granted it was really windy on Monday, and I just don't do well with wind. But today, we had much less wind (still windy, though) yet I still found myself struggling to keep a 12mph, at times. My legs felt tired and my left glute was throbbing...so all of those things didn't help much. I'm not sure why I felt so tired on today's ride. I normally don't ride on Wednesdays, but both my husband and I were off work for Veteran's Day, so we decided to get a ride in. However, I did sneak in a quick workout at the gym before our ride...so perhaps the 3 mile run on the treadmill, 30 minutes on the Stairmaster, and shoulders/arms weight training sapped most of my energy. I also think I was just hungry and needed to get some fuel in me...since I hadn't eaten since 5am and likely burned through those calories at the gym. I won't be riding again until Saturday, so hopefully my legs will feel refreshed by then.