Time to Hang Up the Bike?

When is it time to take a break? How do we decide when to step away from the training and racing that has driven us all year? To take time to recover both mentally and physically? For most, taking time out is a pre-planned event. For some it just happens whether it be from injury, burn out, family trips, or a need to refresh. A proper training plan will include a break at the end of the season before beginning the off-season.

Racing from March to October can be a daunting task even for the most experienced racer. Taking a break now and mentally recharging yourself can aid in having a successful off-season. Your break should be at least 5-10 days of total rest and time away from your bicycle. Hang the bike on the wall and enjoy being a normal Joe for at least a short time.

After racing for months and building to top form, we need to step away from the sport and rest. We need to relax our bodies and our minds. Racing and training takes a lot of time and energy. It is important to take a break and get caught up on real life activities. Maybe you have some unfinished yard work, a family vacation, a spouse in need of attention.

Stepping away can mean you have more mental motivation when you return from your break. Your body will be rested and recovered so you can begin the base season refreshed and refocused. You will be tempted to jump back in to training at the rate in which you left, but you will need a little bit of time to adapt back to training. It is recommended to take your time phasing back into training. This is the ideal time to introduce foreign training methods to your body like running, hiking, weight lifting, x-training.

Be honest with yourself to see if you need a break or are getting close to needing one. Someone close to you such as a spouse or training buddy can offer valuable insight to whether you need a break or not.

Enjoy the time off and come back to the bike mentally fresh and prepared to obtain the goals you have set for yourself.

Jered Gruber