Your Performance getting Flat?

A few things can happen to cyclist or endurance athletes.  We tend to do the same things over and over again.  We are creatures of habit and because of that can get stuck in a rut that we don't even realize.

Here are two I just found myself needing a quick reminder on!

Take a week off.  Period.  52 weeks a year of 200-300 miles each week leaves you physically and mentally flat.  Come back slow the first week and then ramp it up and get back to business.

On and off days.  On the "on days" GO HARD.  On the "off days," take it easy.  Let yourself rebuild and recharge. Off days are on the bike too.  If you rode yourself into the ground on Saturday and wake up Sunday feeling it.  Take it easy, go for a 2 hour "spin" mix it up.  You don't need to go hard every day.  What ends up happening is that you "think you are going hard" but actually you are not.  If you took the day off or took it easy you have a better chance of coming back and putting in a 100 percent effort on your next "On day."
If you follow this simple process you will be more likely to put in the right intensities when needed.  Otherwise getting stuck at 90 percent is easy and likely to be what ends up happening.

Problem is, realizing that you are at 90 percent and not getting anywhere is really, really hard to do.  It feels hard, it is work but really it is not the intensity that leads to growth, rather the pitfall that leads to medium performance and slowly losing the fitness you worked so hard to gain.

Train smart.  You do the work, make it pay off!

Riding with Stava - Can't be any better!

Stava Application for the Iphone is rocking!   Not to mention FREE.  With Free unlimited ridge uploads right from your phone uploads and blog embedding.   Great technology!
I have switched to using the Garmin Edge 500 - more accurate and batter life.  Honestly Stava is an amazing application that all cyclist should be checking out.  It it the facebook for cycling, only with ride stats and bragging rights!