[Skidmark]

Although at 56 I may not have seen the fall of the Roman Empire there are days I feel like my body has been around that long. I love where I am at in life. That said, having just returned from nine days aboard a cruise ship with my wife I was / am, suprised how my riding conditioning quickly fell off. Every day on the ship I either jogged a couple of miles or used the eliptial for a half hour and some days both. That in addition to pushups and situps. I have made two one hour or so rides in the last two days after our return. Not only do I get dead legs after but my arse is wore out as well! Average speed is way down. When I left I was riding two or three hours without much of and issue. The wind is cranking twenty five which is some of it but I was not expecting to loose so much so fast.

[Xela]

You'll be back. I think a 25 mph wind probably has more to do with it than you think.

Also, I'll be stuck on a ship next April. My wife really loves cruises. I much prefer land based vacations. It will be a part of the world I've never been to, though. But I have a buddy of mine trying to talk me into doing Breathless Agony right after we get back. Not sure I want to commit to a ride like that soon after a cruise.

[eaton]

Originally Posted by Xela

You'll be back. I think a 25 mph wind probably has more to do with it than you think.

Also, I'll be stuck on a ship next April. My wife really loves cruises. I much prefer land based vacations. It will be a part of the world I've never been to, though. But I have a buddy of mine trying to talk me into doing Breathless Agony right after we get back. Not sure I want to commit to a ride like that soon after a cruise.

I took 3 weeks off before BA '09. It hurt but my time was comparable to the previous years.

[Xela]

Originally Posted by eaton

BA '09

You riding it next year?

[eaton]

I doubt it. May 1 is my anniversary.

[Skidmark]

Oh, I'll get back. One way or another. I was also shocked that I had gained three pounds. I am free tomorrow morning so plan a twenty mile ride, damm the wind. The hot tub felt good this evening! Next September we have a fourteen day cruise on a tall ship (sail boat). They are much smaller. Im thinking cardio will be difficult to get done and the climate is very warm. Hopefully I will be suprised. I also perfer the resort vacations but there are places to visit that we feel are best done from a ship.

[funetical]

How was the Cruise then Skidmark?

[Skidmark]

A cruise is what I call a low maintance vacation. You dont come home and show off a bunch of pictures to the family. This time it was just my wife and I. Not really travel to see new places or experience new things. Just some "us" time letting our hair down (if I had it) so to speak. Rented a clear two kayak in Nasau for the day. Ten minutes into that going in circles having a dual with the paddles I had her put hers down and I paddled alone. Pretty cool, and saw a big bull shark. A day at the cruise line private island was very nice. Rented bikes, snorkled, watched the young ladies from behind my mirror sun glasses, enjoyed a few adult beverages. Day and a half at Key West during Fantasy Fest punishing our livers and again enjoying the visuals. Day in Cosmel. Did a one tank drift dive in the am, then enjoyed the afternoon on a catamaran with fifty other folks snorkling and hanging at the C/O beach (see previous about sunglasses). Drinking some kind of Mexican beer and Margarita's I decided I was studly enough to climb the inflatable rock climbing wall all the young dudes were falling off of. I made the top, but fell trying to stand and slid down the backside entering the water with a world class belly smacker. My wife is still laughing and I just stopped taking asprin.

[Mike1jw]

Originally Posted by Skidmark

Ten minutes into that going in circles having a dual with the paddles I had her put hers down and I paddled alone.

The trick to paddling with two people is the front person provides the power, the rear person is mainly the rudder. The good thing is, the person in front doesn't have to know that. Just start paddling anytime they turn around to look at you so they think your helping with the power. Your not in a race, right.

It might seem I'm the type to take advantage of a woman, but really I'm not. I just know how to avoid conflicts.

[mtndoc]

Skidmark,

I'm 57 and I notice some of the same things you describe. If I take more than 1 day off I suffer, if I ride everyday, even just 10miles, I do better than if I take time off.

I'm not sure of the physiology of it, but I'm doin some research. I was a marathoner for most of my life and turned to bikes a few years ago and heavy for the last 10mos.

Some of the things I've noticed,
If I ride a long hard ride, 30+miles with climbs the next day my legs are dead
When I take 2 or more days off, I have nothing, legs are gone and cardio suffers??
If I ride the same ride for several days I'm able to improve steadily, which is nice,
but if I take a day off I suffer...

Let me know how this compares to your results, and if I find some good info and studies on us "older" physiologies I'll let you know....seems nobody has really got good stuff regarding what happens to our older bodies, but I'm lookin

DrB