Struggling early season form

[ashpelham]

To begin with, I've been racing and riding for about 9 years now, so I'm used to riding at great intensity. I've been a serious year-round cyclist, with an emphasis on the road, since about 2004. I'm 35 going on 22.

Now, to the point. We've recently had an abrupt stoppage of our winter. Temps for three months average well below the norm, and precipitation was more and worse than on average. Outdoor riding suffered, and I focused a bit more time in the gym than on the trainer.

Now, this is early in the long, hot Southeast US cycling season, but the legs aren't feeling that snap yet. My weight is about where it always is, and it's the same equipment I've been using with only a switch to higher profile wheels. The legs just don't seem to have that "high gear".

I'm attributing this to the early jump in outdoor cycling, but also, wondering if age is throwing me a wrench, or if something in the nutrition is wrong.

 

[ergmonkey]

Don't stress. Get back outside and enjoy it. Riding a trainer definitely will not give you the "snap" (i.e. responsiveness and good road feel). Do a solid six-week training block without trying to overdo it or build unreasonably fast. Then see how you feel. If you're still weak, maybe it's time to reassess. If not, there's no problem. Being super-fit in February is overrated, anyway.

P.S. in six weeks it will still only be April 6, and the Tour will still be three months away.

 

[unsheath]

One thing indoor training won't give you is any form of endurance. I did a season of indoor training based on FTP workouts and the first thing I noticed out on the road was that I was gone at about km 60. You really need to balance indoor work with outdoor, but very hard to do in the winter of course.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Don't stress. Get back outside and enjoy it. Riding a trainer definitely will not give you the "snap" (i.e. responsiveness and good road feel). Do a solid six-week training block without trying to overdo it or build unreasonably fast. Then see how you feel. If you're still weak, maybe it's time to reassess. If not, there's no problem. Being super-fit in February is overrated, anyway.

P.S. in six weeks it will still only be April 6, and the Tour will still be three months away.

But the RvV will be gone already

 

[Tapeworm]

One thing indoor training won't give you is any form of endurance. I did a season of indoor training based on FTP workouts and the first thing I noticed out on the road was that I was gone at about km 60. You really need to balance indoor work with outdoor, but very hard to do in the winter of course.

You obviously didn't do enough training indoors. 5 hrs? Yes please.

 

[Archibald]

But the RvV will be gone already

5 weeks away...
(he says knowing that he's going to be well under-done in any form of fitness for)