{"id":189520,"date":"2022-05-17T10:01:21","date_gmt":"2022-05-17T10:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=189520"},"modified":"2022-05-17T10:13:32","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T10:13:32","slug":"back-in-the-saddle-ease-into-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2022\/05\/17\/back-in-the-saddle-ease-into-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Back in the Saddle \u2013 Ease into It"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s so easy to overdo it at the beginning of the season and take all the fun out of cycling or end up with an injury. We know that we should start slow and gradually build but the excitement of a sunny afternoon early in a new season is hard to curb. Here are a few tips to help you prevent overdoing it in the new season.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Focus on having fun first<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s natural to want to jump back where you left off and ride the same routes at the same watts, and hit the same times as at the end of last season. Unfortunately, doing this most often leads you to burn out or get injured before you manage to get in shape. If you want to get back in decent cycling shape, consistency is most important. That\u2019s why focusing on having fun the first few weeks helps. Don\u2019t look at your Garmin or Strava<\/a> stats for the first few rides. Just soak in the experience and ride by how you feel. There will be time for getting more structure and beating some personal best later.<\/p>\n

\"Cycling\"<\/a>
First of all, have fun! \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Watch out for signs of injury<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s important to remember that you\u2019re not starting from scratch. Studies suggest that muscles retain some of the adaptations to training for quite a long time after you stop training. You might be able to push hard quite soon compared to someone who is a cycling beginner. Unfortunately, this also means that old injuries or weak spots from last season might start coming back. Pay close attention to early signs and plan more rest days if you feel like something isn\u2019t quite right. Enough rest is essential for your body to properly adapt to regular cycling again.<\/p>\n

Start with short rides, add intensity later<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While having fun at the start of a new season is important, it\u2019s good to have a general idea of how much to ride and how quickly to ramp up your training. Here are a few rules of thumb.<\/p>\n