My physio has always said that as long as I don’t push a big gear or over do it, I can get back on the turbo trainer for some light spinning as soon as I felt ‘right’. I have tried a couple of times over the last month but found it uncomfortable and ‘wrong’ so haven’t managed it up until now.
My cabin fever reached a all time high this week, a combination of too much work, too much driving and a conscious eye on the scales showing my weight again steadily growing. I’ve also been cold the whole time, in the car, in bed, at my desk. Perhaps my metabolism is slowing down due to months of inactivity?
So Wednesday night I dug into the back of the cupboard for my cycling gear for the first time since November and ventured out into a chilly garage. As normal I seemed to gravitate to Top Gear on BBC iplayer as I fiddled with the seat and stem positions to get comfortable. Orange supercars streaked round an oval trying to do over 200mph, with Clarkson genuinely looking terrified for a change, as my legs tried to remember what to do. I really struggled with my cadence for a few minutes, 80rpm feeling like the 110 of old. The bike seemed to be struggling as well, not wanting to get into gears I have been using for 3 years!
Eventually I seemed to get into the groove but was ready to finish when my allotted 20mins came to an end. There doesn’t seem to be any ill effects and I have since been out once more, to watch the rest of that Top Gear Episode.