Cycling Burnout

Hey everyone - it's been awhile since I've uploaded a video or done a livestream. Let's talk about that, and the topic of burnout in cycling.
#cycling #zwift #burnout #cyclinglife

[@MyBizCoach]

Hi Eric. I just happened upon your channel by chance whilst I was looking for some info on the Tacx Neo Bike. I've been cycling regularly for the past 10 years or so and like many of us, in the past I'd push myself really hard, all the time. If the ride didn't upload to Strava it didn't happen and if I ever went on a ride without getting at least one new PB - it was a disappointment. Every now and then I'd get burnout and the way I'd know that I had reached that stage was when, I'd find myself approaching a ride as though it were a chore that I didn't want to undertake and just wanted to get over with. Fortunately I found a way to resolve that. for me, when I feel burnout coming I go for a ride, but - I leave my cycle computer at home, I don't plan a route or a distance and instead I go out and just ride, head up, looking around me and explore new roads that I haven't ridden along before. I don't focus on the speed either and instead just think about the sights. sounds and smells of the areas I'm riding through. Then I ensure that I get back home long before I get tired and when I'm still wanting to be out. This for me brings back my love of cycling quicker than anything else ever does.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Thanks for the advice & support! I'm not sure I could ever ride without recording it (severe OCD), but I do like to mix some fun rides in. I think what hit me the hardest was having to come to terms with not being able to sustain peak fitness 100% of the time. Though I've been a cyclist for a while, I've never taken as seriously as I have in 2023. I'd made so many gains so quickly, I thought I'd always improve at that same rate. I've learned to become much more realistic of my expectations and to not let minor setbacks throw me for a loop. Thanks for finding the channel - hope you found some info on the Tacx bike - I still love mine!

[@OhioMTBTrails]

I'm so excited to relive our mountain biking ride in your upcoming video!

[@ericbarnettcycling]

The blooper reel might be longer than the video. Probably just a supercut of me almost eating it time and time again.

[@HydeMyJekyll]

Heck yeah man. I feel ya, just now starting my end of season break after a year of getting my body used to being on a bike. Going to take about three weeks of super chill Z1/2 rides, spend time with my family and focus on eating clean, sleeping well, and feeling good. Hoping to feel super fresh and ready to get back to work!

[@ericbarnettcycling]

We’ll be in a similar spot in the new year, it sounds like. Trying to bounce back from the holidays & claw back to fitness. Best of luck!

[@appleseeds11]

Hang in there, Eric! Good on you for recognizing the burnout and making the needed changes. I’ve been dealing with some burnout too and eased back from racing for the last weeks to be more intentional about recovery. Take care of yourself and hopefully we’ll see you back in the new year. 👊🏻

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Yessir - I'll see you soon. You've had a great year, man - you deserve a rest!

[@ugomarsolais]

It's more easy than you think doing too much. Recently due to some hectic circumstances, I did not do any biking and training for more than a week, which is highly unusual for me and I felt terribly guilty about it. But then I was amazed to see the benefits of such a break on my body. I was sleeping better, my HRV swelled higher, my overall stress got lower. And the best of all is that I didn't lose any fitness. When I jumped on the bike 10 days later I felt refreshed. There's a reason why they say 80% of our training should be boring Zone 2, and that's because we don't benefit training hard all the time. What's worst, most of us biking enthusiasts are very competitive and it's almost impossible to stay into Zone 2 when using apps because you start chasing guys and pushing like crazy. I now do Zone 2 while watching Netflix on the indoor bike or go for a leisurely ride outside to make sure I don't overdo it.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Zone 2 - this is the way. That’s my new mantra! Intellectually, we all know that overtraining is a real thing, but I’m so stubborn I had to let it bite me before taking it seriously. What do you use to monitor HRV, and do you have a specific training plan you’re taking on?

[@psymanj73]

Great video, Eric! Love the candor and how much it resonates. Many of us Zwifters/Cyclists do have a habit of trying to be like professional athletes but strangely, the one thing we tend to miss, is proper rest; and proper rest for us, is a lot more rest than a professional athlete. Not sure if you do now but I can thoroughly recommend taking up golf if you need something to exercise the mind, keep you moving but also, allow you to rest from extreme physical exertion. I know Erik Lee is a keen golfer and let's be honest, North America has some of the best courses in the world.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Hi Simon - I’ll definitely try some different exercising. I’ve tried golfing a couple times and never took much to it - also, pretty sure if I came home with golf clubs (yet another hobby expense), my wife might show me the door, lol. I’m out of town for a couple weeks, so may take on some long walks/hikes. Back to zone 2 in January. Do you take on a particular training plan?

[@psymanj73]

@@ericbarnettcycling I have one but have done a poor job of following it, as I put different activities in to break things up a bit, such as running, cycling, rowing and swimming but have pretty much ignored them and done nearly all cycling. I think it’s time to go back to the plan to keep things fresh 😊

[@MrPedel]

Hi Eric. Good to hear from you again. Glad to hear you're working through things and finding out how to realign yourself. That's always a massive mental challenge on top of the physical one - learning how to ride the lows and not just the highs. How to find some motivation in those inevitable periods of stagnation or setback. I get why you've tuned out of the whole Discord chaos, but just know that there is a place for you on the KCM server, and it can have exactly the shape and size that you need. So if you feel like venting or sharing or getting some ideas for new goals you're absolutely welcome

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Thank you, Thomas! The cycling burnout coincided with being super busy in life, so I'm sorry I haven't been good about staying in touch with the KCM server. There's some embarrassment on my part, as everyone there was still getting better and better as I was declining, but that's letting my ego get the best of me. How do you manage to stay at such a high level all the time?

[@MrPedel]

@@ericbarnettcyclingFirst of all, the KCM server must seem super busy and hellishly hectic if you only check in once in a while, but I'd hate if you felt bad about not keeping up with us power-posters. So I hope that isn't an issue. I hope you'll feel welcome regardless of frequency, and especially regardless of form. I have been going through a bit of a valley myself lately. I've found it helpful to live vicariously through the success of the other guys and just try to find the small wins along the way. After all, the most important goal is just being active and sweating a whole lot. Measurable progress and virtual trophies are just icing on the cake :)

[@RoyImahara]

Suck it up buttercup! Race every day!! You know I'm kidding. You were doing so many big races and rides. That handicap race we did up the ADZ broke me. I was in the middle of ZRL, doing TTT and FRR tour. On top of that I was having issues keeping my blood pressure in check. I started going slower and slower in races and getting dropped in the TTT's I was doing. I had a few days off and got my meds right. Last Saturday, I got a long fast ride in outside with my friends after weeks of not being able to make it. The second half of the ride, my legs woke up and the power came back.

[@RoyImahara]

Bottom line is that we do this for fun. Take care and see you in a race soon!

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Yeah, man - it’s all about having a good time on the bike. I think adding ZRL to the high volume I was trying to do might’ve have been the straw that broke the camels back. I’ve got to try to bring some balance and efficiency to my training. Good to hear that the legs are back and you’re getting back to form!

[@marcorufer2342]

Hey Eric. Nice to hear from you and thanks for your honest words. You've worked hard and a lot this year. The strongest thing is to realize when it's enough and when you have to work less. I look forward to more rides together and wish you a good rest in 2023. take care!

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Hi Marco! Thanks for the support - it's been great riding with you and the gang this year - I can't wait to get back in shape and join in on some riding again! Best of luck in the meantime with your cycling!

[@johnstypa8974]

Hi Eric…thanks for the update and for letting us know that you’re doing okay. You’ve given sound advice about “listening to your body”. Like training, recovery does require some discipline. It’s tough, especially when you get that “high” after completing a workout, a race, or any other activity. Coaches often stress the importance of recovery to allow the body to repair itself. Sooner or later, your body will tell you when it needs the rest. We all fall into that trap. It became apparent to me the other day when I couldn’t complete a number of intervals during an intense anaerobic workout to me because of my being very fatigued. Take some time to recharge a bit; you certainly worked hard this year and the progress you’ve made since January has been phenomenal! All the best dude. -JW

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Thank you Johnnie - you've made some giant strides since January, too! I keep reminding myself that I'll be stronger this coming January than I was the last one, and that resulted in a pretty good year. Best wishes with your fitness journey - let's crush 2024!

[@vonbrockone]

Yeah Eric been meaning to drop u a line to see what the story was. Weather you call it Burnout, or just needing a break to recharge at the end of the season, its very easy to do too much & many suffer from it. I was just looking through my training diaries & in 2010 I rode 103 races in one season. But that did nt get me, but one year that did was when I was living in the UK & rode the regular summer road season till October time, but then did nt take the usual break, but proceeded to ride a Winter series of races too. Then trying to start the following seasons road season in about March, I was fried ! Just do some base rides, take a step back & re build the foundation for next year. It's been down for ever. Like they say you cannot build a strong house, strong walls etc without good foundations. I've ridden 36 actual road races this year, but also 141 zwift races. The thing is with the zwift races I always do at least 1/2 hour afterwards in a pacer group. Also with Zwift it's so addictive & further so handy to do. No driving to a race & preparing, you can almost come home & just jump on your bike. You may get away without even a warm up & away you go ! I've typed away, just so you can see that you will come out the other side of this, zwift will still be there, or rather the racing will be. So chill & take a month, or so back. You will come back stronger. You don't think you will, but you will. Some guys stop completely for a week two, however I have always maybe done something different, or similar. Hope all works out for you Eric, regards keith

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Thanks Keith, with Zwift it’s so easy to overdo it. Even if the weather is bad, any time of day, you can always find a challenge. I’ve struggled with finding a balance between cycling and the “real world”. Cycling can be so rewarding, though. It’s fun, exercise, therapy, stress release all rolled into one. You’ve had some really killer years on the bike! I’m inspired!

[@nerigarcia7116]

I get burned out on organized rides and training. I stopped doing my group rides and riding solo again and I'm enjoying all over. Sounds like you do a lot of racing and organized rides, but when was the last time you rode without a goal or purpose in mind? Just go out and ride, get lost, enjoy the scenery, grab a bite to eat. Sometimes I just take my bike around the neighborhood and just keep going wherever my mind takes me, not worrying about the miles, watts, speed, numbers, places, etc. Just riding. That's why we got into it in the first place. Those are some of my best rides. Not everything is a race and it's not my job so it's not going to kill me if I don't train as hard as I used to, in the grand scheme of things. Once I take my expectations off my riding, it becomes more enjoyable.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

That is definitely something that I need to do. The reason I got into cycling to begin with was to be able to relax and clear my mind. Now, the notion of not wearing a heart monitor and have the Garmin recording feels like sacrilege, lol. Time to do some casual rides!

[@nerigarcia7116]

@@ericbarnettcycling Yeah, it took me a while to take the competitiveness out of my riding. I would ride and have to keep up with someone who passed me or push to at a certain segment, but once I let go of all that it was just about riding my bike and the ride itself, being present in the ride and not the goal or result. Now my age and fitness (or lack of) kind of force me to not care about those things because I know I can't ride like I used to and trying to attain what I once had was more torture than it was worth in the end. When I rode as a kid it was about the feeling of freedom and that's what I shoot for now to regain that feeling. Once I was free from the numbers and expectations my ride became about enjoyment. Don't get me wrong, I like to push myself every now and then but I'm not killing myself or obsessing over it anymore. What used to be 80% pushing hard and 20% enjoyment is now like 90% enjoyment and 10% push. It works for me now.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

@@nerigarcia7116 Thats what it’s all about! I wish I’d taken on cycling when I was younger, but I also see guys out there in their 60’s and beyond having a great time riding. I’m inspired knowing that i could do this for another 20+ years. You’re spot on about it has to stay fun. There’s not too many things in life that offers this kind of exercise, therapy, fun, comradery, etc - it’s as easy as turning some pedals!

[@nerigarcia7116]

@@ericbarnettcycling True! You often see pro cyclist interviews and many say they didn't enjoy it. Riding a bike for living was great, traveling was great, but it wasn't as enjoyable as it would seem. Like I said, it's not a job for me, so I just kept asking why am I killing myself over this? It doesn't matter in the end if I was faster than this guy or did better that I did last time. Sure we like to progress and push ourselves to get better but at the point it no longer becomes enjoyable you need to take a look at why you're doing it. All that doesn't matter in the end, just enjoy the bike. Good luck, you'll find your way. Keep on spinning.

[@user-oz4pl6pl9o]

good you re taking a break , dont push yourself too hard, you ve achieved a lot , maybe just 1 or 2 hard units per week is enough , the rest of it easy , i know right now i m overdoing it ,and gonna scale it back after this week . i had 2 burnouts in my life , what i did , each time i took 3 months off from work and went on biketrips , for me thats like meditation , easy long rides , stopping where i want , no schedule or what so ever . I wish you the best for 2024 , get some recovery , and be happy . cheers stef

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Thank you for the continued support, Stef. I actually did get out and ride a casual century with a friend, recently. I have to remind myself that having fun on the bike is what it's all about. I'm putting together a plan for 2024 to do this whole thing smarter.

[@MarkyMarkZwifts]

Hey Eric, glad you are doing well and listening to your body and taking the time you need to rest and reset. You smashed a lot of goals this year and I'm sure you will come back stronger next year. Take it easy mate and come back when you are ready ❤️

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Thanks for the kind words, Mark & hope you're recovering well from being sick. I've got my work cut out for me catching up with you guys, but I hope to see you soon!

[@GeorgAndTheBike]

Just happy to hear that you are okay. The dopamine rush of sport and the risk of overtraining/overdoing is a trap that is quite easy to fall into. Take your time and listen to your body. I know how much easier it is to write this than to live by that advice myself 🙂 Wish you happy holidays and all the best!

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Happy Holidays to you as well! You said it - chasing dopamine has led to my best and worst results. Hopefully I'll learn to get smarter. See you and the KCM gang soon.

[@SuperOrcy]

the biggest problem with zwift, is that those "recovery" rides almost always end up as "why am I going so slow, I need to speed up a bit" and then become training load instead of recovery load. and there is always just one more series to ride in. its addictive. add to that the big rides you were doing IRL, and you really are at a point where you need a coach and a season plan. glad to hear you are working it out. resting is hard when you are used to pushing yourself, but rest and sleep is a solid 50% of any good training plan. looking forward to seeing you come back hard next year and push up into cat A :)

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Haha, yeah it’s easy to fall into that trap. Lately, I’ve been taking some college courses online, so I’ll make the Zwift screen pretty small while I concentrate on the lectures while churning in Zone 1.5. That seems to help, though I feel like a jerk when I realize people have been messaging me in-game and I haven’t responded lol

[@Gericho572]

Feel for you, I had the same thing round the same time vo2 tanked . Only just started back, zone 2 for the next month then gradually start adding and resting.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Yessir, that's the plan. Best of luck in your recovery and bounce back.

[@MarriedWithBackpacks]

Sometimes we just need a break, nothing wrong with that. Even the pros take several weeks off during the year not touching their bikes. For myself I plan in some recovery weeks, just 2 Z2 rides,. That seems to help for me and switching it up from Zwift to outdoor riding. Also following a training plan and having a clear goal/event in mind is something that gives purpose to riding.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Yeah, a plan would be a good idea. That's certainly where I've been lacking. Do you write your own plan, or use Training Peaks or something like that?

[@MarriedWithBackpacks]

@@ericbarnettcycling I'm currently training for a 170km gravel race. I'm following a plan from Dylan Johnson on Training Peaks. But I first did the century plan from Garmin to build my base, that one is free and gives some nice structured workouts. I got a lot fitter since I took the time to build a decent base.

[@ZwiftDude]

Take up swimming, running or hiking to take your mind or some weeks off the bike. Doing something different stimulates the body in a different way. You could come back to the bike without losing much fitness too then.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

I’ve got lots of travel and whatnot, so I’ll have to do something, even if it’s finding a treadmill somewhere. Holidays are always super busy!

[@lee-cycling]

Glad to hear you're ok, Eric, and that you're taking your overall wellbeing seriously. You built yourself up to a great fitness level. If you ease off a little whilst you get some recovery time in and focus on other things like studying, I'm sure you'll get back to where you just were without much trouble. Look forward to seeing the new content when you get a chance to put it together. Take care, buddy.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Thank you for the kind words, Lee! The timing of the break is good, as the holidays are super busy for me. I hope to get back at it and join in the festivities in early 2024. Also, did you just break 50 up the ADZ? What?!

[@lee-cycling]

@@ericbarnettcycling Hope you find the break helps, and that you have great holidays, mate. I'll be ready and willing to jump in with you on anything you have planned when you come back to it. Yeah, I managed to crack the 50 minute mark yesterday. I did 50:57 last week, so was pretty confident I could squeeze out a little more. Not sure I can improve on that, though!

[@psouthworth]

You're talking like someone who needs a coach to talk to you about your goals, if you can afford it. A off-season break when you plan the next year would be a great time to start that process. Also a good time to work on weight loss if you have any goals around that. Indoor cycling can really get in the way of the natural seasonal break that winter provides.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Id love to be in a position to get a coach one day, both financially and to know I have the time to devote to the training. Working on a few life things right now to try to better position myself for that.

[@Alan-Turnbull]

Hey Eric glad to hear you are ok. Yup fatigue is a thing, found out the hard way endlessly chasing improvement only to get worse and demoted. Which turned out to be great after an initial low period of wondering why everyone is getting better and I’m getting worse. Turns out rest and recovery is super important and I preach it to anyone who will listen, but people sometimes need to experience it themselves but know it’s normal and it happens when you don’t give enough focus on rest. I took a week off, raced b and got back to winning but also something called resting! Now after 2 months I’m back getting crushed in A, but no doubt I’ll be demoted again at some point but as long as it’s fun, thats the most important thing. Have a great Christmas 🎅

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Thanks Alan - I have to constantly remind myself that this was really my first year of trying to get serious on the bike, so I didn’t truly have the base of experience and fitness to be able to reach and sustain a high level. It’s all a continuum, but I always want everything now. Having support and advice from cyclists like you has been so valuable to me - I really appreciate it! Merry Christmas to you, too!

[@stevenking9283]

Hey Eric, can i ask how you got the Gears HUD i have the same trainer bike as yourself tacx nds any info appreciated and enjoy your break

[@ericbarnettcycling]

There was one point where I updated the firmware on the Tacx to get the steering and the gears showed up. Try updating through the Tacx Training app. Also, making sure Zwift is up to date is a good idea too, though I think Zwift does that automatically.

[@stevenking9283]

@@ericbarnettcycling many thanks will check it out!

[@neilveitch5761]

Hmm where have I heard those words before!

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Yeah Neil, you knew it was coming, and also probably knew I was too stubborn to listen. At least, having your advice in the back of my head let me know what was going on before it was too late! Thanks for trying to talk some sense to me - sorry I didn't listen!

[@neilveitch5761]

@@ericbarnettcycling unfortunately it's an easy trap to fall into ... again and again!

[@JMower]

Hey Eric, sorry to hear about your burnout, I guess it's just one of those unavoidable things in life. Sounds like a break will do you good and you can come back fresh in 2024! Do you use any wearables? I have a garmin watch and it records my HRV. Whenever it starts to get low I know I'm over doing it and try to take it easy for a few days until the numbers go back to normal. Maybe worth looking into if you're not already.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

I've been looking into a wearable like a Whoop or Garmin, but haven't decided which direction I want to go. My old Garmin Forerunner 235 doesn't do HRV and it's hard to replace a thing that otherwise (mostly) works. Thanks for the kind words!

[@drewbuffington]

What ya need is a good coach. HMU I could probably get you a cool deal with my coach. If you’re interested.

[@ericbarnettcycling]

Eventually, I do want to get a coach and really focus on doing things right. Currently, I’m working full time, going back to school, and in the process of getting my house ready to sell. I don’t think I’ll be able to achieve the predictable consistency that a proper training plan would require. Fingers crossed, I’ll have much more time and resources to really focus and do things right in the near future. Thanks so much for the continued support. I’m also inspired by watching you tear up those hills in your videos!

[@drewbuffington]

⁠@@ericbarnettcyclingprioritize doing the things that make you happy. It’s been a pleasure watching your progression, and I’ll be looking forward to your man! 2024 you’ll be a beast. Let’s get together and climb one day! ❤

[@ericbarnettcycling]

@@drewbuffington thanks so much, man. Can’t wait to see what you’ll conquer in 2024, as well!