Training & Nutrition

Is it Possible to Cycle Too Much?

Keep yourself healthy and happy by knowing the risks of overtraining

Is it possible to cycle too much? Here at TWC, our instinct is to say OF COURSE NOT! But we have to be responsible here.

What are the warning signs for you cycling too much? And are there any risks associated with going over the top on your training? We dig into all the info on offer to try and find out.

Body

Overtraining syndrome is a thing, and it’s a very serious thing so here are some of the warning signs which you should look out for:

Feeling tired and grumpy
Sudden mood swings
Depression
Decreased appetite
Headaches
A weakened immune system
A higher propensity to injury
Drop in performance

There are plenty of other symptoms too, and there’s a very real danger of you misdiagnosing these feelings as a lack of fitness, pushing yourself to train more and ending up feeling even worse.

Your body is not able to train hard every day. Even world-class athletes take days off to allow their bodies to catch up. The heightened risk of injury and weaker immune system associated with overtraining can scupper your chances of being in the best shape for that upcoming race because you’re pushing yourself too hard.

What can you do to minimise the risk of overtraining? Keep a diary or training log, noting not just your performance but also how you feel. Make sure your recovery periods after a big event are generous enough. And, just once in a while, forget about your bike for a week. If you fancy getting tech, there’s even an app that promises to make sure you do the right amount of training.

Finally, if you are engaging in extreme, Tour de France levels of exercise, there is some evidence to suggest you could be increasing the size of your heart, and possibly increasing the likelihood of developing arrhythmias. However, this is still an extremely under-researched area.

Mind

When it comes to your mental health, there is a theory in psychology called the ‘the dualistic model of passion’. If cycling is a so-called harmonious passion for you, it means you get satisfaction from partaking in it and you feel like you can disengage from it when you choose to. This is a healthy way in which to participate in any activity.

Obsessive passion, however, is when you feel compelled to pursue your passion. That’s when negative feelings enter the equation – if not doing something has an effect on your self-esteem, then perhaps your relationship with that activity is not psychologically healthy. If you need to get on your bike is conflicting with other goals or aims in your life, then it might be time to evaluate your need to ride.

This obsessive passion can often be hard to identify as unhealthy because unlike people who are addicted to work, an obsessive passion still gives joy.

Ask yourself: is cycling something you have to do every day? The research suggests that if you genuinely enjoy cycling and see it as a supplement to a healthy lifestyle, then you can make an informed decision not to go for a ride, rather than torture yourself over the fact you missed going out on your bike.

Like issues of the body, the best way to keep yourself healthy is to give yourself appropriate breaks from the bike and to ask family and friends to watch out for obsessive or self-destructive behaviour. Going on a ride as a way to let off steam is fine: if you’re escaping from important responsibilities, then it might not be so great.