All right, here's the deal: I just got back in the country and have been reunited with my bike. The past five days I've been riding and feeling pretty good. After not having ridden in 3 months while living at altitude and running occasionally, I'm sort of surprised. But, I've always been able to get in shape pretty quickly and have shown at least a little bit of natural talent on the bike. Not trying to sound cocky, just laying the situation out for the guys that know way more than me.

My question is this: after a very tough and windy 42 solo miles today, I'm wondering if I should take a day off somewhere in here, or just ride through the zombie-like, empty legs, exhausted state I find myself in. I know that this is part of training, but I am wondering if at this phase a day off every 10 days or so would help me. I want to avoid overtraining, but I still have to make up some lost time over the next two months to be able to compete the way I want to with my team. I know this is long, but any insight would be appreciated.

I'm wondering if I should take a day off somewhere in here, or just ride through the zombie-like, empty legs, exhausted state I find myself in.

You describe the first stages of over-training. Take a day off from hard training. This can mean an easy spin ride, or a couch ride, depending on how drained you feel. The biggest problem people seem to have is being unwilling to ride easy. There's no way an hour's easy spin should do anything but help you recover, but lots of people just can't/won't/don't have the personal discipline to take it easy. If you're one of them, then stay off the bike.

You describe the first stages of over-training. Take a day off from hard training. This can mean an easy spin ride, or a couch ride, depending on how drained you feel. The biggest problem people seem to have is being unwilling to ride easy. There's no way an hour's easy spin should do anything but help you recover, but lots of people just can't/won't/don't have the personal discipline to take it easy. If you're one of them, then stay off the bike.

I'm still learning how to rein in the fury a little bit...sage advice, thanks.

I'm still learning how to rein in the fury a little bit...sage advice, thanks.
Got a girlfriend? Ride with her. Unless of course, she's as fast/faster than you are.
Don't? Ride with the local Rec club, lower levels.
Basically, ride with somebody slower than you who forces you to keep the speed down.
-estone2

what they said.

when im home i ride with the parents for recovery rides, keeps things nice and slow
at school, i try to find some of the new riders on the team or those who really dont train much, and drag them out for a ride, also nice and slow

then again, if the legs are dead, every so often a day on the couch is just the thing.

to tell if I need a day off:

say I have a 2-hour window that I could use to ride today. if I'm feeling hollow / unenthusiastic etc, I'll lay down on the couch in a quiet room and close my eyes.

if I'm still awake 10 minutes later, I'll go get on the bike.

otherwise... nap time.

Your body knows what it needs. And remember the #1 mistake of self-coached athletes: overtraining / not enough recovery.