I have nearly finished the first part of my adventure and I will be returning home for a while firstly waiting for my bike to return before I set off around Europe but also to refresh myself. As I feel absolutely knackered. I feel extremely unfit and have definitely lost strength in my arms and legs.
This I put down to mainly sitting on my butt day after day on my bike.
I am now thinking I should of taken some time a few times a week to of done some sort of exorcize. Has anyone else who has done a long term trip had the same or has regularly exorcized along the way?

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http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/jarvis/

What sort of lifestyle have you been leading on the trip? If you're feeling knackered that's probably why you are feeling unfit and the strength issue may just come from being tired. It's very easy to push yourself more than you're used to on the road and fatigue sets in without you really noticing it - it's why truck drivers have restricted driving hours.

Bike riding may seem easy - just sit there, pull a few levers, push a button or two, but day after day fighting the wind, concentrating on the road etc is very tiring. I read somewhere a long time ago that it's twice as energy demanding as driving a car but how valid that is (or exactly what it means) I've no idea.

I do try to keep up an exercise regime when I'm away but it is hard to do. I would normally go out running three times a week when at home and try to keep to something like that when I'm away but not knowing an area means it's difficult to decide where to go, where's safe etc. It tends to get done when I'm staying some where for a few days rather than in the arrive evening / leave next morning phase.

Covered 28000 miles in nearly 6 months been stopping off every now and then for a rest probably every 2, 3 or 4 days we would take a break but still end up visiting something on that day off. Done a fair bit of walking. But this last 2 weeks I have been struggling with riding, after less than a 100 miles my butt is killing me and I just want to get off.

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Are you speaking about your fitness NOW, after the trip? Has there been a break since your trip, since you were on the bike everyday? ... or are you still out "on the road" riding now?

If still on the road and feeling weak ... you may have some health issues.
Poor diet? Dunno?

Stamina for long days in the saddle tends to get BETTER as time goes on.
Even in my mid 60's I can ride 10 hours a day ... but it takes a day or 3 to get into the mind set of hammering ON AND ON. Off road going is harder for me now ... super exhausted after a tough day. Day off the bike required.

But once back home and off the bike a week or two, it all goes to Hell, it's back to square one regards fitness and stamina to ride long days.

Join a Gym! Play a Sport! Run! Swim ... have fun! (stress will kill you)

On the road main exercise has always been walking. Walking around the town I'm staying in, often miles and miles of exploring. Stretching is great too. I stretch several times a day at fuel/food stops. Good stretching will extend your riding days and means less aches & pains at day's end.

In my early years I'd stop and do hikes to sites (like Machu Pichu) and in Peru' in the 70's I spent a week in Lima' surfing!
I nearly drowned but was better for it. GREAT EXERCISE!

I swam everyday in Lake Titicacca (freezing ) when staying on Isla del Sol during my 3 months in Bolivia.
In the Caribbean I did a lot of snorkeling. Not super strenuous but fun and good exercise. Body surfing any place there were waves ... GOOD!

Now, fatter, lazier ... mostly just walking now ... and 50 push-ups in the morning.

Still on the road. One week to go then will go home and wait for the bike before I set off. My main problem is I can't wait to get off the bike. 100 miles and the pain in my butt feels like I've done 10 hours in the saddle. I feel like my legs and arms have wasted away and my belly grown. Done loads of walking but I now have a problem with one of my feet so walking is getting hard work to.
Looking forward to some RnR and also some good home cooked food. We have tried to eat healthy but in the USA that's hard. They put sugar and salt on everything out here they even put brown sugar on bacon.

I will be heading off to Europe later in the year and will try to do some exorcise whilst on the road this time.

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I used do to a lot of running before I left, quite some swimming and a bike ride now and then. The first 3 weeks I was in one place and went to cross fit gym everyday. Really like it.

Now, 9 months in my legs are like steel (riding a bicycle) but my upper body feels like a big pink marshmallow. Very unhappy with it.

I tried - and try - to do pushups everyday to keep some level off fitness and also crunches. But I'm not doing that on the dorm room where I'm sleeping now... so it happens sometimes.

Also, food is way less than back home. I ride my bike into to town and get a microwaved pizza and a . Sure, I'm starving so I wolf it down but nay.. not healthy.

So yes, I feel tired as well and I feel unhappy with my body and I feel unfit (compared before I left).

My plan? When I get back I'm going to train like a beast, run like the wind, eat only healthy stuff (at my mom's, I'm broke) and I'll be back in the game in 4 months. I think.

But, right now being on the road.. I'm very unhappy with the whole situation. I feel fat, unfit and ugly. And that should just be ugly!

Alex