tiggere said:...could that be a sign that I have been pushing it too hard and need to take longer rests between my rides for recovery?
As the other guys have pointed out it could be a lot of things. But everybody has great days and off days and developing a training/racing plan that manages fatigue and recovery and provides freshness when you need it most is a challenge for everyone. There are tools that help, even something as simple as a hand written training log can help you spot patterns and figure out how your body reacts to training stress. A lot of us use tools like the Performance Manager feature in WKO+ driven by power meter data to visualize training load and predict fatigue/freshness but it's still a bit of a black art where you've got to listen to your body, take into account other life stresses and figure out what works for you.
One thing to pay close attention to is how you fuel yourself after finishing a ride or workout. Getting carbs along with a bit of protein on board in the critical half hour after finishing a workout is key to keeping your muscle glycogen topped up. That alone goes a long way towards being able to stay fresh throughout your training week but you also have to consider your training mix, how much rest you get, what other life stresses you have to deal with, etc.
And just to make it really confusing, too much rest can be a problem as well. Everybody needs to rest, that's when your body gets the chance to recover and when the actual fitness adaptations occur. But too much rest before a big ride leaves most folks feeling blocked up with dead muscles. That's why it makes sense to do an openers ride the day before a big event and to avoid taking too many rest days before an important ride where you want to feel strong.
Anyway, fatigue and off days is something everyone has to deal with. It doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong, but like the others have suggested, I'd start by thinking about your nutrition and whether you're fueling yourself appropriately, especially in the critical half hour after completing a ride. Other things to think about are how your weekly training schedule manages hard vs. easier days and then basic life stuff like work and family obligations, how much sleep you're getting etc.
Good luck,
-Dave
