u/Feisty_Nebula4492

OK I’ll try and summarise this to not drag it on too much.

Been riding on and off to a reasonable standard for about 15 years.
2 years ago I was keto whilst training quite hard and racing, after a while I started feeling burnout so I had a blood test which came back as super low testosterone. I stopped riding and worked on getting myself healthy again.
8 months later my testosterone levels were good and I started riding again. I just did 3hrs a week for about 2 months and I felt great, I’d completely forgotten the buzz you get from riding a bike. My friend was doing the Paris roubaix challenge (170km) and invited me to join him. I only had a few weeks to train but decided to join him. I stuck with my 3 x1hr training rides but added a big outdoor ride at the weekend (5hrs) for the last two weeks. I then did the event and for a couple of weeks went back to the previous years burnout feelings.
I had two weeks off but then got back in to my 3hrs a week training for the last two weeks. Unfortunately I’ve still got these feelings of burnout and on tonight’s ride I stopped after 30 minutes as I felt awful. Weirdly my stats were good and hr was pretty low.
For background info, I’m a 45m that works a pretty physical job and I also do other sports 2-3 times a week as well.
I’m after advice from others who have gone through similar experiences. If I stick with my 3 hours a week will I slowly adapt now my big weekend rides are over? That’s what I’m hoping for as I’ve built up a bit of fitness that I don’t want to lose.

So this has been going on for nearly a month now and I’ve tried a lot different remedies but non will work. (Dropouts are vertical, I have 11 speed chain with compatible chain ring and sprocket)

Here’s what I’ve tried and the results of each method.

1. chain tensioner pulling down- kinda worked ok but skipped a bit when putting a bit of power down.

2. shortening chain to the point where I had to wind it on with the cranks. - this pulled the wheel slightly out of alignment and started to disfigure the chain at the joining point.

3. chain tensioner pushing up- chain skipping under every pedal stroke and falls off when pedalling backwards.

4. I bought a half link to try and get the chain somewhere between tight af and baggy af but the half link doesn’t flow around both the chainring and sprocket so major skipping every time it touches them. I bought 3/32 half link as I’d read that’s best size for 11 speed.

I’m all out of suggestions now but in general I feel my biggest issue is that the chain is either way too short or way too long. Is there a way I can get it somewhere in the middle? It’s amazing how much length 2 links add.