Just back from a 10 day trip to Mumbai (from US midwest) and I have definitely lost a step. While there, I tried to run - but outside was kind of impossible with the air quality, humidity, heat and the wall-to-wall humanity that is India. So, did the treadmill a total of 5x (out of 8 days on the ground) but just couldn’t muster anything more than 5-6k per run (treadmills are just plain dull).
Jet lag and 9/10 hour work days also make for a hard combo - not to mention that western immune defenses + India = colonoscopy prep-level gastric issues.
I do this kind of thing 2 or 3x per year, 8-10 days per trip from the US to various parts of Asia (and back, of course). Just curious to hear what others do to try and maintain fitness during this kind of work travel.
Maybe the solution is to retire.
EDIT: For the record, I’m primarily a cyclist - though now pretty much all indoors on a Kickr Bike Shift. My wife more or less banned me from group rides when she eventually realized a couple of people in the group were killed by cars over the past 15 years. It didn’t help that I’ve had my share of wrecks with the requisite road rash.
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Wow - that is a tough schedule. Retirement or a different job might not be a bad idea if you value your fitness.
I do find that Sufferfest/Systm Workout can work really well on an indoor spin bike. My regular work travel hotel has got a good quality bike and most of the Suf videos work just as well on the spin bike as on the KickR. So - iPad, HRM, headphones makes for a good indoor session.
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Yeah - haven’t tried iPad SYSTM on a spin bike - not sure if everything out there has bluetooth but then again, it is 2026 after all. Thought more about this after posting and honestly don’t think there’s any real solution because the upside-down nature of the workday really does screw with your rhythm - hard to push the heart rate when you’re kind of dead - and really your heart rate pushes itself even when your not actually putting out that much.
Retirement it is, then! (joke.)
EDIT: You gotta be impressed with how professional athletes deal with intercontinental travel - it can’t be easy. I guess just go early and adapt before you compete.
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Also travel a lot for work, usually 5-15 days at a time and away most months to US or Europe from UK. Not to India which as you say presents unique challenges.
I started sufferfest on a spin bike and this is often my go to hotel option combined with strength training. If no hotel options I will always do something - body weight routine or yoga in hotel, hire a bike, 20k steps - whatever I can get done. I just make sure to move - hotel at least a 20 min walk away from where I’m working with a gym where possible
The only way I keep progress is to never miss a day. And (try) not to eat like a monster.
At home I only ride indoors but did hire a bike for some outdoor rides in Vegas and Miami last month and had the best time. Will definitely do more of this, but no I would never ride in India 
Retirement is rather out of my budget 
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On the spin bike there is no Bluetooth connection - you are just riding by perceived effort using the dial on the bike which can very quickly dial up the resistance. Some bikes these days give a power reading on their screen but rare to offer a connection to your iPad. iPad is for watching the video - own HR meter helpful to show you are pushing yourself on the hard intervals
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