Cycling Fitness / Training Advice

Funds are the issue this year. Time as well. It comes down to a pay off between cost of coach and level at which one is willing to be competitive.

Sell some gear, use it to pay for a coach.

Use some gear, don't need to pay for coach.

use some gear, don't need cycling at all.. use more gear...

http://www.epo.com #amidoingitright

Get onto TrainerRoad. Cheap as chips.

I've done the same training program for the start of the last two seasons. This year I was ok but didn't improve much despite working hard.
I think you need to change it up from time to time with a good mix of sessions.

Is it just me or does a 60 - 90 min turbo session provoke more of that constant post-ride hunger that we all know and love more than a 4 hour outdoor chug? Maybe it's because turbo sessions tend to be more intense and so more carb-burning than a longer outdoor ride?

Maybe it's because you eat during a 4 hour ride outdoors, and you don't eat during a 1.5hr ride indoors?

Eating on the turbo?

I'm sure hippy must eat on the turbo, during one of his 8hr+ sessions.

more of that constant post-ride hunger

Sure it's not just the effects of Winter? My appetite goes sky-high when it's dark all the time :-/

I do eat on the turbo. Even short stuff, if I'm fooked but still need to bust out a session I won't hesitate to take on some carbs (think gel or drink not a pizza... mmm turbo pizza).

Calzone or gtfo

I tend to neck a gel if I feel the need.

Had to Squeeze in a early morning session last weekend. So warmed up while drinking a pint of hot black coffee (gotta have morning coffee).

Seemed like a good idea at the time.

Very nearly melted.

I think of a weekend ride, easy or hard, as an excuse for a pint and a pub meal. If I go on the turbo, I'm doing it for a reason so I have some chicken and salad type health meal after. My weekend rides often span 5+ hours so I eat when I'm hungry, turbo sessions are new to me, but I aim to start them when in not hungry, and eat pretty soon after I finish. 60 mins has never left me with constant hunger. That's what hangovers are for.

Don't think it's the difference of not eating on the turbo as opposed to eating when riding outdoors.

I kinda think the dehydration and mental intensity / effort of turbo may have something to do with it. I always feel totally frazzled after anything over about 75mins on the turbo that leaves me feeling a bit out of it for the rest of the day!

anything over about 75mins on the turbo

this is where you are going wrong

It rarely happens. The most i can manage is about 1hr 40.

I see a lot of people doing 2 hours plus and just can't get my head around how you can do that. They claim it's low intensity / 'base' riding but I can't think of anything worse. If i'm gonna use that bastard thing might as well make it intense and hopefully profitable.

Good call that. #rep

It sucks but can be useful. Also, it's not necessarily base. Adam Topham has won the last 8000 years of BBAR and his training seems to consist of 1-5hr turbo sessions at tempo and sweetspot intensity, which if you've ever tried it, must suck massive balls to ride at for 5hrs. I can't focus that long at that intensity but that's why he wins BBAR and I do not. Oh that and I don't actually try to win BBAR, that might also have something to do with it :)

You and @hippy have just described my worst nightmare. I ended up trying to do a 2 hour z2 on the rollers once - after reading my training diary coach told me never to bother again. After 70 mins I was on the verge of losing my mind and I had to stop, even varying cadence and doing some (one foot etc) cadence drills didn't help. I'd rather be out in the rain/dark/snow than try that again.

Yep, I much prefer that 'near death' of outside winter riding in insufficient clothing to turbo.. but then that's why I turbo. Nothing like staring at a brick wall for 6 hours to break your soul. Welcome to long distance TTing. ;)

Even up here its possible to do z2 outside. Wear all Your clothes. Ride the biggest tyred bike you own, and just grind it out. Its kinda fun.

Its intervals that get tricky. Climbing means descending, efforts on the flat require better light, and better traction. It just doesnt work. Plus dressing for a mix of VO2-max and recovery efforts, when its +2C out, and stormy. Is a massive pita.

Intervals during winter >>>