Cycling Fitness / Training Advice

Exactly, knowing someone will look at my training every week is a motivation in itself - not only to do the sessions, but to do them properly. Power data doesn't really give you anywhere to hide - you're either better, or you're not.

More than once I've caught myself writing pathetic excuses as to why I couldn't train that day, and just htfu'd and gone out to do it.

I just got a bigger list of excuses ;)

How do people keep motivation to train when other bits of life are busy? Seems atm that I only actually want to train when it's the holidays and I don't have much else to do, but recognise this won't help much when it's Feb/ March and I need to ride my bike AND revise for exams AND go to college.

What are you training for?

Exams are more important than cycling so I would suggest riding when you can and forgetting about 'training', unless of course you are going to be the next Wiggo.

I'm going for the next tt season, primarily as a warm up to the hill climbs, it's not a major issue because I have 4 months of 0 obligation from 17th May onwards but wouldn't mind having a base to build from after spending the last year going out a bit too much.

If you goal is hill climbs, you have all frickin' year to wait. All you need to worry about this time of year is not overeating. Ride the bike when you can, forget about structure until your responsibilities are met.

That I shall do- I may be slow on a bike, but at least my knowledge of Russian participles is decent.

Da, comrade.

I learned all my Russian from 80s US comedy films.

5am starts for 2hrs Z2 on the turbo - hell. Need better motivation than eating double the amount of bagels and coffee after.

Not great use of your time doing loads of Z2 unless your putting in some serious overall training hours each week. Think this has all been pointed out previously...

Had a few days of late where I'd planned to ride the next day and woken up feeling fucking tired and unenthused and not motivated. Overtrained?

have upped the miles a bit in the last few weeks but not massively - my ctl hasn't lifted much in the last month for example

Yup.

Put the bike in the cupboard and leave it there til you want to ride. Serious.

You don't need to be training harder, life stressors will affect.

THought as much. Normally i wake up when i know i'm going to ride (even if it's a turbo session) and feel pretty motivated and get on with things. Been moping about wondering what to do for at least an hour now.

Dunno how to take a screenshot, but my CTL ramp rate for the last 28 days is +13.8 and the last week is -0.9, which seems acceptable per Coggan and co's advice.

Am going back to my parent's today til 27th this afternoon so was hoping to get one last mince pie mitigating session in before i go but not sure there's any point.

Nah leave the bike alone. Take fbe time off and see how you feel when you get back.

It's not about numbers, you can overdo it in a way numbers won't show. Well done for realising and bejng self critical. Most people would keep training and put themselves into the ground. You'll feel better after Christmas and be training g gold again and making progress.

Ha, thanks dude. Even the prospect of a sunny trip to Kent isn't doing it for me so clearly i'm a bit out of sorts. Just woke up and my legs felt shit and my eyes felt like they could hardly even open properly.

Probably gonna just do a bit of gentle stretching / yoga for a while then retire to the sofa til home time.

I pushed myself so hard once, that it took me 2 hours to get out of bed. Then I'd manage to eat something, then go back to sleep. Then I'd go training, come home and sleep.

I rebounded back stronger. But I don't recommend that. I was on the over-reaching limit.

Don't worry, you've just over-reached. Few days off and you'll be new.

Yeh, it's just a bit fustrating especially with a few days of gluttony appoaching! Ah well, good to have a break and get away from these stupid bike things every now and then and it's December so not like it's happening in summe which would suck

I like this free coaching lark. Thanks Skinny. I'll recommend you to others.

Chimp Paradox innit.

What's the consensus about cold weather riding then?

I know there's arguments for and against, but I swear it's a lot tougher physically. Feels like you need to eat a lot more and legs don't have the usual strength. Not sure if it's partly psychological, like the need to eat more being for 'comfort' in the cold and greyness....?

Can you tell I had a shit one out in the cold today BTW?!?

Energy requirements go up massively in cold weather, obviously due to your body having to his heat itself as well as powering the bike.

Yeh, I did want to eat more today, partly to cheer me up! I have read about the 'more food for heating' theory, but never know how much extra I need. Evidently a lot more extra than I had today........

Also air density is higher. So you need more power for the same speed.

I thought that had been written off as BS somewhere / by someone?

Also, shouldnt make a difference to power

I don't know what shite you've been reading... but it is definitely a factor. Any extra resistance (air, heavier winter tyres, less aero winter clothing) will all require more power for the same speed.