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There are a lot of variables, but I guess you could look to where you want to be race fit and then start working backwards. So a trainerroad approach would be from an A event, 8 weeks prior you do specific training, 8 weeks prior to that build and then your base prior to that.
Your base stuff sounds grand, the most important aspects will be consistency and avoiding overloading too much too soon. So if you track TSS this is really easy as you can set a target CTL for the end of your base and then gradually get yourself there on a weekly increase (with easy weeks of course). Or without power or HR then you could do it on the basis of no. of hours at tempo, intensity and recovery. Combination of which depends on your time constraints and proceeding training plan/goals.
onyerbike-
Great, thank you that's really helpful. I use power so have a way of measuring CTL. Is there a set figure I should be aiming for? Should I expect to take a big dip in TSS for my base block then? The last couple of months have been 800ish with a couple of 1200+ weeks but looking at a week of trainerroad stuff seems a lot lower than that. Should I also be making a concerted effort to not do that much for the next few weeks? I've just been out for a 4x10 sweet spot which ended up closer to threshold (just due to the nature of being outside and in the wind/bumps).
I'll try and work out what I want to aim for in the spring and work back. Is it just a case of doing base until the 8 build and 8 specialism phases?
dglshrn
This is my first winter of 'training' proper, with the hope of putting another .5w/kg on my FTP (gone from 2.5 to 3.5 this year). I'm the fittest and lightest I've ever been but I don't think I can lose that much more weight, so more power is my only option. As we go into Autumn, what should I be doing if I want to peak in the spring? Base phase until December, then a build phase? I'm following the trainer road Sweet spot base at the moment which feels super easy, but is that kind of the point?
I've no idea what I'm doing really, but I do know that spring last year I tried to fit too much in over a month or so and ended up fucking myself for a couple of months and I'd rather not do that again.
My schedule looks like 2-3 midweek rides, hour each with lots of sweet spot and some short intervals then a 3+ hour endurance ride (club run) every Sunday. We have a winter chaingang thing up here which starts in November and usually ends up being around 2 hours of tempo, and I'll do that on top of, or in place of one of the indoor sessions if I feel like it.
I suppose my question is if I feel ok with the load I'm doing, should I just keep doing it for the next few months or is it necessary to take a step back during the winter to work on base fitness?