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Practical Winter Training

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  • November 10, 2012 at 8:26 pm #17239
    TheHatter

    I’ve been telling myself over the summer that come winter I would actually do some proper training and now I can’t hide from the fact that winter is here. Having got into TT’ing I really want to improve my fitness. I cycle plenty with an 50 minute each way commute and a Sunday club run however I’ve never done any structured training.

    Is is possible to get in decent training while commuting or should I bite the bullet and get a turbo (which really doesn’t appeal)?

    I’m far from a scientific type and was therefore thinking of getting Graham Obree’s book but even he seems to suggest a turbo is essential.

    Therefore any practical training tips/plans,thoughts on the necessity of a turbo welcome.

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Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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  • November 12, 2012 at 12:30 pm #706149
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    TheHatter

    Cheers Simon
    Cheers Simon

    November 12, 2012 at 10:49 am #706147
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    Simon E

    If you’ve done the 4 minutes
    If you’ve done the 4 minutes hard enough you might need more than 2 minutes in between to recover, but if you only have 2 minutes in between then ease back a bit try to treat it more as an 8 min effort, so not as hard.

    Work out a structure you can do and do it at least twice a week. Keep searching for other possibilities too – variation is good and any effort level above ‘just riding’ will be productive. Winter isn’t all about flogging yourself above 10 mile pace every day, even if you feel like doing it (I certainly don’t!).

    From the reviews I’ve read I think Obree talks about a lot more than using the turbo trainer so if you like his approach then try it and see what you can learn. It’s not about copying someone’s routine, it’s really about making an idea work as best you can in your circumstances.

    November 11, 2012 at 4:12 pm #706145
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    TheHatter

    Cheers Simon, that’t the kind
    Cheers Simon, that’t the kind of thing I was thinking of. I can do something like 4 x4 minutes but does it have to be a consistent gap in between to be effective?
    eg it may be 2 minute gap sometimes and a 10 minute gap the next.

    November 10, 2012 at 10:58 pm #706143
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    Simon E

    If you could find a route
    If you could find a route that allows you to fit in some kind of intervals (e.g. 2x20mins at 25-mile pace or 4x4mins just above 10-mile pace) then don’t bother fudging it, just use the miles as best you can.

    November 10, 2012 at 9:18 pm #706141
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    TheHatter

    Cheers for the comments – I
    Cheers for the comments – I certainly have no fear of the rain; I even almost enjoy it. I just find it hard to do any kind of training plan with all the junctions, crazies etc that you get riding home and thought maybe I should succumb to a turbo.

    November 10, 2012 at 9:06 pm #706139
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    sam_bennett

    Thumbs up for Sufferfest
    Thumbs up for Sufferfest essentially the turbo is dull but they liven it up. Short intense efforts will really help, say 1hr of intervals & a sufferfest, spread liberally through the week & long rides on weekends really put me in good stead for my 1st season of racing.

    November 10, 2012 at 9:06 pm #706137
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    Raleigh

    Yah Sufferfest.
    Otherwise,
    Yah Sufferfest.

    Otherwise, just cycle further faster.

    Turbo isn’t really needed, unless you’re the kind of person who doesn’t go out when it rains.

    ie: RULE #9

    November 10, 2012 at 8:51 pm #706135
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    JediNeo

    I always found indoor
    I always found indoor training to be the most boring thing I could do. 🙂
    Recently been introduced to Sufferfest videos with seem to help keep the interest, as well as giving structured training. I quite highly recommend them

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