Training between Spring and Summer leagues

[Willehond]

OK, so I had fun in the Spring league, but I want to be ready to fly when the Summer league comes.  What is the best thing to do? 

 

Do I take it easy and do LSD and some tempo rides (and risk losing form?) or do I try to keep the intensity up by mixing in more interval/hill sessions and a bit of sprint/power work to make the most of the racing in my legs (but risk burnout during summer)?

 

Is it better to wait for the first rides in 2008 to sharpen up or do I just keep going?  Not a lot of time from now until January...

[rello]

What is the best thing to do? ...start praying now!

[PEEZ@]

I would suggest that you do hills seeing alot of the league rides are out in the southern peninsula, but thats just my opinion..

[BikeMax]

I would suggest that after a short break that you focus on building fitness between now and a say first week jan. Bear in mind that you will gradually lose fitness over the course of a race season and so you need as much fitness as possible going into the race season.

 

So - lots of tempo rides (moderate to hard) and plenty of volume (but not LSD - make sure the rides count)

 

The more fitness you carry into the season then the more you can trade fitness for freshness as the races approach.

 

[Willehond]

Thanks Bikemax, that's kind of where I was heading, but I was bit worried about overdoing it.  My thinking is that if I keep it to tempo rides and sub-lactate intervals, I should be able to build some reserves?  Will intervals be too harsh this early?  Seems like a difficult balance to maintain.

 

My main issue is trying to prepare for the hills without damaging myself before the season starts.

[Riccardo]

Thanks Bikemax' date=' that's kind of where I was heading, but I was bit worried about overdoing it.  My thinking is that if I keep it to tempo rides and sub-lactate intervals, I should be able to build some reserves?  Will intervals be too harsh this early?  Seems like a difficult balance to maintain.

 

My main issue is trying to prepare for the hills without damaging myself before the season starts.

[/quote']

 

In my opinion follow what Bike Max have suggested.

[Skye]

Hey Willehond....... You wussies are coming to my neck of the woods for a change  We will show you what hill climbing is all about......

 

Bring it on!!!! You scared and it's only December

 

 

[Willehond]

Skye, the hills I can deal with, it's the 60kg midgets who scare me most

 

 

[Skye]

Yep and you better believe we are all small this side..... Don't forget we are from this side of the Boerewors curtain

 

 

 

[Willehond]

Wow, Skye, so even the girls on that side have heard of the big  Boerewors boys

 

Sorry to hear they are all small over there!

[Benedikt]

Does anyone know of any groups doing road rides in Pretoria North on weekday mornings?

If so, please could you give me details

[BikeMax]

 

Thanks Bikemax' date=' that's kind of where I was heading, but I was bit worried about overdoing it.  My thinking is that if I keep it to tempo rides and sub-lactate intervals, I should be able to build some reserves?  Will intervals be too harsh this early?  Seems like a difficult balance to maintain.

 

My main issue is trying to prepare for the hills without damaging myself before the season starts.

[/quote']

 

The next few weeks is really about "damaging" yourself (within reason of course) You need to do enough training to elicit a response in the form of a compensation - the compensation will only show itself once you begin to recover for the race season by reducing the volume / load and adding some shorter/harder intervals.

 

Remember that you will always see fitness drift off gradually over the course of a race season, so you need as much fitness in the bank before the season. If you have that then you can trade some fitness for freshness and still be fit enough to perform well.

 

So - the next 5 weeks are "get out there and get the hard kms in"