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To Base or Not to Base......?


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Hi,

What do you guys think? 

 

The guys at GCN seem to think it is not the best use of your time. They do however promote varying your training.

 

I have some long distance mtb events including the Pioneer Trek coming up. This just go me wondering a bit....

 

 

 

Regards

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It's all about the base, about the base ... no trebble. LOL!

 

Base does have its purpose, mainly to while away the time until you can do high intensity training, I prefer HIIT to TITS. Oh well 

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Base training is only unimportant when you always have a permanently high base to work from. Like some of the more fanatical cyclists and most pros. For us ordinary peeps, it is seriously important. If you want to race long distances and long times in the saddle, you cannot do without it. Without it, your high intensity training will not be nearly as successful. Without it, you are going to suffer if you ride double the time or the distance your body is used to. (Well, keep in mind that my very "scientific" control and experimental group is one and the same - yes, ME! - as well as being the researcher!) 

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For long races like the Pioneer I need an old-style base training block (long hours, low intensity).

 

Would be interesting to hear how others experience long stage races (6/7/8 days) without doing a traditional base?

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Guest notmyname

I'm going the base route for atta. High intensity three times a week(closer to d-day) and long steady rides on weekends.

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I think ones age must play a role as well. Sorry to say, but the older you get the more important that base become, again, for me. Also, it takes longer to build it up and it is easier to overcook it.

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In my opinion, you need the base training at the very least to just get your body used to being in the saddle for so long. Like for instance getting your arse used to sitting on a leather strip for 6 hours, getting your hands used to holding onto the bars for 6 hours, but above all that, getting your body used to working for that long.

 

I do however agree that it is better for the average Joe to rather do 2 or 3 high intensity rides and 1 or 2 (if you're lucky) LSD rides in a week.

 

In my opinion that will deliver better results than focusing on just one or the other if you're pressed for time.

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I think ones age must play a role as well. Sorry to say, but the older you get the more important that base become, again, for me. Also, it takes longer to build it up and it is easier to overcook it.

Have to agree . . . unfortunately.
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I'm going the base route for atta. High intensity three times a week(closer to d-day) and long steady rides on weekends.

No man you're doing it wrong. Don't train for the Atta, I need your entry!

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Since my yoof, when I was a very competitive sportsman, I have always been told that the Base work is like the Base (pun not intended) of a pyramid. The wider it is the higher the pyramid can become, through more intense work later in the year. Problem is hoisting the 'bricks' up to a higher and higher level.

 

I suspect you can short-circuit it a bit if you have an existing one from the prior year, but in my experience, after taking a long break, for example, I needed to do it again. Now that I am trying to maintain fitness, I find the interval stuff much better for improvement.

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I think that base is important. You need it to get your CTL level up.

 

I saw how my CTL went up during a 6 week base block and stayed stagnant in the subsequent build phases.

 

An interval set of 90mins with some Z6 intervals might get you  TSS of 100, if you do 10 x 2min Z6 type of ints.

Where as a 4 hour base ride will be 220 - 250.

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Since my yoof, when I was a very competitive sportsman, I have always been told that the Base work is like the Base (pun not intended) of a pyramid. The wider it is the higher the pyramid can become, through more intense work later in the year. Problem is hoisting the 'bricks' up to a higher and higher level.

 

I suspect you can short-circuit it a bit if you have an existing one from the prior year, but in my experience, after taking a long break, for example, I needed to do it again. Now that I am trying to maintain fitness, I find the interval stuff much better for improvement.

Your CTL drops off super quick if you dont do anything....

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Your CTL drops off super quick if you dont do anything....

Yup. But i was more concerned about my FAT at that point! :)

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