Structured vs. Non - Structured Training

[Dr. Seuss]

 

I have only been riding since Oct. last year after an absence of about 17 years & for the past year (since August actually (just messing around before then!)) my training has been as follows:

 

* Tuesday to Friday - Engen Classic (race pace Tuesday & Thursday) - about 45km per day.

 

* Saturday - 70km clubride (sort of race pace) and 30km on my own.

 

* Sunday - 80-100km clubride (really easy) or race.

 

No intervals, no motorpacing, no compression pants, no altitude tents & no ZIPPS!

 

I ride with a HRM,  but really only use it for statistical purposes.

 

So - for 2007 -

 

Is it really beneficial to follow a more structured approach to training as outlined in Joe Friel's book (or get a coach),  or is training as above very similar & produce the same results,  but it is just not as well defined?

 

 

 

 

 

[TitusTi]

I've been riding for years, just buggering about doing what I do, I used a HR monitor on about half my rides because I wasn't really all that bothered. 2 months ago I decided to get a coach, the difference has been ver noticable in such a short space of time, I can really recommend it!

[Cruxpearl]

Dr Suess, PM Man with No Name and ask his opinion on the matter...

He has experience with both scenario's

[pedal on the downhills]

I suspect you mean specific, because it's pretty structured already. The short answer is it depends - it depends on your previous racing level, age, time availablity, current capcity, and when and what the races are that you want to compete in. sorry, spot the scientist but hey, thats what all the coaches will tell you

 

If you raced at high level, are smart and intuitive and listen to your body, you'll get pretty good results with the method described, and seeing as you've been off for  whole while, stick with that until your gains peter out, and then it's time to get more specific, i.e. more time at the business end of training.

 

Plus it's year-end, the season is long, enjoy this approach in the meantime, cos the racing season is long, and no matter how fast we want to go, we do this for fun.

 

Er, hopefully a logbook of sorts features inyour current approach - that way you'll be able to track your capacity and it will fall out of that pretty smartly what more-specifc riding you need to do.

 

ian

[fatcyclist]

Just hope that your coach gives you a program when you ask him for one

[BikeMax]

I would add, that if making the most of your training time is an issue for you, then a more specific approach and an understanding of what you are looking for out of each session, will help to produce your desired results in a faster and more efficient manner.

 

Think about it like this, by taking an unstructured approach, you may hit the target but you will probably waste a few bullets along the way, whereas by taking careful aim with the correct gun sights you will hit the target more often and waste less bullets.

 

[Man with no name]

Dr Suess' date=' PM Man with No Name and ask his opinion on the matter...

He has experience with both scenario's

[/quote']

 

Ja......

[Man with no name]

TitusTi, is that you in the latest Mountain Bike (SA edition)?

[Dr. Seuss]

thanks BM (and others) - so in other words with proper coaching & a more structured plan i will get more bang for my buck?

 

sounds good to me!

 

 

 

[Jason]

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[Dr. Seuss]

 

Ja......

 

MWNN - and the opinion is?

 

Jason - thanks

 

do many of these "structured" programs not discourage group riding?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NotSoBigBen]

My 5c!

 

Also always just went out and rode, rest Monday, Roadbike Tuesday and Thursday (+- 30k's relative effort), MTB Wednesday and Friday (+- 15k's relative effort), Roadbike longish Saturday and MTB longish Sunday. Never worried to much about speed or why we were out there, just went out.

 

Since Jan this year decided hey if we expect different (better!) results perhaps we need to do something different. Came up with our own plan:-

 

Monday - Rest

Tuesday - Roadbike alternate 1 week long hill repeats (Comaro for those from the Souf) next week short steep hill repeats (only about 22k's but much higher effort!)

Wednesday - MTB with a mixture of technical and 3 or so sharpish hill reps

Thursday - Roadbike sprint intervals (only about 20k's but much higher effort!)

Friday - MTB with a mixture of technical and 3 or so sharpish hill reps

Saturday - Long Roadbike ride (100k) through the Suikerbosrand Nature reserve

Sunday - Long MTB ride (70k) not technical nor hard!

 

We do take it easy the week before important races and don't do the repeats (in fact go back to the old options!). Has made quite a difference in my strength and ability to keep up with breaks in the bunches as well. I was also able to climb all the hills at the Sabie Experience pre ride, last year I walked a lot.

 

The 13 kilos down may also have helped of course!

 

[TitusTi]

TitusTi' date=' is that you in the latest Mountain Bike (SA edition)?[/quote']

 

Yeah, that's me. Was quite funny when I actually read it.

[BikeMax]

 

thanks BM (and others) - so in other words with proper coaching & a more structured plan i will get more bang for my buck?

 

sounds good to me!

 

 

 

 

I like to look at it as return on your "pain"investment

 

RE group riding - there is a place for it in a structured programme but in general the weekday sessions are mostly individual, to ensure that you get the time in the required training zone.

 

[bikemonster]

Hi Dr Seuss

 

Can I just say I love your work.  Especially the illustrations.

 

As for what you should do with your training, the answer will come down to what you want to get out of it.  If you want to race properly, the whole nine yards, CSA licence and all of that, then a coach is prolly going to help you, and I expect that you will end up doing a lot of training on your own.

 

If, like most of us, you are racing (or perhaps "racing") in the alphabet soup then look out for what gives you the most fun on the bike.  As an alphabet racer with a seeding that qualifies for vets' racing in the W Cape I am about a gazillion miles from signing up for vets' racing.

 

For one thing I don't see any point in being guaranteed pack fodder; to race properly I would need to feel that there was at least an outside chance of one day winning something that did not involve spooky coincidences of tsunamis, earthquakes, aliens with death rays and planets slipping out of alignment.

 

So I do what I laughingly refer to as semi-structured training.  I meet with a bunch of mates of similar ability, and we all agree in advance on what we want to achieve for the day's ride.  Sometimes it's hills, sometimes it's a gentle spin, sometimes it's a one-gear ride.  Sometimes we don't even try to chase down everybody we see.

 

The point that I am too busy goofing about to make is that for me and my mates "training" is fun.  There is limited training time in my life and I want it all to be as much fun as possible.

 

If all your riding is for fun and you enjoy what you are doing now, stick with it.  If results really matter to you, and you are prepared to hose off your current cycling routine for something that may be less fun, get a coach.

[Man with no name]

Dr Suess.... definitely, you suffer more initially because on a non-structured basis one tends to train more "comfortably" (according to your strengths) where the structured program quickly shows your weaknesses. I think the progress is most evident after about two months (or two training cycles). Personally I have trained with Scott Richardson and Jaco Ferreira (currently with Jaco). See www.mytrainer.co.za. Both are very good, but Jaco's program suits me better.