Going backwards

[KnobbyMech]

I am getting despondent and need your advice.

 

I never had a training program nor trained in specific hr zones, just enjoyed my cycling outings.

 

Now, the last 3 months I started training harder according to a specific program, but have since gone from pulling the pack to holding on for dear life. Results in Nissan mtb series reflects my backwards progression.

 

Although I train hard, I do not over do it and I take plenty of rest days.

 

Have you had such an experience? Any advice?

 

PS: I also went from feeling great after each ride to just be happy to be done with it.

[bikemonster]

I never had a training program nor trained in specific hr zones, just enjoyed my cycling outings.

 

...and then...

 

Now, the last 3 months I started training harder according to a specific program, but have since gone from pulling the pack to holding on for dear life.

 

Looks pretty simple to me: drop the harder training, bring the fun back and watch your results bounce back.

 

Reading between the lines, I would say that either you decided off your own bat that you should be training harder, or you adopted a "one size fits all" training programme.

[LeTurbo]

Ja, life's too short to be serious. Go get yourself a single-speed and feel like a kid again!

[KnobbyMech]

...and then...

 

 

 

Looks pretty simple to me: drop the harder training, bring the fun back and watch your results bounce back.

 

 

 

Reading between the lines, I would say that either you decided off your own bat that you should be training harder, or you adopted a "one size fits all" training programme.

 

True, stage race partner convinced me to go onto "one size fits all" programme, but can it be that detremental to performance?

[Barend de Arend]

one size fits all == one size fits no-one.

 

This is as true for training programs as it is for socks.

[Mileage]

There is a reasonable body of evidence in the literature that self regulated training intensities are quite accurate in determining training thresholds, especially for only moderately trained or recreational individuals. i.e. when you feel comfortable you are probably doing the right intensity for aerobic endurance adaptations and when you are uncomfortable you are probably in the right area for VO2 max adaptations etc.

 

See http://www.scsepf.org/doc/241209/05-JESF-A5.pdf

 

So often when you follow a training program based on HR, Lactate, or other training zones that have little or no basis on real measureable physiological "thresholds" you can quickly end up with maladaptations to training stimuli. Also following training programs that are designed for elite or national level athletes will more than likely lead to failing adaptation and overtraining syndrome.

 

One size does not fit all.. and maximal is not optimal.

[KnobbyMech]

Thanks for that article @Mileage. It makes sense (the parts I can understand)

[KnobbyMech]

Reading the reply from @USN on the "Difference between USN Epic Pro and 32Gi" thread, i think I may have found another missing piece of the puzzle.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/84719-difference-between-32gi-and-usn-epic-pro/

[AndreZA]

Can it maybe be that the other people are also training harder.

[Thor Buttox]

Reading the reply from @USN on the "Difference between USN Epic Pro and 32Gi" thread, i think I may have found another missing piece of the puzzle.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/84719-difference-between-32gi-and-usn-epic-pro/

 

Besides getting a couple of chuckles from the guys on here, the one thing that became perfectly clear is "I NEED TO TRAIN BETTER!"

 

Mainly cos I couldn't keep thinking it was the supplements, etc!

[KnobbyMech]

Besides getting a couple of chuckles from the guys on here, the one thing that became perfectly clear is "I NEED TO TRAIN BETTER!"

 

Mainly cos I couldn't keep thinking it was the supplements, etc!

 

Hey Thor, "how to train better" is actually my original question on the thread. Care to give some advice or are you still chuckling?

[Caerus]

What ever happened to old school training - run, cycle, rowing machine & light weights and concentrate on core exercises as well(very important). Where the riders/athletes from yesteryear not as fit as the todays? Still Bruce Fordyces records stand

 

 

[KnobbyMech]

What ever happened to old school training - run, cycle, rowing machine & light weights and concentrate on core exercises as well(very important). Where the riders/athletes from yesteryear not as fit as the todays? Still Bruce Fordyces records stand

 

Don't want to upset you and get you smoking again, but Bruce's records have been broken (yes, up and down run).

 

Thinking about the core training now. This is also something I started about the time my performance started coming down

[Thor Buttox]

Hey Thor Ass, "how to train better" is actually my original question on the thread. Care to give some advice or are you still chuckling?

Sorry, Knobs, wasn't chuckling at you, just in general. When you say "training harder", do you mean you are doing more distance? Going anaerobic often? Pushing to Vo2 max?

 

Without knowing what your training includes, the best advice that was given to me by guys who have done the tough races is get the long, slow rides under the belt. Conversely, the people who have jumped into programmes have mostly ended up hating whatever sport it was cos they were so focussed on it that they forgot the fun part of why they were doing it. And then the get really irritated when they don't take off from where they were before, or they get hurt cos the new training methods haven't been built up to.

 

Just my experience.

[buffy]

I am new to MTB and did the 50km Sun City no problem at all felt great afterwards. I was doing three spinning classes a week 45 min and 90 min no problem. The last 3 weeks I have gone backwards and could barely manage 45 min spinning yesterday. Should I be taking supplements? Any help would be appeciated.

[Thor Buttox]

I am new to MTB and did the 50km Sun City no problem at all felt great afterwards. I was doing three spinning classes a week 45 min and 90 min no problem. The last 3 weeks I have gone backwards and could barely manage 45 min spinning yesterday. Should I be taking supplements? Any help would be appeciated.

You really don't seem to be doing the kind of training that requires a lot of recovery drinks and the like afterwards and it shouldn't be supplement related. Check out the other threads on here where the guys know more about that kind of thing. Just remember that unless you constantly increase your training and/or training intensity regularly, say every two weeks, you are not going to improve radically. You improve my losing weight and increasing your power to weight ratio, etc, but your inherent fitness isn;t going to improve dramatically.

 

And if all you are doing is spinning - cross train. Weights work wonders, and I'm not talking the massive kg's. And get teh core stronger, too. :-) good luck!