Base Training

I think you will get a lot of mixed feedback on the effectiveness of traditional "base training" on these forums (I myself don't see the necessity from all that I've read here and elsewhere). So my first suggestion would be to do some searches on these forums and elsewhere and maybe reconsider the method you are using.

My advice concerning your race would be to do it if it fits into your schedule well. I just would not make it a high-priority race. This does not mean give it less than your all, but rather just go out there with the mind set of it being just another training day and if results don't go your way, no big deal, you have all season to progress.
~Nick

ccrnnr9 said:

I think you will get a lot of mixed feedback on the effectiveness of traditional "base training" on these forums (I myself don't see the necessity from all that I've read here and elsewhere).

I've been following a sort of "quasi base training" regimine myself. For those of us who are professionals off the bike, we don't have very many 5 hour blocks that we can just putter along at a snails pace. So how do I compensate? By doing lot's of 1-2 hour rides with very specific intervals that are designed to do a particular thing. Mostly doing repeats of 8-12 minute sub-lactate threshold intervals (0-10 beats below threshold). I find that these are highly efficient and can be repeated on a relatively frequent basis with excellent results - if you can gut the lack of "interest". I'll throw in some very high cadence bursts, some short sprints here and there (just to keep the memory there...). It's sort of like building a very efficient, but huge, diesel engine. I'll start hitting some shorter VO2 max type intervals (3-5 minutes) here shortly...

Grassroots Cycling: spokepost.comspokepost.comOpen ↗

8 lbs in 3 weeks is pretty huge, but not unhealthy. What matters is how/why you're losing it. If you're really forcing a diet to lose that fast, I'd say it's too fast. If on the other hand, you're eating a good, well rounded and healthy diet and just losing excess weight because you're back on the bike for significant times, I'd not sweat it and just watch out for the plateau.

Last year I dropped 10 lbs in 6 weeks and flattened for an entire season. I just didn't feel good when I'd go any lower. This year I dropped another 15 lbs in 8 weeks and am now eating like a horse to keep it where I'm at, but am feeling extremely strong at my new low weight.

As for base training, if you get a lot of responses to your question, I think you're going to get a huge range of opinions from the group here. Honestly, I think you're in the situation that base training may work best for. Hopping on at L4/threshold training is going to cause a lot of fatigue that will require a lot more recovery than someone that has been on the bike routinely over the last year going into a new season.

I'm no coach, nor do I profess to have the perfect plan - which is why I pay one to make one for me. But based on what I've read, discussed, heard and tried - if I were in your shoes, I'd just go out and get the miles in, do the group rides and try to keep up. From your original post, it sounds like that's going to be pretty much top end of your training for now anyway.

As for the race, if you're barely hanging on to the group ride, you're likely to get shelled off the back of the race. BUT, racing is about having fun too, so I would do it.

That's a good question I'm pretty sure you can't push TSS high enough at L2 no matter how long you ride to require a day off. Or can you?😕

sooray02 said:

Do I need a rest day considering that I am pretty much only doing base training?

wiredued said:

That's a good question I'm pretty sure you can't push TSS high enough at L2 no matter how long you ride to require a day off. Or can you?

Yeah, it's actually easy to run your TSS sky high with L2 and need time off. Ride for eight hours at L2, say an IF of 0.65 (mid to low L2) and your TSS will be over 300 and you'll have burned several thousand calories. Most folks would feel that the next day.