Joe Friel "Breakthrough" sessions are ....what??

They're a breakthrough.

Probably meaning that you're going better.

swampy1970 said:

They're a breakthrough.

Probably meaning that you're going better.

Gee thanks for that

He means a workout that streches your body beyond what it has become accustomed to, in order to force adaptation and development towards a higher future work load. It's based upon the idea of supercompensation.

For example, if your routine involved riding 20 miles every day then a breakthrough workout might be a 40 mile ride, followed by some rest, followed by a 25 mile/day routine thereafter.

JohnShutt said:

Read through Cyclists Training Bible but can't get my head round what he means by this .. anyone help clarify?

Don't know--never had a breakthrough.

frenchyge said:

He means a workout that streches your body beyond what it has become accustomed to, in order to force adaptation and development towards a higher future work load.

It's funny because I have always believed in these *breakthrough* sessions (without given them this specific name).

I mean that while I know about and believe in the importance of the *longer term* effect, or put another way about the cumulative effect to trigger adaptation, I also believe that it's worth putting our full trust and focus to *this* particular workout in the week.