To peak or not to peak

[Piotr]

We're still in the winter build up here in the Northern hemisphere and there's still time to think about building CTL prior to spring and summer races. Thought I'd bump this thread above the spam before winter's over and racing begins and we switch from building CTL to spending it....

-Dave

My post above has long since become outdated. After reading some responses (yours, Ricks, Frenchy's) I realized that perhaps I was overdramatizing my fatigue. Just yesterday (Tuesday), after a hard week followed by an active recovery day (45 min L2) I had what I would classify as a breakthrough workout. Despite feeling some residual fatigue as I warmed up, I went 90 min non-stop at 92% FTP (the new, improved FTP). I felt great afterwards and I feel no fatigue today!

I'm a little concerned now because I'm going to a team camp for four days, something the team does every year. We plan on doing 11-12 hrs (I'm told easy pace), but it looks like a rainy weekend (southern Utah) is in store , so I hope I don't lose 2 weeks worth of CTL work. I wish we could just keep going south... to Vegas.

 

[daveryanwyoming]

My post above has long since become outdated. After reading some responses (yours, Ricks, Frenchy's) I realized that perhaps I was overdramatizing my fatigue. Just yesterday (Tuesday), after a hard week followed by an active recovery day (45 min L2) I had what I would classify as a breakthrough workout. Despite feeling some residual fatigue as I warmed up, I went 90 min non-stop at 92% FTP (the new, improved FTP). I felt great afterwards and I feel no fatigue today! ..

Awesome news. Yeah this stuff ebbs and flows and sometimes we struggle but good job working through the tough period.

...I'm a little concerned now because I'm going to a team camp for four days, something the team does every year. We plan on doing 11-12 hrs (I'm told easy pace), but it looks like a rainy weekend (southern Utah) is in store , so I hope I don't lose 2 weeks worth of CTL work. I wish we could just keep going south... to Vegas.

Doubt you'll have any trouble there. Long rides, even at fairly easy pace build huge CTL. They may not raise your FTP, but they'll bring up your CTL. If anything I'd worry about ramping CTL too fast with a training camp like that. Just bring what you'll need to do long rides in the rain, shouldn't be too cold but it might be wet. Just imagine you're a europro doing early season training in Belgium, those guys get plenty wet and it doesn't stop them from training

Let us know how it goes.

-Dave

 

[Piotr]

Just imagine you're a europro doing early season training in Belgium, those guys get plenty wet and it doesn't stop them from training

Thanks for that! I've no doubt that visualization will help a lot. I'm actually now really looking forward to my Belgian camp.

 

[Piotr]

Awesome news. Yeah this stuff ebbs and flows and sometimes we struggle but good job working through the tough period.
Doubt you'll have any trouble there. Long rides, even at fairly easy pace build huge CTL. They may not raise your FTP, but they'll bring up your CTL. If anything I'd worry about ramping CTL too fast with a training camp like that. Just bring what you'll need to do long rides in the rain, shouldn't be too cold but it might be wet. Just imagine you're a europro doing early season training in Belgium, those guys get plenty wet and it doesn't stop them from training

Let us know how it goes.

-Dave

Well, I'm back and we didn't get wet. Actually, we could have if we'd stuck around and did our Sunday recovery ride, but it was pouring so everyone packed and headed home trying to beat the snow storm moving across Utah. We had a large group of 40 identically clad riders weaving through the streets of St. George . People were generally nice and some even took pictures. When we left town the ride stopped being an easy social ride. There were some steep hills on one ride and we actually went over a mountain pass on our way to Arizona on another. Even in Arizona it was nippy as there was snow on the sides of the road on top of the pass. I had to settle for 2nd to the top both days, but I'm quite happy with that since I got beat by an experienced Cat. 2 (after previously catching up to him) and last year's top M35+ UCA racer.

FYI, after a total of 10 hrs (164 miles) my CTL is 6.5 above what it was Wednesday. Training gets back on track tomorrow.