Alrighty, a new question from me. Joe Friel way of thinking is towards a peak. You build towards a peak or 2 during the season where your fitness is perfect. That's ok if you have a specific race or target during the season - La Marmotte for instance. My race scheduele this year will start in april and last to late june, a break in july, and resume racing beginning of august and lasting to late september. Races are mostly flat, 80 kms average(if I advance to a new category, they'll be closer to 100 km). I'll have to get point to advance to a different category.

Would it even make sense for me to plan a peak in each period? Or should I just do a variety of training that'll target the different systems(FTP, VO2max, Anaerobic Capacity, etc) throughout the season?

_________________
-----------------------------
I like Spanish bikes and cars. Riding an Orbea Orca and a Seat Ibiza.

Friel? The concept of Periodization was not created by any one individual, but has been known for many decades. It is physiologically impossible to be at your best for the entire season (ok, maybe if you're Sven Nys). Most people in your position would elect to peak for Provincial or National championships.

The argument against peaking - and I'm not agreeing nor am I disagreeing with it - is that most people are nowhere near their physiological limits to the concept of peaking is irrelevant.

Within that race season do you have races that are more important to you?

For the last few years I have had two peaks per season. My favorite race is normally at the end of the season so that's easy. And there are some races I like a lot which are in May or June.

This year my favorite race has been moved up a month and there are two other races I like a lot in the month following. From past experience I don't think I can peak for them all. And the training for the favorite race, a two day massive climbfest, is different than the other races which are of a more normal length. I am still trying to figure out how I am going to approach it.

I like having periodized training. It means I'm forced to make changes in how I train rather than do the same thing for months on end. That's how I trained back in the 80s and it led to burnout.

Thanks for the feedback. I don't really have a priority, but I think I'll let the peak be where there are most races within the time period.

So, just to get things clear. Peaking happens from a period of having a big training load that focuses on FTP, Vo2max, sprint etc. Going into a period of reduced training load, and even more focus on anaerobic and sprint workouts(less on FTP, endurance, VO2max etc). And then just race when peaking. Correctly?

_________________
-----------------------------
I like Spanish bikes and cars. Riding an Orbea Orca and a Seat Ibiza.

If you are going to make something of the season, you really do presently need to have some rough outline of what races you like the look of.

Sure a lot of dates/races will still yet to be confirmed. Also, things could happen and require a change of plans.

But with how much you've stated you are keen to make this season a success, to not have an idea of races you want to target is a sure fire way to shoot yourself in the foot.


As for 'peaking', there is a lot to what 'dvincere' is saying. With a structured block you can certainly pick up a little more 'zip', but it's not as if you'll spend 75% of the season sub-par. If you 'race to train, don't train to race', there no reason to not still be in the mix for a lot of other races. Especially TT's.

_________________
Baum Ristretto, Baum Mondrian Corretto & the '89 Merckx! | "If you could eat it in one sitting, hold your line." | twitter.com/Tinea_Pedis

I do have an idea of which races that'll suit me, but the problem is that they're quite far apart. I've actually got a lot of the dates already, but I don't know the courses yet.

Two of them are 13th and 20th of April, the next are 8th and 9th of June. So I was thinking that might be too far apart?

Also I hope to gather as many points as possible in the first races to advance to the next category, where races will be tougher and a tad longer. So I'm guessing that it would be stupid to make an early peak for the races in April, if the consequence is that I'll have a hard time in the next category. But again, an early peak would allow be to get the results needed to advance.

_________________
-----------------------------
I like Spanish bikes and cars. Riding an Orbea Orca and a Seat Ibiza.

If I were you I would not make a traditional tapering for the April races. Train for them as usual but do all kinds o intensities before the race and see that you are fully rested when you do them but don`t taper. Do a mini taper for the races in June and then train hard during the summer when the weather is nice in Denmark

Then do a real taper and peak for the last important races of the summer. Thats what I would do anyway

Held og Lykke!

_________________
Ride lots!