General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Trainer road suggestions Rss Feed  
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2013-10-08 6:29 AM

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Subject: Trainer road suggestions
About 2 weeks ago I took the advice of many on this board and signed up for trainer road. I started with the 8 minute interval test and feel like I have a pretty good baseline for my numbers. Now I need some advice on what workouts to use. I looked through the website and almost all of the "most popular" workouts are sufferfest videos. I do plan on purchasing some of the videos in the future but as a federal employee who is "working for free" at this point I am going to have to wait on those. I also looked through some of the training plans but at this point most of them seemed like greek for the triathlon focused athlete.

Any suggestions?


2013-10-08 7:36 AM
in reply to: clemson05

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2013-10-08 8:04 AM
in reply to: clemson05

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Subject: RE: Trainer road suggestions

What are your goals, current bike fitness level, and time available to ride on the trainer? 

I haven't used any of their plans (though I would consider one of the 40k TT plans in the future) because they didn't really seem to target what I was looking for.  I ride the trainer a couple days a week in the morning, and have no more than maybe 75 minutes (typically keep it to 60).

When I was training for a 70.3 earlier this year, I was doing a lot of threshold riding.  I also know that my VO2max is weak in comparison to my FTP, so I'm now starting a bit of a VO2max focus.  So when I decide what kind of ride I want to do, I search by time and what I want to focus on, and then sort by TSS and choose one that seems feasible given my current fatigue level.

2013-10-08 9:05 AM
in reply to: clemson05

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Subject: RE: Trainer road suggestions
I don't have a lot of experience here, but like you, started on TR not too long ago.  Decided to start out by following the Intermediate Base I as I wanted to get to know TR better and I had read many postings saying that some of the workouts can be pretty aggressive. It's also the offseason for me, so had the freedom to back off if I felt like it, but didn't find Int. base I to be a backing off at all.  Like you, did the intitial FTP test (211w) which set the bar for future workouts.  Finished Base I a couple of weeks ago and did the FTP test again and had increased by about 13% to 238.  So at least for me, I saw some good gains using the base training program and would suggest it as a good starting point.
2013-10-08 9:33 AM
in reply to: clemson05

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Subject: RE: Trainer road suggestions
Depends on your goals of course, but rather generically we all can benefit from raising our FTP. I've found the 20 minute power accelerator plan from E3 (Jorge) to be quite effective, and not based on the Sufferfest line.
Also, for what it's worth, just because you don't have the videos doesn't mean you can't do the workouts! Just throw on some tunes and crank it out, it will hurt just as much, I promise.
2013-10-08 10:32 AM
in reply to: fisherman76

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Subject: RE: Trainer road suggestions

Originally posted by fisherman76 Depends on your goals of course, but rather generically we all can benefit from raising our FTP. I've found the 20 minute power accelerator plan from E3 (Jorge) to be quite effective, and not based on the Sufferfest line. Also, for what it's worth, just because you don't have the videos doesn't mean you can't do the workouts! Just throw on some tunes and crank it out, it will hurt just as much, I promise.

Agreed.

X2 on the Jorge power accelerator plan, and it maxes out at an hour-ish per day.  You can always throw in something longer like "Sierra" if you're so inclined.



2013-10-08 10:35 AM
in reply to: fisherman76


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Subject: RE: Trainer road suggestions
Originally posted by fisherman76

Depends on your goals of course, but rather generically we all can benefit from raising our FTP. I've found the 20 minute power accelerator plan from E3 (Jorge) to be quite effective, and not based on the Sufferfest line.
Also, for what it's worth, just because you don't have the videos doesn't mean you can't do the workouts! Just throw on some tunes and crank it out, it will hurt just as much, I promise.


^^^This...the videos don't make the pain any better. I hate the rides with or without the videos and I think hope you will hate them just as much.
2013-10-08 11:01 AM
in reply to: stebaldi

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Subject: RE: Trainer road suggestions
Personally, I'm looking to the base building plans or the century plans for this winter's dungeon sessions - but my focus will be on half and full distances next year.
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