Is my training plan too easy?

Janie

For three weeks now I have been using the intermediate 7-week plan from the Lance Armstrong Training Program book with Chris Carmichael, but I think my plan might not be right for me because it's so easy. I ride six days per week, but I only ride about an hour a day and hardly ever get out of zone 2. I was thinking of starting the advanced plan, which has some hard days, but the race I want to compete in is in five weeks, so I wouldn't be at my peak. If I continue with this program, though, I'm not sure if I will be in good condition to race. What should I do? Does anyone have a good idea?

powermad

What kind of race is it Janie, a road race, time trial, and over what distance? I've seen the plans in the Carmichael book and I too think they are a little too easy, with only the advanced plan worth following for a competitive cyclist.

If you are road racing or TTing then you will certainly need more intensity before the race, although it isn't too late to add some with 5 weeks to go. OTOH if you're riding a century or similar then the Level2 work is all you really need.

Blackie

Janie, I've been follwing the intermediate plan too and am in the 5th week. I think its designed to give you a good base of fitness from which you would then need to sharpen your speed with for a race.

I did my first race last night since 13 years (a 1 hour fast crit) and performed well enough by my target, holding the bunch for 20 mins, then using the rest of the race for interval training. What I need is more fast speed work though, as the Heart rates I saw in the race were way above the tempo zones you train at on the programme ie at around 90% max HR.

Still, in this game you need to build a good base to tackle races and I've noticed my fitness improving on it, so for me its good. I'm looking forward to using it to increase my diet of racing.