Peaking for Ultras? Relevant?

Some element of VO2 work as well as a liberal helping of L4 are always a good way to complement the SST work that endurance riders often concentrate on. If you want to go fast you need to go FAST at somepoint... Personally, I wouldn't count on high end training to aid in recovery from a steep hill after 150 miles, I'd still count on appropriate gearing rather than hoping that the last 6 weeks of high repeats would get me up some 25% wall in 39x23 late on in the day. :p

Tapering for a 12+ hour event.... I know from some of the riders that I knew that were really handy at 100 mile and 12 hour events back in England, they'd rely on lots of fast races upto about 4 to 6 weeks before there longer events and then get some good hard miles under their belt, normally in the form of 50 and 100 mile time trials and race upto the week or two before their 'big' event, depending on how they were feeling. The last week was spent concentrating on rest/sleep, some fun rides and diet.

I'd take fitness over freshness any day. Fitness takes a long time to get - freshness is just a planned 'break' away... I'd take my old level of fitness back even if it meant having legs that felt like they were lead filled!

If you get really bored in July, just buy a Deathride ticket off someone and just hammer around the course. Get some altitude training in. 😉

swampy1970 said:

Some element of VO2 work as well as a liberal helping of L4 are always a good way to complement the SST work that endurance riders often concentrate on. If you want to go fast you need to go FAST at somepoint... Personally, I wouldn't count on high end training to aid in recovery from a steep hill after 150 miles, I'd still count on appropriate gearing rather than hoping that the last 6 weeks of high repeats would get me up some 25% wall in 39x23 late on in the day. :p

Tapering for a 12+ hour event.... I know from some of the riders that I knew that were really handy at 100 mile and 12 hour events back in England, they'd rely on lots of fast races upto about 4 to 6 weeks before there longer events and then get some good hard miles under their belt, normally in the form of 50 and 100 mile time trials and race upto the week or two before their 'big' event, depending on how they were feeling. The last week was spent concentrating on rest/sleep, some fun rides and diet.

I'd take fitness over freshness any day. Fitness takes a long time to get - freshness is just a planned 'break' away... I'd take my old level of fitness back even if it meant having legs that felt like they were lead filled!

If you get really bored in July, just buy a Deathride ticket off someone and just hammer around the course. Get some altitude training in. 😉

Point taken. I have limited time to train, so SST/L4 is my staple. Today I did some over/under work in the rain (get the most out of limited time). Typical long day is 4 hours at 0.85-0.88 IF.

Honestly, I need more fitness before hitting VO2 consistently or my CTL will drop instead of rise. Once I get this next double behind me I should have a few weeks to do a proper build cycle, and I normally need to taper no more than 1 week. I find it hard to hit a double century with heavy legs, perhaps it is mental more than anything.

Over/unders also simulate conditions when you dig deep to stay with a group (or a tandem) on the flat, or stay with a small group over a climb and do not want to ride solo for the next 40 miles if you get dropped. Trust me, I try to use appropriate gearing. I will use a compact and a 34X25 for Central Coast and Mt. Tam doubles, and either a 27 or even a 29 for the Terrible Two.