Hello everyone, I have a question around next steps with my training plan. I come from a running background and whilst I know that doesn’t completely translate to cycling my aerobic engine is pretty good. I was running at least 10km five days a week and recreational riding on the weekends weather and wife permitting.
I have scaled back my runs to twice a week and complete my TR plan the other three days. This still gives me a training session Monday through Friday. I try to reserve the weekends for family time and or a comfortable outdoor rides i.e just for fun, usually around 50-100km.
At present I’m currently halfway through my sustained power build plan (low volume) and unfortunately got Bronchitis. This didn’t stop me from cycling but I couldn’t run. Having said that for a week my TR workouts suffered. I ended up adjusting my plan and completed the week again. Picked up running last week, it hurts but getting back into form.
I just completed another ramp test and wasn’t impressed with the results, no real gain so my FTP has only increased 5 points since starting Sweet Spot Base, no improvement since starting build.
Now I am hoping the following assumptions are correct and wanted some insight from more experience cyclists.
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Given my level of fitness was already pretty good when I started would this be a factor in a slight increase? I’m sure Bronchitis impacted my last test, I hope so anyway.
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Because I train (my legs) five days in a row I’m always in a state of fatigue. Is this another factor that is limiting my growth? I wouldn’t have thought so given I am only doing a low volume plan.
My watts per kilo is 2.99, so close to 3 just in case you need to know.
Now I’m not training for anything in particular however my aim is a 160km US century (100 mile) ride, with a respectable time of course. I think I can do that now, 100km isn’t a problem and my biggest weakness is lack of fueling. That’s a work in progress.
So with the above in mind should I repeat my build plan to try and push up my FTP a bit more or should I progress to the Speciality phase? If so, would you recommend the century plan? I was thinking of trying the ‘climbing road race’ plan, not to race but to give me more confidence when tackling hills. They intimidate me and I tend to grind up them rather than attack.
Thoughts and insight is greatly appreciated.
Cheers