I’m 53 and generally I follow the SSB1 and SSB2 base plans. My friend who is 56 is interested in joining TR. He’s pretty fit and cycles about 5000 miles a year but he is concerned about the VO2 max sessions in SSB2 as he feels he’s going to be putting too much stress on his (oldish) heart. He asked …

My dad is 65 and doing TR. He’s worked his way through SSB1 & 2, All of the VO2max work is FTP dependent, so while it raises HR it shouldn’t be doing anything overly arduous or you wouldn’t have been able to get that FTP in a test (which would have jacked up your HR). That said, Rule#1 of anythin…

He can easily dial down the Workout Intensity if he finds the VO2 Max (or any other workout) too much to handle. It is a great tool and is something that should be considered by more riders. The 120% VO2 Max value used in many of the workouts is a find approximation that works for many rider. But…

Excellent responses from you all. These are very much appreciated thank you. I’ll let him see this.

Haven’t read it yet myself - I’ve still got 1.5 years before I fully qualify :rofl: - but isn’t the idea that you shouldn’t do higher intensity as you age directly opposite of the conventional wisdom espoused in Friel’s well-regarded “Fast After 50” book?

That workout intensity adjustment chart is an excellent little chart Chad. Thanks for sharing it.

Now I haven’t read that book either. Does Friel advise doing VO2 max work as you get older?

Here is a link to my file . Go to the “General Calcs” tab for the VO2 Chart, and the “Power Zones” tab for the zones. You can even follow the instructions on the “Power Zones” tab to copy the sheet and update it with your own info for fast reference.

I haven’t finished the book, but like strength training being important as we age, keeping VO2 Max work in the playlist is also recommended. It is meant to slow the decline in VO2 Max that is inevitable, but we can impact and improve those results with proper work.

I’m part way through the book, and the general message is that high intensity has the greatest impact on maintaining fitness as we age not what he calls LSD or Long Slow Duration, which contributes little or nothing to maintaining fitness. The caveat is that as an older athlete overdoing it and not …

TrainerRoad

Asking for someone else about SSB and the VO2 max sessions in SSB2

Training

Spots February 1, 2019, 2:47pm 3

There was a good thread related to this: Taylor-2 VO2 Max workout

Topic		Replies	Views
Help with VO2max Training	24	5247	February 13, 2020
Best vo2 max workout to begin with for a 53 year old Training	12	2514	October 30, 2018
Getting really pissed off (VO2 Max Difficulty) Training	64	7963	March 7, 2019
Feedback and clarification Training	11	935	January 10, 2019
Must not be doing VO2 Max workouts correctly (they're easy) Training	19	2754	March 3, 2022

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Asking for someone else about SSB and the VO2 max sessions in SSB2

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