Maybe I’m wrong but at age 56 and just starting TR last November, I thought something for the older folks might be good but then… does it make sense? The plans and intensity is based on personal goals and FTPs. TR does not know the person’s recovery rate or the health status. There are many who are people who are more fit than me at this age and at the same time, I think I am much more fit than most in my age group. I think the spread is quite wide so how can TR take all this into account? The calendar allows for changing workouts and pushing weeks and it should be up to the individual to fine tune the plan to match reality. What might be interesting is if you can link health and recovery data from products like Whoop to TR and then TR makes “on the fly” modifications to the plan based on current healthy status.
So let me rephrase your post from above. You like their value proposition. For you thats due to the community and less about their plans or content in general.
I would be interested in your FTP progression over the years and your chosen training plans. Have you already described this in another post?
Please forgive the off topic but I haven’t found out how to PM in this forum.
If i wasn’t grandfathered in the old price… I would probably argue the same.
Same here. No longer TR subscriber. Realized the value proposition is not there for me at full price. Finding this thread interesting.
Sure thing - in the past few years I continuously cycled through SSB and SusPB. For base I went with the mid and high volume plans. For build only mid volume. I added Z1 and Z2 time wherever possible. In addition to TR I did a bit of running. Eventually averaging between 10-13 hours per week. 6-7 days per week. 300-330 sessions per year. 500-600 hours. All indoors.
FTP progressed quite quickly initially and then in 10 and later 5 watt increments over the months.
Hope that makes it somewhat transparent. If you got more questions let me know. Happy to take this offline.
Fascinating. Thank you
Thank you for the answer. Specifically, I am curious about how the FTP has evolved through the years. What was your off-the-couch FTP? What was the FTP after a year? What was your FTP after two years, etc.? Thanks in advance.
Since you offered up this bit of anecdotal evidence (which I’m not saying is bad), I’ll offer my own.
I jumped into TR’s high volume plans in 2016 after riding exclusively outdoors for a few years. I wanted something that was more time efficient since I’m married with 4 kids and a full-time job. I’ve used high volume plans for the last 4 years now for 100% of my training. I’ve “won” a couple of gran fondos during that time, and I feel good about my performances in group rides. I’m right around 4.3 w/kg and overall I’m pleased with my results.
I certainly don’t consider myself exceptional. I played sports when I was younger (mainly soccer & basketball) and rode my bike a lot (mountain bike at that point). However, after I graduated college and got married I basically sat around for 10 years until I found the bike again (this time road).
I actually quite like the high volume sweet-spot base plan. Lately I’ve been using the slightly more intense 90 minute versions of the 2 hours workouts because I just can’t spare the time. I always find the workouts challenging but doable, and when I’ve got my sleep and nutrition dialed my legs bounce back quickly.
I’m not saying this proves anything. I just wanted to offer my perspective.
Loads of interest in the sweetspot versus polarized approaches, so some of you might enjoy listening to these podcasts… I did.
Of the couch was 150ish. After a year it was at 225. Another year later 290. Currently 280 as I am/was sick. Didn’t progress much in the last 5 months due to forced breaks (flue, vacation, Corona, appendix). Bit of a mess really.
Really!?
You don’t ride outside at all?
With the misses every now and then. Though that’s than on a MTB and likely at 10% of FTP. Other than that only on vacations.
Some people on this thread making some mad leaps about a person (Chad) that in reality they know very little about other than a snippet on a podcast once a week. From what I understand (very little) he used to be crazy fast when he was competing and now is happy to do enough training to be able to enjoy riding a bike when he’s out on one. Absolutely nothing wrong with that and has zero to do with his ability to coach.
Wow. I’m impressed. So what’s all that fantastic fitness FOR?
I mean you kill it. But it’s inside. You don’t go ride up a long climb, or do a great route with friends?
You’re not the only user I’ve seen do this.
I’m in utter disbelief.
It’s for Kona.
I agree, massive leaps from many.
But, I’d argue against this point too. It doesn’t sound like he much enjoys riding AT ALL, anymore.
I have never failed SSBHVI or SSBHVII
This year I started with 2 months of no riding and a CTL of 0
Wow. That’s some impressive dedication.
I wish you the best of luck for your race!
If he was so fast, how come I never heard of him before I joined TR?
