How’s your cumulative training load progressing vs. last year?

How is your cumulative load progressing vs. last year? I’ve realised over the years that I slacked off a bit too much in the autumn / early winter and all the training into next season only brought me back to a similar peak as the previous year.

This autumn / winter although I’ve have eased off to allow body to have that recovery period, I haven’t let my base slip so much and have started from a much higher base compared to last year. The last 90 days have been pretty consistent, and I’m able to handle higher loads than last year.

Graphs are the standard ones from Intervals.icu if you are using that.

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Well, it was exactly one year ago that I was able to finally get back on my bike after 7 weeks off due to complications from perineal surgery…so my YoY numbers are looking pretty goddamn good! :crazy_face: :crazy_face:

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I wasn’t aware I’d expressed any view on CTL. Cumulative gives a good view of consistency and progression in one graph since you ask. It clearly highlights big jump in loads such as events , and periods where load was reduced or removed.

If it gets steeper then you are increasing the rate of loading, which if not too sharp is progressive overload, if sharp vertical jump that’s an event with a big load., if it eases off then recovery as reducing load, if it goes horizontal then holiday or you’re having a break / rest from training.

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Your 2022 load looks pretty similar to my last 90 days. I’m at 5960 load at moment and yours looks like it was around that at 90 days last year.

I’m off to my best start. Normally I fall off a cliff every winter. I’m really hoping I can take a step forward this year in terms of performance.

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Sounds like me, took the chill for a bit in winter a bit too far !

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roughly that.

Because 2016 was my “base” for best season in 2017, here is 2016 vs 2022:

no power meter for most of 2016. Using first principles - aerobic development is driven by time not intensity - my preference is to look at time because I’m still developing my aerobic engine.

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Noticed you posted moving time, so I added that chart to the page. If you take out the big vertical jumps last year, as that’s later in the year when my events cause those jumps, this winters weekly average moving is similar to Spring / Summer last year. Looks like I’m heading this year for somewhere between 450 to 500 hours of moving time; if I remain consistent and as my weekly volume gently rises as it warms up.

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I use VeloViewer to forecast. First time using Intervals for this.

Just pulled up 2022 and cumulative moving time was 503 hours 34 mins. I’m tracking ahead of that at the moment but my longest event this year is shorter than last year. I’m also riding faster. But so far my cumulative moving time is ahead of same time last year by 21 hours.

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I’m ahead of last year, but behind 2021 for load. I’m also at an all time high ftp which is great. I am in the process of trying to from 6 to 8 hours a week so I should see load get higher this year.

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Im about the same load wise as last year, not nearly as fit though. But last year I peaked 2 months too early for my A event so hopefully it won’t be the same this year.


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For me Cumulative Training Load is pretty much in line with the last two years. However since I am doing something closer to Traditional Base High Volume rather than my usual Sweet Spot, my Cumulative Moving Time is through the roof :laughing:

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Within ½ of a %. I’m a teacher in the northern hemisphere, so “year” begins in September.

Is this something that you got from saddle pressure?

I don’t think so…I was mostly riding outside at the time. it was just a saddle sore that when it healed formed a little nodule on my perineum. Could still ride outside fine, but it was painful on the trainer…and we were entering peak trainer season so I wanted to get it taken care of.

Had it removed and post-surgery had some complications due to being on blood thinners….massive bruising, etc.

Off the bike for 7 weeks but all good now. :sunglasses:

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LFG!!!

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Some amazing, amazing consistency there @brendanhousler! That’s inspiring

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