I have the same concerns here. I know this is an old thread, but I’m new to TR and have questions haha.
This year I did a lot of outdoor riding with a TSS of 500-700 depending on where I was in the month. I try to do one long ride a week of 100km-100mi. I averaged 8-10 hours a week on the bike. I would really like to get more fit though, and although I can “do the distance”, I’d like to be competitive in a longer road race / competitive gran fondo type event.
What concerns me is using plan builder with the mid volume plan (per my available hours), is the hardest week over a 6 month span is just under 500 TSS (if the plan is followed to a T). I am planning on ditching the Sunday rides on TR and doing my 100km-100mi like usualy, but it appears like my average TSS is going to be quite a bit lower than it has been.
I know all TSS isn’t created equal. Do you guys and gals think I will loose fitness doing this? Or should it work? Btw plan came out to SSBMV I&II, SPBMV, CRRMV. currently 3.8w/kg., would like to reach 4.5 by mid summer 2021