Only you can truly assess whether your recovery abilities have changed with age. From what you’ve described, it doesn’t sound like your capacity to handle intensity and recover is currently a limiting factor. If that’s the case, I’d recommend letting TrainerRoad create a training plan for you without selecting the Master’s option.
TrainerRoad will analyse your entire workout history to determine the optimal training load for you, without assuming any age-related recovery limitations. If you later find that you’re struggling to recover from the prescribed workouts in time to tackle the next, you can always switch back to the Master’s plan!
For me (mid-40s), switching to the Masters plan has been a huge improvement. 2 intensity sessions during the week leave me much fresher to ride longer outdoors at the weekend.
As others have said, it all depends on your personal needs and what you think works for you. At 58 I’m still figuring it out (started riding at 49). I like doing intervals but 4x per week on TR was too much, especially after I introduced strength work. Last year the master’s plan left me feeling unprepared outdoor. I love that they introduced this but the plan I picked was not enough mileage for what I like to do outdoor. This winter I’m going to focus on volume so I left TR for a more dopamine enhanced app (don’t tell anyone). While I plan to do 1x workout per week, and a race or two, I’ll otherwise just focus on volume until March and April.
Agreed re: indoor boredom leading to motivational struggles to continue. I now usually just stop riding when my motivation isn’t there. For my indoor endurance days I usually look for a suitably paced group ride, as it keeps me more engaged. Two hours doesn’t feel boring in a pack with chit-chat to read. I’m happy to ride outside for 3-5 hours at Z2 type pace, though the undulating terrain in my area results in a bunch of Z1 downhill.
I haven’t been on zwift for long (late October) so things might change but so far I am liking it, there seem to be many little easter eggs hidden everywhere which on some routes I only noticed after passing 25 or more times, I still need to spot that damn yeti … (riding on rollers also helps against the boredom)
Yes I know that guide but in spite of that never saw it. I saw the sasquatch on one of my first rides in zwift, so expected the yeti to be on the Alpe du Zwift after all there is warning sign so I googled to see if there really was a yeti but 25 or so ascents later still haven’t seen it (oh well 2 more to go to get my tron bike)
Funnily enough riding my bike for more hours didn’t make me faster. It just made me sick of riding a bike and itching to go for a run instead. Everyone is different, and replacing volume with intensity has worked very well for me for about 30 years. Saying all that, I do do more volume in the Spring and summer and enjoy going out on my mountainbike and also doing the odd bike packing adventure.
My MP experience is completely the opposite. Running the LV 70.3 Tri plan. Aside from the rest week, most rides are VO2 or threshold. This week’s schedule is V02, threshold and threshold. I’m 53 FWIW.
I didn’t know that AT would recommend if you should be on a Master’s plan or not.
Can it also recommend what the length of time of training should be for that day?
This is generally my aim. As I get closer to plans (no races but some long events) I will keep the structured sessions the same but aim for getting longer endurance rides in. I usually get around 4.5 hours a week of cycling, but know I can increase this to close to 10 as I get closer to events.
Plan Builder can tell you if you need a Masters plan. It will recommend two days of intensity vs three.
It knows how much training volume, intensity, and rest you have needed to get faster in the past, and it knows how much you need based on your training history and who you are as an athlete today.
It uses this to give you a Customized Schedule Recommendation.
However, if you aren’t reccommended the master’s plan, you can still choose that option.
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Does that makes sense @Kendogz161?
Your plan will adapt based on the training you have been doing and how much fatigue you are carrying. For example, if you have a 90 min workout scheduled, but you decided to do a big group ride the day before and are therefore carrying a lot of fatigue, today’s workout might adapt to a shorter endurance workout or maybe even a rest day.
You can learn more about Plan Builder here, and fatigue detection here..
