I, for one, am actually happy with this change – although SS is quite near to Z4, it have been always brutal initially to go into build phase with first threshold intervals.
Plus I’m planning to abuse it for reverse periodization:
Not sure if there is a hint of sarcasm there but there are threads on here that explain the process. It’s so easy even I can do it 
Great timing as I’m getting back to training after a couple months off and I turn 50 next week, excited to give it a try.
No sarcasm intended, but I can see what you mean 
Regarding workout duration, have the defaults changed at all? Comparing my current plan that I started this week to my previous plan, the defaults seem shorter.
If you were happy with the previous defaults, do you need to do anything?
Thanks for reporting this! We’ve got an engineer looking into it right now.
Did you look at HV Masters plans? I don’t think they have VO2max? They dont require proof of age 
This couldn’t have come at a better time.
Today I was considering my whole TR subscription. I was a TR user with grandfathered pricing who took the decision to forego the heavily discounted rate for the more modest discount to support the TR team and the product development. However, I’d been coming to the conclusion recently that the sort of plan I wanted was not available in TR, and having many years experience now of interval training and developing base, build, specialty, I felt I could be building my own effective training plans which I could design to fit my own needs (those of an over-50’s average rider). The natural follow on in this thought process then is ‘why do I need TR at all, and not just use any other training platform out there that’s cheaper?’.
I think now, having reviewed the Masters Plans, that (on paper/screen) TR has hit the nail on the head for me in terms of designing a plan based on what I feel I need. Even the ability to adjust the length of training on any given day is something I have been thinking about as I can easily fit extra time in on the bike during my training days which the other plans do not allow for (although I get you can adjust the sessions using the Alternates feature).
Looking forward to giving this a try up to Christmas and seeing how it goes. I think I’ll swap my hard Tuesday session for a Zwift race though, just to keep things interesting, but overall very pleased with this announcement.
Took a while to get here but well done TR team for getting this out. Thanks.
You’ll get a prompt at the end of your next training block, or you can go into your training plan settings from the calendar (screen shot above) and choose the masters plans blocks
This is a planned feature. I wrote about it a bit in another thread.
I would do the mid volume approach, but don’t be afraid to skip a workout if you’re getting tired from the group rides.
planbuilder put in 8 weeks of Base phase leading into my second A race of the year and no build or specialty phases
Anyone else have that issue? Is it something that’s being fixed? I assume it’s a glitch but maybe the planning has changed. I did find it odd that no changes to the plan occurred when I switched my experience around though…
These masters plans are superb for me as a (40 yr old) duathlete. I do my own thing running wise 3 times a week and stick to LV on the bike but found 3 hard workouts too much alongside 3 (usually fairly hard) runs - left me with ~5 hard workouts a week out of 6 (and that 6ht one was usually a longish 10-12 mile run). This is perfect - 2 hard bike and 1 easy and similar for runs! Thanks TR and @Nate_Pearson
We’re working on fixing this right now! Thank you for pointing it out.
Your response is not particularly helpful. To start, you are incorrect, they do include Vo2 max.
Secondly, I’m referring to Nate’s additional announcement below that has nothing to do with Master’s Plans.
What age are we considered Masters athletes? Or should I ask what age do you think you are targeting this at?
From another thread:
I’m worried that this is a silly question, but how does one best make the determination of when to switch to a Masters plan? Failed workouts? Other trouble with the normal plans? I’m guessing that rigidly going by age (I’m 51) isn’t the right call? I’m assuming (and we all know about assuming…) that the lower workload of the Masters plans, if not needed, will reduce the rate of improvement?
I have other questions not appropriate here to my rate of progress, and am twitchy about making choices that might slow it further still as I race my declining potential for a window of reasonable proficiency… 
You’ve been pretty consistent on low volume. You might want to try master’s mid volume as a bridge between mid volume and low volume.
Then I’d give it a couple weeks and see how you’re feeling on the intense workouts. Are you recovering well? Sleeping better?
Since you’re 51, I bet having a few more easy/recovery days between workouts could benefit you. So I’d go with masters mid volume.
Hmm…I’m on week 5 of SSB1 and next week was supposed to be my rest week. Looks like it’s switched everything over to general build already and instead of rest next week, I have base 2 and no rest for another 3 weeks. Should I just manually switch things around?