Great info here about the FasCat plans - thanks. They intrigue me in particular as I like the philosophy of longer TiZ progression and the way the sessions seem more flexible between indoors/outdoors, as I’m in the UK so we can often still get outdoors through most weeks in winter. The fatigue dependant strategy also feels a good idea as a 50 yr old athlete. Sadly I’m not sure I can stretch to the full 32 wk plan since I lost my job with Covid, which is ironic as now I have loads of time to train! I think I’ll try and build a plan using these ideas and the TR workouts when indoors. Any other suggestions appreciated!
Has anyone here gone through a full Dialed Health strength training plan? I’m a triathlete looking to incorporate strength training into my routine and was looking at their No Equipment program (two 30 min sessions a week).
Looking forward to any feedback you may be able to share!
Has anybody tried the Joe Friel plans?
I am looking for a masters plan that is not dependent on “fatigue dependence” (due to family obligations Tuesday/Thursdays are hit or miss and most likely fairly light). I also want to be able to incorporate strength training. Anyways, I have been going around in circles trying to figure out the best plan based on the limited descriptions on the various websites, so any input would be appreciated.
There might not be a “perfect” plan out there for you based on your individual needs. However, I think most premier coaches are cognizant of real-life and wouldn’t push back if you needed to modify the weekly workout schedule.
I just bought this plan from FasCat for my winter base + strength (it features weight lifting and bike workouts in one plan):
Thanks, yeah, I was looking at that plan. I just don’t know how I can fit it into my schedule. Tuesday/Thursday both need to be light days / off due to childcare duties, and I haven’t been able to figure out how to move all the pieces around to make it fit.
You could do something like this…(I have no idea how much time you’re working with)
Monday: Intervals (60-90 min) + Strength
Tuesday: Easy (30 min)
Wednesday: Easy (30 min)
Thursday: Intervals (60-90 min) + Strength
Friday: Rest
Saturday: ?
Sunday: ?
Yeah, the Thursday workout would be the problem.
The best I figure is doing something like this:
Monday: Zone 2 + Strength
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Intervals (60-90 min) + Strength
Thursday: Easy (30 min)
Friday: Intervals (60-90 min)
Saturday: Endurance Zone 2 2-hours
Sunday: Group Ride
Thanks for your help.
So I bought a Peaks Coaching Group (aka Hunter Allen) plan with the intention of returning it if I couldn’t get it to work. However, when I emailed with questions, Hunter Allen himself wrote back within 45 minutes and worked with me how to get the plan to work. Just writing to say I am really impressed with the level of customer service at Peaks Coaching. It definitely won themselves a customer. Pretty impressed.
I would be remiss if I also didn’t point out the great customer service here at TrainerRoad — but you guys probably already know about that.
Thought this might be a current/relevant place to ask:
If TR bases their workouts on Coggan’s power zones, why don’t they also use his suggested time zones/‘no go’ zones? 
Good read. Kind of makes me question a lot of the shorter endurance rides.
I thought those were Hunter Allen’s time in zone? Coach view vs physiologist 
If you’re time crunched TiZ is TiZ. Keep it easy and you can build a decent base cobbling together 1-2 rides. Not as good as the 6 hour jobbers… but gotta do what you gotta do.
If you can push it out to 2-4 hours there is a good stimulus. I did 3 hours today with some tempo at the end, both WKO5 and Garmin approved:
I do those long rides on the weekend like you people suggest but TR isn’t the only group that’ll throw in the sub-2 hour z1-z2 workouts during the week.
My coach has a standing ‘if you have time and motivation you can do as much low z2 as you want’. That ends up adding 2-4 hours per week on a ~12hour/week baseline.
Same here. Just do what you can 
Coggan’s.
It is absolutely critical when using the principles of training with power that you adhere to both the time and intensity components of Dr. Coggan’s Power Training Levels in order to train effectively.
True enough. I was thinking more along the lines of interval time. If min Tempo tiz is 30min, why does a 1hr TR workout have 10min intervals? Or if Threshold ‘no go’ is <10min, why does a 1hr TR workout have 3-4min intervals?
As another cycling coach has claimed, if you can’t do a 20min SS interval, you’ve got problems (here’s looking at you, Mr. “Too Easy” Carson).
Again, wondering why TR opts for ‘no go’ interval lengths, even for “time crunched” workouts (remember: “adhere to both the time and intensity components“).
Is this perhaps why some riders seem to plateau rather quickly while following TR plans to the tee?
Not sure if Hunter Allen added that to a Coggan graphic, or if Coggan himself published it. Thought it was Allen
And regarding your question, who knows? I’ve expressed my opinion on lack of z2 and how that impacts training intensity distribution. I’m more of the opinion that the order of importance is:
- consistency
- volume
- intensity distribution (pyramidal vs threshold vs …)
And in that hierarchy, I’m more concerned with seeming lack of z2 in plans (except for traditional base and full distance triathlon and maybe one or two other triathlon plans).
At least in my experience, I did TR SSB which had longer intervals versus a plan I did this spring. And I raised my FTP doing more z2 and shorter sweet spot. Hence the top 3 in my hierarchy.
I completely agree.
I am currently (for the past 12 months) being coached by Aerocoach (well, one of their coaches of course) and I am very happy. It is obviously more expensive than Trainerroad/ Sufferfest or the like. However, I really like the one on one, and feedback I can give.
Results have been outstanding.