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.
I am currently not an active subscriber but hopefully will continue to follow TR plans in the near future. For now, I want to experience and learn byā¦mistakes
Based on what I have read and listened to thus far, I created my own block of Fatigue Dependent Training. I would greatly appreciate any feedback and advice on the progression.
In a nutshell, the plan was:
SS>Tempo with a HR Cap (FatMax)>Z2 with increased TiZ weekly.
I would like to take a step back and start easier to slowly build towards the 2021 season.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
For those of you that are training with other coachās plans, assuming your workouts are all on TrainingPeaks, how are you doing indoor rides? Whatās controlling your smart trainer?
Right now Iām following FasCatās At Home Strength Training Plan and it includes bike workouts. Iād like to follow them as opposed to finding a close equivalent on TR. Everything is pushed to my Garmin, thinking maybe I can control my KICKR via Garmin Connect or as a last resort Iāll just build all the workouts with TR workout creator, but Iād rather not do that.
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Turn on Ride Sync for TrainingPeaks:
Iāve used it, works great!
For example here is one:
after syncing they are available in Workouts Log In to TrainerRoad
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Use my 1030 or 520 Plus to control the KICKR after pushing the workout to it from TP. Generally ERG mode but Iāve used Resistance mode through the Garmin.
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Yep, this is what I did. You can do the same thing with Zwift. In fact, I think my PCG plan is meant to run on Zwift. You even get riding promts / messages on Zwift ā sort of like what Coach Chad does on TR plans.
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These days Iām simply running the workout on my 530 bike computer with the same data screens as outside. At the beginning of the workout I use TR app (or Wahoo app) to put Kickr into Standard mode and for endurance rides I set level = 2. Just one time setup of Standard mode and level setting at the beginning of the workout, and make power just like outside while the 530 records power from my Stages power meter.
Erg works fine too, but mentally it seems easier to do the same inside and outside.
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I simply meant to show you can drive the KICKR with a head unit and not pay for Zwift, TR, etc.
How do you like having 1030 or 520 plus control Erg?
To keep things simple when using TrainerRoad, Iāve only setup my 530 to connect to Kickr as a power meter (no control).
Itās been about a year now but from what I remember it works better than the PC TR app did. I get sudden drops in power where I have to adjust to target power 5 W either direction but itās less than once a workout on average. Certainly donāt get death spirals like TR had.
With power meter only connection to Garmin, my other alternative is to use the free Wahoo app. But for simple things like setting mode and resistance level, the TR app is better. Plus there are times I want to use TR for Erg control. For that a few other reasons Iām happy to continue paying for TR subscription. But its not strictly needed as you say.
Has anyone ever tried Dylan Johnsonās training plans?
This Winter Iād like to try something different than TR, mainly to add strength training to my routine and to do less intensity, but I couldnāt find any reviews about his plans.
Iāve watched all of his videos so I donāt have any doubts about his coaching knowledge, however the plans seem rather basic, without recommendations or drills and filled with a lot of Z2 at 65% of FTP.
I guess thatās because they are meant to be done mainly outside, so maybe itās not the best fit for me considering that during the week I can only train inside and unfortunately Covid restrictions will probably strengthen in the next few weeks in my country.
Anyway, Iād like to know if anyone has experience with his plans or knows more about them.
Otherwise, I think I will consider the other options mentioned in this thread or Iāll try to come up with a custom plan based on the advice from his videos and this forum, since Iām already subscribed to TR.
Because a lot of z2 works? Iām sure you know he started as a CTS coach before going solo. His plans and videos look similar to the FasCat plans and Tim Cusick plans that I own. All I can say is the CTS (before TR) and FasCat (after TR) plans took my fitness higher than TR plans. All the plans Iāve used work and delivered fitness gains, TR included. For me on a 8-10/week a week budget, a lot of aerobic work sprinkled with some intensity produces better results than a lot of intensity (TR HV or MV+). As Dylan said again recently on the block periodization video, science says you only need 2 maybe 3 hard days a week.
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Has anyone used Xert for any length of time leading up to events/races? Any thoughts?
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I donāt have any personal experience with Dylanās plans but I looked at the TP page for these plans:
And youāre right. The example weeks is just all Z2 but I also noticed that it only shows week #1 of the plan. Based on what Iāve seen on his youtube channel I would assume that he quickly starts to add things like long tempo, tempo burst, and then SS by the end of the 12 week program. Maybe if you shot him a message he would be willing to expand on how the plan progresses.
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Yes of course, I mean thatās why Iām looking for plans with less intensity.
With ābasicā I wanted to say that the endurance rides are like āride x time at 65% of FTPā, without any drills or recommendations. Maybe Iām too much used to TR Z2 rides that are more ācomplexā since they have blocks at different percentages of FTP and frequent drills, but perhaps the simplistic approach is even better.
Good to know thanks, I also have around 10 hours per week and Iām looking to seriously improve because in the past two years Iāve been basically stuck between 4 and 4.3 W/Kg. FasCat is my alternative and if they make some discounts for Black Friday or something like that Iāll probably buy their 32 week plan.
Yeah thatās essentially his mantra and one of the reasons why Iām looking for plans with more Z2. With TR plans I wouldnāt know for sure which one of the 3/4 intense weekly rides to drop and I would have to keep modifying the plans. Also with something like SSB HV it would be very difficult since there are 5 (kind of) hard days every week.
Thank you!
Somehow I missed that the example week is the first one of the plan and not a random one. Also contacting him itās a great idea since he seems an approachable guy. Iāll report back if he replies.
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Youāre welcome! Iād be interested to hear what he has to say cause Iām interested in getting a plan from him or fascat to try something different this year
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What science is that?
The human study showing the highest-ever group mean increase in VO2max had the subjects bust their arses 6 days per week.
The human study showing the highest-ever group mean increase in mitochondrial respiratory capacity had the subjects bust their arses 4 days per week.
In rat studies, the norm is to have them run hard 6 days per week.
Almost everybody I came up with went hard at least 4 days per week.
LOL, sorry I took that literally and answered the same. I bought the FasCat and Cusick plans before Dylan left CTS and offered his own plans. If you notice, the preview for Dylan plans allow you to read the details (notes). Personally I really like the notes in FasCat workouts, Frank Overton the head coach is same age bracket as myself (masters+ and seeing impact of aging), Frank has been using a power meter for almost 20 years, they have a forum, and I saw good results off the first two blocks. So its an easy recommendation if you find value in those things. Iāll buy a plan from Dylan at some point, love his YouTube channel and want to show my support even if I donāt use the plan (because Iām happy with FasCat).
Regarding drills, TR taught you drills so just do them them as you see fit during easy z2.
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