Yesterday, Monday 5 May, was a Bank Holiday here in the UK and as I couldn’t get out on the Sunday, I went out yesterday instead. Monday is usually a rest day that usually just incorporates a walk. I kept things mellow on the ride so as not to trigger a “red” day for the Tuesday, guess what, it triggered one anyway. My dilemma is that I am supposed to be out for a club group ride this evening, do I go, or do I have a rest day? Our Tuesday “social” rides are anything but social , they are always fast
I think I know what I’m going to do, but just wondered what others would do
I am also conscious that I missed a couple of workouts last week due to work and family commitments and really need to get back on track. The problem is the weather is getting nice here in the UK and riding outside whilst the sun shines feels much better than sitting in the garage boiling to death
I know it’s hard (sometimes impossible) to turn down a group ride, but the goal of these red days is to preserve your form, looking forward to your upcoming training.
I do worry that when added to your nearly hour-long strength session today, a hard group ride could bring another red day tomorrow and possibly spill red/yellow into Thursday.
Will you take a full rest day tomorrow? Also, if needed, could you push your Thursday/Friday workouts over to Friday/Saturday if needed? Those are your key workouts this week, and I’d prioritize them over Sunday’s workout.
Spilling over to Thursday is also my worry. Tomorrow is deffo a rest day, although I am on granddad duties tomorrow evening but we are going to soft play which means I sit and watch the granddaughter run round like a lunatic
I can’t do Saturday’s as they are reserved for swimming with the granddaughter and then the day with the wife. I’m also out on Sunday for a club ride into Wales for some hills. It’s forecast to be a fantastic weekend weather wise so no missing out on that and it’s my last Sunday club ride before I go away. The wife won’t let me ride outside a few weeks before we go away in case I crash again
Maybe I won’t go out tonight, but it’s going to be tough to sit in whilst the weather is so nice
I radically relocated 3 years ago, and I lost my group rides and friends. I’m making new friends now, but it’s not the same thing, it’s not the same jokes, the same atmosphere, it’s not even the same language.
Now, I deeply regret every workout I did, or did not, in order to be “faster/better” and missed my group rides and most importantly, my friends.
Every person has a different approach to cycling, activity, fitness, etc. You might be 100% focused on getting ready for a race. But, unless you’re a pro and making a life of this, sport is above all improving your life overall through friendship, socialization, etc. There won’t be stories to be told about workouts you did. But group rides, sure will.
Go and cook yourself today, so what? Tired, take 2 days off. Enjoy the day, and your buddies, today. Maybe next group ride you can’t go for some reason, maybe the weather will be terrible, maybe your wife won’t allow you
Yellow on Thursday would be no real problem imo, just ride through it. But if you ended up with red / red for Wed / Thurs, that would have to be taken a bit more seriously - maybe even one of the “key workouts” on those days being put to the sword for the broader benefits of today’s club ride.
You have to manage your priorities and goals. If you’re absolutely focused on getting faster, structured training will almost always be the right move.
If you aren’t laser-focused on fitness, go out and ride with your friends in the spring.
There is room for both, but as you can see, oftentimes these two tug on opposite ends of you, and you need to simply decide what is best for you long term.
I’ll let you in on a secret…
My B race is in less than three weeks, and my A race is in six (they’re both A races to me), and my structured training has suffered over the past week or so because of the nice weather, social rides, MTB trails opening up, and general sunbathing, etc.
Do what makes you happy now, but be prudent and make adjustments to ensure that what you’re doing will work long-term for you. It sounds like you’ve got a good idea of how this works.
I hadn’t thought of it that way. Missing out on the social side would be a shame, especially as the weather isn’t guaranteed here in the UK. Need to make the most of being with friends when the sun shines
Yes I want to get faster but at the same time the events I have in my calendar aren’t actually races. There’s a weekend away with the club and I’d like to be hang on better than the last time I went. The week after is a sportive for charity and I’m only looking to finish that ride, not be the fastest. It’s on roads I train on often so I know the course and not too worried about it
Trainer road has already made me faster, it’d be a shame to destroy that training but it’s not my greatest priority
Thanks to everyone for the replies as it’s helped me think about my priorities
Us in the UK have to make the most of these beautiful days. Once summer starts it will either rain consistently, or be too drought-ridden and hot to ride.
I have missed out on so many good times with friends because of structured training over the last year. I deeply regret it if I am honest. Ive lost technical skills and social fun times…and I havent even gained that many watts!
You can: Use an existing workout in your plan or add one that’s roughly comparable to what you expect your group ride to be (IF, TSS). Right click on it and identify it as a Group Ride. After your ride, associate it with the Group Ride on your calendar. FWIW: IDK what this does to a plan, adaptations, etc. I did nothing but Solo Rides (same a Group Ride afaik) for two weeks and got major adaptations right after that significantly increasing workout PLs. I asked TR about it and they said that shouldn’t have and didn’t happen.
, they are always fast
