Road Build-Peak-Race Period (Intermediate/Under 50) 12.5hrs/wk

Author: Joe Friel

11 weeks - $99.95
Total Hours: 148

This road cyclist Build-Peak-Race periods training plan was designed by Joe Friel to prepare you for an A-priority road race in the last week of the plan. It is based on the the principles described in his book, The Cyclists Training Bible. It is best started about 11 weeks prior to your A-priority road race. This plan is intended for the under-age-50 cyclist who has been racing for two or more years. To start this plan you should be able to train about 12 hours a week. Over 11 weeks you will increase your weekly intensity while volume remains at about 12.5 hours/week (except for R&R weeks every fourth week). There is an emphasis on hill work. Strength workouts are included each week. The plan uses common language to describe the workouts and is easy to follow. By the end of 11 weeks you will have excellent fitness and be ready for your A-priority road race.

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Sample workouts:

Workout #1 : Strength

Planned Time: 1:00:00
Warm-up 5-10 minutes on a stationary bike. Then complete 2 sets of strength maintenance (SM) weight lifting using the exercises listed under Comments below. The first set is light (12 reps with a load you could lift 15 times). The second set is heavy (3-5 reps with a load you could lift 6 times). Complete both sets of each exercise before moving to the next exercise. Cool down for 5 minutes by spinning in an easy gear/resistance at high rpm. For details go to Chapter 12 in The Cyclist's Training Bible.

Workout #2 : Bike

Planned Time: 1:00:00
Ride in heart rate 1-2 zones (or RPE 1-2 on 1-5 scale) gradually increasing the intensity as you warm up. Ride on a mostly flat course. The effort should be low. Pedal lightly with a comfortably high rpm.

Workout #3 : Bike

Planned Time: 1:30:00
BT: Hill Cruise Intervals. Warm-up for 20-30 minutes gradually building intensity. Then go to a moderate to steep hill (6-8% grade) and complete about 30 minutes of climbing. The climbs can each be from 4 to 6 minutes long. Do enough to equal about 30 minutes of climbing today. The recovery after each climb is the time it takes to descend (less than the duration of the preceeding climb). The effort for each climb should be HR zones 4-5a (RPE 4 on 1-5 scale or CP30 with a power meter). Stay seated on each climb using a gear that creates a cadence of 60-70 rpm.

Workout #4 : Bike

Planned Time: 1:00:00
Go for a very easy recovery spin on a mostly flat course (or indoor trainer if no flat course available) in the small chain ring. Heart rate zone 1 (RPE 1). Light on the pedals. Comfortably high rpm focusing on pedaling skills.

Workout #5 : Bike

Planned Time: 1:00:00
FORM sprints. Warm-up and then do 6-8 x 8-12 second sprints. Slight downhill or with tailwind. Emphasize FORM--not power. Take 3-5 minute recoveries after each form sprint.

Workout #6 : Bike

Planned Time: 2:30:00
BT: Ride as hilly a course as available to you, preferably one with long (6+ minute) climbs and varying grades. On the short climbs ride aggressively going into the 5 zone (5 RPE). On long climbs practice both seated and standing staying around the HR 4-5a zones (RPE 4). If you don't have a course that takes 2.5 hours, repeat sections of your hilly route.

Workout #7 : Bike

Planned Time: 2:30:00
BT: Group ride. Ride how you feel today: If tired, sit in at heart rate 1-3 zones (RPE 1-3); if fresh, ride race efforts in all zones (RPE 1-5). Be smart.

Workout #8 : Bike

Planned Time: 4:30:00
Ride in heart rate 1-2 zones (or RPE 1-2 on 1-5 scale) keeping the effort mostly in 1. Be careful NOT to go into the 3 zone or higher. Ride on a mostly flat to gently rolling course, if possible. The effort should be low. Pedal lightly with a comfortably high rpm.

Workout #9 : Strength