On-Line Training Manual for the Veteran Riders

Macro Cycle Three - Weeks 12 to 17


Please read the instructions accompanying Macro Phase 1. In particular the definitions and assumptions. This phase is 6 weeks long. It follows a 5 week Phase 1 strength-endurance phase. On the Friday of the fifth week you should undertake a re-evaluation (maximal exertion test with lactate preferably) to recalculate your HR thresholds. They change as you get fitter. In particular, you should be able to work longer at lower HR and lactate levels for the same power output that was revealed in the first test. At this stage of your program your max HR should also be lower (at higher lactate levels) than your first test revealed. Later Macro Phases work on the upper HR levels.

By now the racing season is in full swing. It is assumed you are now racing hard every Sunday - say 80-120 kms. You have had 11 weeks of strength-endurance training. This phase consolidates on that background and begins in the last weeks to work on speed specifically. It is assumed that the major races for which you aim to peak for are in the next 8 week period after this phase ends.

All codes are the same as in Macro Phase 2. It is assumed that you have also updated you thresholds using the information from the last test.

Codes are as follows

  1. HR = heart rate.
  2. RE = recovery HR.
  3. E1-5 = 75 per cent of maximum minus 5.
  4. E1 = 75 per cent of maximum.
  5. SEHR = Strength-endurance HR is in the range immediately below IAT2 - I suggest you train around a mid-range SEHR of 88 per cent of max HR.
  6. IAT1 - Individual Aerobic Threshold One - taken from a lactate test, but approximately 65 per cent of max HR.
  7. IAT2 - Individual Aerobic Threshold Two - taken from a lactate test, but approximately 90 per cent of max HR.
  8. EV = evaluation at laboratory. This assesses the progress of each macro phase.

Other Things to Note

  1. 1000 situps per week with back straight.
  2. All Road work assumes a 10 kms IAT1 warm-up and warm-down unless otherwise specified.
  3. All distances are in kilometres.

Terrain Intensity: Steep Hills for SEHR work. A steep hill refers to something over 10 per cent in gradient preferably 15 per cent which is at least 4 kms long. As a guide you should be doing the hills at 55 revs per minute in say 42 x 19 or 42 x 21.

If the Saturday p.m. Ergo session difficult for you before the racing, it can be dropped. It remains a non-intensity session and if the race is interfered with then it is better not done. By now you will have good leg speed - that is you will be comfortable spinning at 110 revs in races.

Sunday: Racing - around 100-120 kms
Monday: REST
Tuesday: 40 kms at SEHR over steep hills - if too difficult being with 3 x 15 minute intervals, with 3 X 10 kms at E1 in between. At night 25 minutes on Ergo - 10 mins warm up then 10 at IAT2 and then 5 to warm down at 110 revs.
Wednesday: 40 kms at Recovery
Thursday: Same as tuesday
Friday: 20 minutes on ERGO - RE
Saturday: 70 kms at E1 rolling to easy hills, 30 minutes on Ergo spinning at 110 revs

Total distance for Week: around 300.


Week 13:

Same as Week 12


Week 14:

Same as Week 12 except Thursday.

On Thursdays, ride 50 kms in total - not including 10 before and 10 after. We start doing ladders on a steep hill. After the first IAT2 interval up a steep hill, the second interval is performed as 10 revs as hard as you can go, 10 back right off, 20 hard as you an, 20 backed off, 25 hard, 25 off, 30 hard, 30 off, 35 hard, 35 off, 45 hard, 45 off, then a km at E1.

Start with 3 intervals of this pattern.

Do the ladders on a steep hill, do not hit each hard part with much bike speed. the aim is to build up the hard bits from slow speed and really work. Back off means exactly that - right off - this is where the hill really helps.

Interval 5 is a standard 15 minute SEHR. The remaining kms at E1 until warm-down.
Thursday night ergo session is the same.


Week 15:

Same as Week 14 except intervals should be 20 minutes long at SEHR and add the ladders to Tuesday as well as Thursday, adding 2 intervals to the Thursday session.


Week 16 - EASY WEEK

terrain intensity = rolling hills
Sunday: RACING
Monday: REST
Tuesday: 70 kms at E1, Ergo as in week 4
Wednesday: 30 kms at IAT1
Thursday: 70 kms at E1, Ergo as in week 4
Friday: EV
Saturday: 70 kms at E1, 30 minutes on Ergo spinnning