Hi,
best luck I ever had winter training was the winter before I started back to riding again. I used a classic periodisation schedule. They are very simple, very effective and very boring. It helps if you shorten the Base period a week or two.

But it worked. I lost weight and got a big improvement in fitness.

There were 2 routines to pick from. A 2-6 hour routine and a 3-9 hour routine.
I could never maintain the longer one. After the first year the short one was too easy.

In the intervening years I tried a variety of things that didn't work all that well.
So now, I have a high tech solution to my training problem.

It's called Split The Difference. Yup. I am going to do a 2.5-7.5 routine.

It's off an article titled 'The best training plan period' Bicycling page 69 Feb 1994. They do reprints free for subscribers, not sure what they are if you don't.

This is very low tech, while a heart monitor helps you don't really need it. Most guys here will want one of the newer programs, this is old fashioned. But if you are looking for something to slowly tease you back into shape, this will do it.
It's the ultimate Fred workout.

Hey, can you point me to a source for some general information about what you're talking about? I don't know what a 2-6 hour routine is, or periodisation. But I'm interested.

Call Bicycling Magazine and ask for a reprint of the article.
'The best training plan... period' page 69 Feb 1994

Periodised training breaks the training into cycles. The macrocycle is the annual swing through Base training, a building period, and then you move on to more intense training in the warmer weather.

You start out with a couple hours of exercise that is quite easy iin Jan. I will be starting a week earlier. Then you slowly build up to several hours a week; slowly adding intensity as well.

Base training has fallen out of favor among competitive cyclists. If you are young or in halfway decent shape you don't need it. You'd still want a periodised
training schedule, just a more rigorous one.

There are also coaches of various kinds, books on the subject, and you can try searching the net.
http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/triathlon-training/what-does-periodization-mean-and-how-does-it-work-000625.php

Maybe if enough people request reprints they'll put it on their website... (assuming it's not on there now)