Training & Nutrition - Trouble sticking to the plan

I am in the 2nd week of a 12 week base building plan-so relatively little time on the bike compared to in 10 weeks or the rest of the season. My problem is New England Weather. It is unseasonably nice right now. Warm and the roads are clear. My gut feeling is to take advantage of this and log extra miles -still at base building intensity, but more time in the saddle than listed on my plan. This is my first time testing out a structured "base" building plan-I usally just ride a lot and start doing intervals after 1000 miles or so. So I want to stick to the plan this time and see if it makes a difference, but I am nervous that New England being what it is, that I will be subject to severe weather in the coming monthsn which could cost me miles or land me on the trainer longer than a human should be stuck there and therefore should not miss these bonus days.
Any couch coaches have an opinion one way or the other?

If it were me, i would definitely rearrange my plan around the weather. Base training needs to be somewhat enjoyable to avoid burnout and loss of motivation, and there is not much worse than long slow trainer workouts. So i say get your long rides outside whenever weather permits.

ride 2 hours a day no matter what

trainer

road

half trainer/half road


just do it.


no excuses, no guesses.

When I had a coach last year we had some days like you describe. He told me to get on the damn bike and enjoy the weather while I could. That isn't a direct quote but it is pretty close.

ride 2 hours a day no matter what

trainer

road

half trainer/half road


just do it.


no excuses, no guesses.


That sounds about right. My training plan calls for some easier days, so if that happens to fall on a nice day, I might ride a bit longer or harder than planned. So I take it a little easier on the next indoor session to make up for it.

Carmichael suggests that 1.5 hours indoor is equal to 2 hours outdoor. I tend to agree with that, if for no other reason than it's hard for me to ride much more than an hour on the trainer without wanting to kill something. :) Two hours on a trainer is downright brutal.

Just don't forget a rest day.

Az

If you model the training stress, using something like Cycling Peaks Performance Manager, of not sticking to your plan, you can add roughly 45% more "stress/work" to your training load week to week and you probably will not "break down".

If you were to double your training load you might have issues, as your ramp rate (week to week training stress difference) might be too steep, which could lead to over-reaching and all the wonderful things that go with it (depressed immune system, muscle fatigue, psychological burnout, et al).

If I were you I'd boost my volume and ride outdoors while the weather in NE is cooperative, but be careful not to over-reach, knowing that when I went back to the trainer, and cut my volume, my progress might taper off.

gene r

This is exactly why I hate training plans. Everytime it pours with rain or snows or something ... that's the day you're supposed to be out logging miles. Everytime it is a beautiful day ... that's the day you're supposed to be resting.

I opted to ride now and take advantage of the weather. Thanks for the opinions! Unreal weekend around Boston.