Long Distance Cycling - What determines your fitness riding schedule?

Do You;

Schedule your rides based on a specific training format?

Schedule your rides as recommended by a personal trainer or coach?

Schedule your rides based on available free time?

All of the above.

Schedule your rides based on what your body and fitness level dictates?

No specific plan...combination of what my body feels like it can handle that day, and available free time. I do other cardio and strength exercise as well, so I concentrate more on overall fitness (still w/ no specific plan) than just on training for long rides.

Free time, of which I have a lot since I'm retired ... and the weather.

Free time, of which I have precious little since my employer makes us work overtime and I have several other obligations that demand my time.

I ride based upon how many days per week I can commute to work when it isn't raining immediately before I leave ;). Otherwise I ride the subway.

If I can't ride 4 times per week, I usually also will jog a few miles and do some pushups.

Do You;

Schedule your rides based on a specific training format?

Schedule your rides as recommended by a personal trainer or coach?

Schedule your rides based on available free time?

All of the above.

Schedule your rides based on what your body and fitness level dictates?

My basic shedule is my 14 mile year-round commute, stymied only by lightning storms (extremely rare). I ride in one way and take the train home with the bike. From May to October I follow a ten-week century training schedule in various stages, with daily specified mileage quotas. These become very motivating, but then free-time and body dictates start to play in. Almost all my riding is with an early AM start time, at least by 6 AM.

Today for example was the first day back from vacation and my mileage goal was 27 miles. It was hard to get going this AM and I only did 14, but with a promise to myself, easily broken :o, to ride home for an additional 14.

I have a general "plan" that says "ride a lot" in the Spring - before trying to ride "fast."

And I usually "plan" to rest for a couple of days or at least back off from hard riding if I am going to race or compete.

I'm defiantly a "as time allows" and "as my body allows" type of rider. I try to make time by starting my days early, but if I'm not feeling well (ie injuries) or no freetime, I skip my planned ride. I figure I'm riding for fun/fitness - not racing, so if I miss a day or 2, no big deal.

Typically, the only "structured" part of my training plan is the buildup to the first brevet of the year. Assuming that the first 200 of the year is late March/early April, I start with a 50 miler the last weekend in January, and add 10% a week 'til I'm at 125 (plus commuting, which gives me another 125 mi a week). I keep meaning to start doing a more structured high-intensity program once brevet season starts, but that hasn't happened yet. Maybe next year...

SP
Bend, OR