Bike Forums - Too big a leap?

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- - Too big a leap? (https://www.bikeforums.net/long-distance-competition-ultracycling-randonneuring-endurance-cycling/871938-too-big-leap.html)

It pains me greatly to admit it, but I recently started my first ever foray into training. After reading around on forums and other websites, I came up with what I thought was a simple and sound basic program, but now wonder if I need to scale it down even more.

My goal is a general speed improvement on brevets and non organized distance rides. Basics of my program are brisk 60 mile road loop once per weekend, all out private TT on a 9 mile local loop some time midweek, and keep doing my short daily commute, but go extra easy to serve as recovery rides. The specific part I wonder about is the short TT. Holy smokes! I did it for the first time Wed morning and was amazed at how much a half hour ride could take out of me! I`ve never pulled from the depths of my soul like that in my life, no HS wrestling practice, never raced anything, so I have zero frame of reference. I definitely felt the effort though the rest of that day and until I went to bed that night, much reduced by the next day, and feel completely recovered from it now. Still, not sure it`s a good idea. How do I tell if that 30 minutes of hard effort is too much for me at this point? I`m willing to do it if it might help, but I don`t want to torture myself if its going to be counterproductive.

You lived. It's not too much. :thumb:

FWIW, I feel that the sprints and TT-like riding I did in my commutes leading up to last year's brevets really helped with my strength and speed for those rides.

it doesn't really bother me to take two days to recover from a ride as long as I don't have something it will interfere with during those two days. My understanding is that you should only do 2 such rides a week.

Unanimous after almost 24 hours. Yeah, I guess as long as I recovered within a reasonable time frame, it seems unlikely that I`m doing any damage. The full length TT stays. Thanks for the words of wisdom.

I'll put out what I feel is a reasonable (but hard) level of effort. But if in doubt, get a heart-rate monitor and ask a doctor. No point dying to get in shape.