Originally Posted by
MinnMan
I think I'm a lot like kr32 - I aspire to increase my speed and endurance, but I don't have Allegheny Jet's or Hermes' discipline to adopt a regular training schedule or to do focussed intervals. I don't have or want a HRM, and I know that without that kind of information, I'm never going to get the most out of my rides. However, my recent approach is to do lots of hilly rides. Of course, Minnesota doesn't have the kinds of spectacular climbs that many of you enjoy, but what we do have is lots of opportunities to design rides of say, 30 miles, with 8 or 10 climbs of 100-250 feet each. If I attack each of these hard, I tell myself that these are close to an undisciplined rider's intervals. Certainly, I feel them in my legs and lungs.
I used to be very disciplined, had a coach and never missed a workout. But after three years it became very stressful trying to balance family and my need to train. So I backed off. I'm not nearly in the shape I was a couple years ago but I enjoy my rides as much. So now I work in my rides when I can but for me family has to come first. I still get out for rides way more than most guys my age so I can't complain at all.