Originally Posted by
badhat
i actually still think theres value to peaking/periodizing, even if its not hugely helpful psysiological and its mostly mental. i think its useful to add progressive load, take rest weeks, transition from endurance to super threshold, high volume low intensity to low volume high intensity, taper, if for no other reason than that it makes training more dynamic, and i think for a lot of people, progression through a plan and variety are really useful motivators.
+1
I found this to be true for me as well. Between work, family, life, etc., EVERY DAY there is some good reason to blow off training; being accountable to a 6-month plan made it much easier for me to choose to get on my bike instead of (insert alternative). Maybe this is more characteristic of us older beginning racers who have a lot of other things going on in our lives? My first season racing, I made a plan in January to peak for a stage race in June (as much because I had to schedule vacation days as for any other reason), and had my best results of the year at that race, so peaking even as a beginner isn't always totally pointless...