Originally Posted by echappist

TKP, it may seem like i'm not heeding the advice of people here, but i really do appreciate the input of everyone. One thing that took me a long time to realize was just how much effect heat has on me as my HR gets jacked, and i took it as a sign of fatigue rather than a normal physiological response.

The reason why I do these 5.5-7 hr long rides is because my VO2max is not as fully realized as I would like it to be in the sense that my threshold power is at a ratio of P@Vo2max than it ought to. The only way to push it up is by doing really long base rides (as opposed to people for whom that ratio is high and have to pull it up by doing VO2 max intervals).

Furthermore, whatever i gained in terms of racing fitness wasn't long lasting without the long base rides as I felt it racing early part of this spring: I'd be strong for a week or so before it felt as if i had only 1.5 legs to work with. In the second part, i actually raced better. Part of it thanks to suggestion on advice on moving through the pack, but the other part i felt was due to the better aerobic base I acquired by doing long base rides. I actually placed better despite not doing any VO2max or anaerobic intervals leading up to the race.

I'm actually pretty well recovered 2 days after long base rides, and I don't have anything harder than subthreshold workout planned for another three months to tune my aerobic base.