Originally Posted by
estabro
What are you "training" for?
Do you race or do you just want to be in good shape? If you don't have a goal you really aren't training, you are just riding.
Totally disagree with this. I spend half my year as a triathlete without a discrete race in mind, but still doing regular speedwork sessions and 3-4 hr rides, because I enjoy being in near-race shape without the structure and time commitment I need for racing season. I don't think you'd call my typical offseason workout schedule a walk in the park; it most definitely qualifies as training, even if it's not quite as intense or high volume as racing season. I think most competitive road racers are in a similar situation - they go pretty hard on training even when there's no goal race (but do go harder when there is a goal race.)