I had a terrible season last year for a variety of reasons -- time pressures, allergies, a nagging hamstring injury. In approaching this season, I decided to follow a different program in the winter -- actual base-building instead of power intervals a couple times a week.

The end result is I dropped more than 20 pounds this winter using TR and the High Volume I, II, III training plans followed by the Advanced Century High Volume plan (though that has given way to outdoor riding). I followed them religiously.

Took my P/W from 2.7 at Thanksgiving (W was up from norm, P was down from norm) to 3.2 by March. My endurance is fine and I'm right there with the strongest riders in my group instead of being OTB like I was late last year. I have a nice base of fitness to build on -- my CTL today is where it usually is in late June, my weight has stayed off (I went from 197 to 173 at 6'3" tall) and my power is higher than it was all of last year -- still need to build a few more watts onto it but that will come.

I got through the training sessions by listening to music. I can't read a book or watch movies -- breaks my concentration too much.

And VO2max intervals -- well I shut off the music, close my eyes, grit my teeth, and just suffer through them. No way I could pay attention to anything else while doing one.

Trainer Road is the real deal. High quality training programs at a reasonable price. You just bring the discipline.