Originally Posted by
aaronmcd
Hmm, I read to keep intensity during the week, just do less of it and include successive recovery days.
I do Mon Tues recovery (~30 TSS for the 2 days), Wed the usual long ride but climb tempo rather than threshold, Thurs Fri recovery. So that's back to back recovery days twice with my typical long ride on Wednesday but taking it easier than usual. Then weekends would be either a bit easier (~200 TSS combined) or maybe typical (300-400 TSS) depending on how I feel.
Keeping intensity is for tapering, not for recovery weeks. Take a look at some of the sample training plans in TARWAPM and you will see 5 day blocks every 3-4 weeks of nothing but recovery rides.
I really hate recovery weeks. Since I'm riding less, I burn fewer calories so I feel like I can't eat as much so I'm hungry. But they do seem to prepare me well for the next block.