Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
Not to say that training in zone 4 in the Friel system is a bad idea at all. I trained that way for years, logging an hour or so in zone 4 (Friel) every week and many hours in zone 3 (Friel). I switched to polarized this year because all that zone 3 and 4 left me without enough energy to ride much in zones 2 and 5 (Friel). I was fast enough, but lacked power at the high end and endurance at the low end.
Another quick reply on this bit.
I completely agree. Last year pretty much all my training was Z3 (Coggan) or "Sweetspot" borderline Z4. Just rides of 60 to 90 minutes blasting around the lake. It left me tired all the time and when I did longer rides I was terrible after 120 min because my body was so inefficient.
That's why switched to polarized this winter, after reading this thread. And the principle still holds! I'm sure my body has become much more efficient by riding lots below VT1. It's just that I feel that for my riding style I feel like I'm missing out because of lack of riding between VT1 and VT2.
Thats why I swithched (am switching) from (polarized)
- 80% < VT1
- 5% between VT1 and VT2
- 15% > VT2
To a more (traditional?) diffused:
- 70% < VT1
- 15% between VT1 and VT2
- 15% > VT2
In the hope to maintain the gains from the low intensity (polarized) and add the gains from moderate intensity (especially because my time is limited to 8hrs max).