Originally Posted by
bowzette
Some max vo2 intervals, some LT intervals and increasing the amount of time and long rides at aerobic threshold which is rather low HR. But that has to be spaced out with significant recovery either off the bike or very low HR rides usually on a trainer to control the HR. "Why"-just finished a single pace line 52 mile ride through rollers with wind at 19 mph. I rode close to or at the front much of the ride and took some good pulls . It was 80 degrees when we started and 90 when we finished. If I didn't have a "complex" regiment I couldn't do that at age 69 about to be 70. The other riders are a lot younger than me some of them my sons age. Use to train to race now I train to ride with reasonably strong recreational riders-not fair but that's life.
Inspirational. I've been cycling two years now thinking I was doing well. I just put a power meter on my bike and boy am I depressed! You have my appreciation for your determination and fitness. I have no motivation to race or compete but I can respect it nonetheless.
I've finally gone through every post here I appreciate everyone's input. I've been blessed with good health and take reasonable care of myself. I do admit to leaning on taking nutritional supplements over eating better. Nevertheless after I mentioned to an allergist about a pain near my right lung this spring he cautioned a heart workup. No detectable blockage. (anecdotally a long time female friend was diagnosed with 65% blockage in one of her arteries and her doctor told her to take one Garlinase tablet and 100 mg of COq10 daily. Two years later all the blockage was gone. I started that three years ago and, again for me no blockage. Coincidence, black magic?).
This past spring has been very frustrating because of the lousy, long allergy season. The past two years I could ride outside in hilly terrain 22 miles a day averaging 12mph and hold 117 bpm for the several hours it took. This spring I couldn't even ride outside for the pain in my upper chest to the huge pollen count, and recent ozone level barely breaking 100 bpm before the ache. Only this week I've been able to ride past 110 bpm without discomfort. My Kurt Kinetic is getting a groove in the metal roller because of the usage. I recently joined Training Peaks to help with getting back to my previous level, and this past week bought and installed a power meter. Wrong decision! Now I see I'm even more aerobically challenged than before. I'm considering dropping the subscription. The graphs are pretty, but don't seem to be a benefit for the $20 monthly fee.
This thread is a wake up call because I've begun getting obsessive about training trying to maintain 500 miles a month riding four on, one off and reach the old level I had. As an engineer by education I enjoy noodling over details and figures. I'm not a Type-A; I have no desire to race anyone but as an over-achiever I tend to follow the "if some is good, more is better" mantra and get sucked in continually trying to improve. I'm still in the 115-120 bpm range but the above reading is a valuable caution to not obsess about continual improvement. What to do you think? 4x24 miles at 60-65% MHR and a day off?
Thanks, Rich