Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
Well, since [MENTION=426467]rubiksoval[/MENTION] declared that Z1 rides were a waste of time I've stopped doing them, using VT1 rides in their place with probably better results. But yes, lots of zone 2 stuff, some weights, and higher zone work as necessary to have fun on group rides. One can do anything one wants as long as one monitors one's HR numbers and modulates training as necessary. Experiment. I'd say the bigger "danger" is doing too little, not too much.
Indeed. Recovery can happen while riding, and certainly happens when not riding. But if time is of the essence and fatigue is too great, then not riding is definitely a win/win.
Consistent progression and variety are key. If you want to get as fast as possible you can't go hard all the time and you can't go easy all the time.