Originally Posted by
force10
Can you share how you arrived at this belief? I have the same max hr as you but I would hardly get anything done at all at 120 bpm. That is a recovery ride for me - I'd be putting out something like 150-60 watts.
I'm far from the most informed, but my understanding is that bpm in the 130's are still considered within Zone 2 (for this max HR). My usual harder rides average in the upper 140's with a peak in the upper 160's (typically over ~3 hours). I'd like to know if I am overlooking data about training accumulating in and unhealthy way.
Thanks.
Training is very simple in one way:
endurance riders who train the most hours in a sensible fashion will be the strongest riders, all else being equal. Thus how one trains is dependent on the hours available. The limit is the same no matter how many hours one puts in recovery. It's therefore easy to see that the most successful riders will train at least 20 hours a week. To do that, they mostly train at low intensity with limited hours of high intensity. The rider with limited hours will put in more time at high intensity in order to reach their own recovery limit. Given equal physiology, the rider who rides 250 miles/week will always beat the rider who rides 100 miles/week - as long as they are both pushing their recovery limits. 20 hours of just zone 1 in a week is not easy.