Of course training has become more intense/hard days have become harder. But programmed rest periods have also become more frequent, and Zone 2 riding has replaced much of the time formerly spent riding in higher zones.

Anyone who owns a smart trainer and has subscribed to a sophisticated trainer software program such as Xert can get a glimpse of how state-of-the-art feedback-based training is conducted.

I used Xert for four months a couple of winters ago. For the first several weeks, I actually thought the software was giving me too easy a program, because I was used to doing much harder workouts on the road.

But I stuck with it, and the software gradually ramped up the workouts for the hard days, to the point that I was grateful for the easy days. By the time spring arrived, my FTP had increased by 17 watts.

Doesn't sound like much, but I was already pretty fit when I started with Xert, having ridden around 16 to 20 hours a week throughout the summer and fall. All I'd hoped for was to maintain my fitness level, so I was surprised that it had improved, especially given that I'd just turned 72.