The problem with August
 

I've had my most enjoyable rides over the last week in terms of feeling strong, being able to climb and being able to keep the pace high when I've wanted. This seems to happen every year. I struggle from May to August. While other "peak" at earlier points in the season, I tend to peak toward the end of the season in August. My fantasy is to feel this strong from April to October, but I know I won't put in the work to make that happen. OK, so I guess the probem isn't August, it's me. When do you tend to peak, if at all?

Generally May and September.

I've been trying to stretch out the better parts, sort of fill the valleys and flatten the peaks if you will. This year I've had really good odd-numbered months, and the even-numbered months have been sort of meh. Although in the heat of last month I felt off, and I'm feeling on again now that it's cooled off in August. So who knows?

For me it depends on how much I ride. Last year I averaged 50 mi. a week and I'm not sure I ever "peaked." This year I'm averaging 100 mi. a week and am getting better every ride but have not peaked yet. (I hope). I'm guessing I will keep improving until the season is over.

In previous years I tried to plan my peaks with two centuries I did in July and September. I was a year round winter commuter and in the winter I did a base mileage of about 70 miles/week, just as a simple commute. In about April, I started a 10-week Century training program published in Bicycling magazine. By that time of year, the early mornings were temperate enough to comfortably add distances to my commute, and do long Saturday rides. Over those ten weeks the miles increased incrementally up to about 190/week. The July (or June) Century in two previous years has been the Fifty-Plus Annual Ride. Afterwards I drop back to about week 6 of the schedule (about 160 miles).

The second Century is a local charity ride in late September, so I would ramp up my training in early September to be at week 10 for the Century. Afterwards, I soon cut back on my mileage to about about 70/week for late fall, and winter. A usual downfall though is that in September my job workload increases, and it becomes difficult to find the time to train according to the Training Schedule. That September Century then becomes a “sufferfest,” and it's prudent to cut back afterwards. :o

Peak??

I guess I just sort of feel a bit stronger as the riding season progresses. I wonder what the folks in the warm states will state about peaking.

Floridians, Arizonians, So Californians and others - ??

August and September or the most reliable for me. My established cycling base miles of 500 miles per month is supporting faster and longer rides.

Cooler mornings help me avoid extreme heat and sun. I'm always fastest below 80f.

I'll train indoors again this winter, twice a week should be enough to help me avoid a total loss of cycling fitness.

I'll also ride outdoors, year around. Two of my bikes have fenders installed. Moderate rain in mild or warm weather is not an issue.

During January, February and early March, I'll keep studded tires on one bike. Another bike will have small-block knobby tires for winter days when studs aren't needed.

Last year I never needed studded tires.

Since I stopped racing I stopped worryng about peaking. I just ride as opportunity presents itself. I had a couple of double centuries in California in May, so I guess I peaked there, but since then it's been largely 300-400 km per week just riding. It helps to have a 20-km ride to work in the morning, and then the long way home, usually 30 to 40 km. So most weeks I've got about 15 hours on the bike (that's just time spent moving, according to the computer). I will be ramping up a bit for some rides in late September: the Viva Bike Vegas right after Interbike, followed a week later by my third Cali Triple Crown ride (Knoxville).

The warm weather also helps with the mileages. And I've been able to ride without fenders for the past several weeks. But I think I'll have to put the fenders back on tonite (they are those race blades that attach with the rubber straps, the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's a good idea to attach mudflaps to them). Rain on Wed and Thu, then back to sunny days on Friday! Oh, yeah, part of the reason for the high mileages (just about at 12,500 km on just the fixie for the year) is riding thru the rain. As I always say, if you want to ride a bike in the Pac NW, you have to enjoy riding in the rain!

Luis

I live in one of those year round riding states and for me it is more like a radio wave. I start doing centures in February, March and April. So I tend to feel stronger and in better shape by February and can hold on till July before slowing down.

It used to be May/June but now I have flatlined!

Too hot for me.

I have been hibernation for three weeks.

My last few rides have been stronger than earlier in the summer. Guess I too start to peak at this time of year. The downside is that while my body gets stronger my mental attitude starts to decline in anticipation of winter and riding the trainer in the basement. While in Spring there is that happy feeling of months of good weather ahead, at this time of year (back to school ads, fall flower ads, etc. etc.), its hard to have the complete enjoyment and optimism I have in Spring, even though I might be not as fit then.

What is this "peak" you speak of? I'm not sure I've ever experienced it.

Not sure about peaking but my better commuting home times are in Aug. Maybe that's due to the nice and cozy warmth we have in the valley of the sun. Or could the young scantily clad female joggers have something to do with it? :) I dunno.

I can easily ride year round here in NW Florida, I am including a peak period this year in late October, for a metric century. I may stretch the peak out a bit if there is another ride I can make in November or December around here. I liked to have peaks in September through November when I was doing more rides in the late 79's and early 80's. Now I am mainly trying to ride every day and build a base that will support the peak in late October.

Bill

my training of all sorts always and ironically winds down in the summer. I have more time off and enjoy the hard work I put in all year long. then in the fall its hard to get started, and the winter months are challenging but I'm proud then, and the spring is a sprint to the summer and I feel great cuz I'm light years ahead of everyone else who is starting to workout for the summer bathing suit season.

The real problem for me with August is that that's when all the bikes are on sale and N+1 becomes inevitable.....or N+2.

If you ride for life fitness, and not smaller goals, there is no seasonal decrease. When I was riding a lot, the only problems I had were with seasonal allergies (mostly spring). Other than that, no downtime or seasonal downturn. It got me to the point where I was starting to get irritated with getting dropped by Cat II's. If I'd been able to keep riding as much, maybe I'd be getting irritated with Cat I's by now. Oh well...

Each year seems to have its ebb and flow. As to cycling, August was my peak last year, as I started training with my wife for her first long ride. I'd been riding extensively, so the time spent with here was barely almost maintenance. But that was my first riding season in almost 25 years.

This year, I actually burnt out a bit. Learned the hard way that riding as hard as I can every single ride, with what might have been an unreasonable goal for my second season, just didn't work well. I've taken the last two weeks off, partly because of travel and partly because of just needing a rest. Really looking forward to getting home and getting back on my bike, and hoping to put some good quality miles in before the rain starts.

And in response to a responder - living in the PacNW doesn't mean you like to ride in the rain, it just means that you learn to do it. Every year you have 9 solid months to practice...