[CactusTri]

OK, when running, I know it is a bad idea for any single run to be too big of a percentage of your total weekly distance. Are there any guidelines on that for biking?<br><br>
My problem is that with shortened daylight and work requirements, I can only get 1-2 shorter bike rides in during the week, and want to get my long rides in on Sat/Sun. If I only do 45-90 min during the week, am I risking anything by putting in 6-8 hours on the weekend?<br><br>
I think not, since I have a pretty good base of biking and am pretty comfortable even after riding for 3-5 hours. Running is different because it puts more stress on your body. Am I right?<br><br>
Thanks

 

[jroden]

Yes, you are right and should be fine with that sort of schedule--maybe you take a half day every now and again during the week and get a couple hours in, but mostly do the quality on the trainer, do a couple solid hilly rides on the weekend and you should be in great shape comes April with most of your "base" type work in the bag. The key is to work hard on some long intervals during the week on the trainer, don't train like a runner and just doze along on the trainer.

 

[TheProFromDover]

Darn you jr, every time I have something to add, you edge me!<br><br>
So there you go. BTW, it's doubly annoying that you are in AZ. Your daylight problems are half as bad, and your temps are too. Just get some booties and get outside! I am amazed weekly when the temp here in MA is, say 10, and a group of bikers go up my street. Yikes.<br><br>
Anyway, I agree with jr, do what you can during the week, you will not hurt yourself with bigger weekend rides.<br><br>
Now what's on TV for this weeks basement ride? (oh wait, you don't have basements there do you?!

 

[CactusTri]

Only a couple problems with that. 1. I don't have a trainer. 2. The closest hill is about 45 min away (by bike) so I only see it when I go longer than 1.5 hours.<br><br>
Well, it is not the cold that keeps me in, it is the lack of daylight. AZ drivers seem to be particularly inclined towards mowing down bikers, so I only ride at night when a long ride gets away from me and I don't make it home before sunset. M,W,F are my swim days with my Masters group near work, so I can't ride in the morning those days, but I try either Tue or Thur to leave the house at sunrise or a little before and get an hour or so in and just go in to work a little late. It's easier to do that than leave "early" (after 8+ hrs of work) at 4:30.<br><br>
I think I will keep on doing the best I can and that is really all I can do. I'm not willing to part with $$$ to get a trainer and DW would not be thrilled with it anywhere in the house anyway. And since IMAZ in April is my A race this year, I am pretty much in the final push anyway. I figure that I am getting most of my time/distance in anyway, it is just a little different to do it a bit more stacked on the weekend.

 

[jroden]

Given that, you may want to let the turbo whine for part of your weekend long rides, perhaps an hour at tempo during the ride when you are still fresh, or some 10-20 minute surges.