QUESTION: I have a 58-mile cycling tour in a couple of months. Two years ago I barely finished in the “platinum” group by riding it in just under two-and-a-half hours. Now the organizers have lowered the platinum time to 2:20, an average of 25 mph. How can I train in the next 8-10 weeks to…
QUESTION: In a report I saw, five different interval programs were studied, ranging from 4 8-minute intervals at race pace with one-minute recoveries to 12 30-second hard intervals with long recoveries. The conclusion suggests using the 30-second interval program in the final three-week tapering period before a time trial. This approach is unique compared to the…
QUESTION: I’m 45 and have been riding for 12 years. I recently did a 25-mile time trial and improved last year’s time by 2 minutes. My average heart rate was 184 compared to my maximum of 205. Did I do my best? Should I use my heart monitor during competition? — Steve J. RBR REPLIES:…
QUESTION: I calculate training zones by percent of max heart rate. I’ve started a new program, and I’m not sure how much longer I can endure the daily pain. For instance, I’m doing 20-minute intervals at 90-93% of max heart rate. That’s higher than I time trial in competition. So I’m wondering if my training…
QUESTION: My wife thinks that with the time we spend on our long rides (6-8 hours), always including the strongest sun of the day, we should be putting sunscreen on underneath our jerseys. There are very few cycling jerseys that explicitly list the ability to filter UVA/B rays. Should we be coating our upper backs…
