Question: I’m confused about long early-season rides. Should I include intervals and other hard efforts during this training? — Paolo H. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: During long rides in late January and February, it’s fine to bump up the intensity occasionally. But doing specific interval workouts isn’t necessary. Let your intensity increase naturally on climbs…
Question: I’m confused about the physical effects of base training at 70-80 percent of maximum heart rate. I’ve heard that while in this zone our bodies are building capillaries that supply muscles with blood and nutrients for the harder efforts later in the season. Further, we should avoid any hard efforts in winter, such as…
Question: I purchased a PowerTap power meter last year and have been training inside with watts all winter. This has included 3-4 workout per week ranging from 90 minutes to 2 hours, mostly hard intervals. My power increased for the first 6 weeks but then plateaued. Recently, it’s taking much more effort to generate the…
Question: Is it better to wear leg warmers on a cool day or coat my legs with some type of oil or embrocation? — Keith L. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: I’m a fan of warmers. I think fabric does a better job of holding in heat. There’s a mess factor, too. Greasy stuff on legs invariably collects…
Question: Last summer I guzzled four bottles on a hilly 75-miler. I just rode the loop again for the first time this year—in the cold—and drank only one bottle. Does cooler weather have that great an affect on fluid needs? Or was I just not drinking enough? — Steve S. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: No,…
