Here's my plan for 2010. Those of you familiar with various popular training approaches will recognize this training philosophy and structure as Joe Friel's. I used a Friel plan in 2006, but that doesn't really count because I didn't start training for cycling exclusively until April 2006. So this will be my first full year on an Friel-based structure.
The most significant changes from my 2008 and 2009 plans are:
A greater emphasis on macroperiodization -- base1, base2, et cetera as shown below.
An increase from 425 training hours per year to 505 training hours per year.
A greater emphasis on weekly microperiodization (rest weeks following work weeks).
Re-introduction of strength training. I lifted for 10 weeks in winter 2007/2008.
Strength maintenance work throughout the season.
By May I'll know once and for all if Friel's philosophy works.
I'm pleased to announce that Georgia Cycling, Inc., formerly racing as Security Bank Cycling Team, will race in 2010 as Walthall Oil Company Cycling Team. We are excited about our new sponsor and can't wait to see how the new kits turn out.
I bought a Redline Conquest Pro cross bike last fall to use for winter dirt road training. We have a million miles of dirt roads in Jasper County. It's a size too big, but with a short stem it works quite well for winter training. But I havent' raced the bike until this past weekend in Macon.
The race was every bit as fun as I had been told to expect. The racing was crit-like intensity with a laid-back atmosphere. I loved it.
Here's a video Dan Coy made at the first barrier in the first lap in the CX4 race. I started at the back of the 63-rider group 'cause I had no idea what to expect and didn't want to pull a rookie move and create a big pile of 4s in the first turn. So I had to soft pedal a while while it thinned out. I think I was about 30 seconds back from the front group after half a lap! I come through in the video at about 23 seconds - notice my flawless form, particularly on the re-mount. I think that needs a little work, ya think?
Unfortunately my 2010 training schedule won't allow more of these this year, but I may have to shuffle things around to accomodate at least a short cross season next fall.
Here's the preliminary bike racing schedule for 2010 as discussed at the Georgia Bicycle Racing Association meeting on October 3rd:
Feb 13 - Tundra Time Trial - Rockmart Mar 6/7 - Albany (omnium/stage?) March 13/14 - Perry Roubaix Omnium March 20/21 - Union City Stage Race (new TT course) March 28 - Newton County TT April 10/11 - Chattanooga Stage Race (hilltop finish on 1-mi climb this year) April 17/18 - Sunny King/Cheeha(sp) RR April 24/25 - Twilight Criterium/Roswell Crit May 1 - Aarons 'Cross Crit May 2 - Sandy Springs Crit May 15/16 - Tour de Gaps Omnium - Dahlonega May 22/23 - Elberton (omnium/stage?) May 28-31 - Tour of Atlanta (TT and three RRs included) June 5 - Cherokee RR June 6 - Cycle for Parkinsons crit June 12/13 - Rome Stage Race July 10/11 - Gainesville Stage Race July 31/Aug 1 - Marietta ? August 21 - Macon Crit August 22 - Grant Park Crit
There will also be a time trial series with 8 or 10 events not listed here.