Riding at or around your Threshold will bring up both your ability to sustain high-intensity effort (as well as your suffering). Combine that with riding both in and out of the saddle will use different muscles and alter the training stimulus received. This session is great for triathletes, and road cyclists. It can also be beneficial for mountain bikers, especially for events that are about an hour in duration such as a 40km Time Trial or the bike leg of an Olympic Distance Triathlon.
Each Sunday I’ll post a Smart-Trainer Session that you can do in about 60 minutes to enhance your cycling. See a previous post about training intensity (Levels) to know how hard to work. If you are working directly with Coach Ray he will in most cases prescribe either a Power Zone or Heart Rate Zone to work within if you are training with these tools.
The inspiration for this session comes from a workout in an article by Marc Evan in the January 2008 issue of Triathlete Mag.
Seated, Standing Threshold
- 10min WU Level II;
- 4x 60sec Level IV Cad 75rpm, 60sec Level II Cad 100 RI;
- 6x 30sec Build to Level V, 75sec Level II RI;
- 4x 6min Level IV (stand for minute 3 & 5), 2min Level II RI;
- 10min CD Level II;
- 10min Stretching
Start the workout with a ten-minute Warm Up (WU) riding at Level II.
The session commences with a couple of primer sets. Start with four, 60-second reps at Level IV riding at a cadence of 75 rpm. Take a 60-second Rest Interval (RI) after each rep at Level II riding at 100 rpm.
The second set is made up of six, 30-second reps where you build your effort to Level V over the 30 seconds. Then ride for 75 seconds at Level II for your Rest Interval (RI).
The main set is made up of four reps at Level IV for six minutes. Stay seated initially, but then in the third and then again in the fifth minute stand up out of the saddle. Ride for two minutes at Level II for your Rest Interval (RI).
Complete a Cool Down (CD) for ten minutes at Level II.
Finish with ten minutes of stretching to assist with your recovery.
If you would like further advice feel free to contact me.
I am the Head Coach & Director of Qwik Kiwi – Endurance Sports Consultant.
I specialise in assisting first-timers and recreational athletes to achieve their sporting goals. I can be contacted at coachray@coachray.nz and 021 348 729. Make sure you sign up for my informative newsletter.
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Do this workout with the Qwik Kiwi Squad Today
Do this workout today with the Squad. Riding this session will be held every two hours within our Velocity platform.
http://app.vqvelocity.com/join?a=rhs956
Sign up for a full 14-day FREE trial and get complete access to ALL On Demand and Replay workouts (as well as the opportunity to join in on Live workouts when they are being held).
Simple as 1, 2, 3
- Click this link and enter your details including FTP and weight (no cheating).
- Select “Full Access Membership” and click on “Seated, Standing Threshold,” then “Start this Workout.“
- Connect your trainer, power meter, and/or heart rate monitor (make sure they are disconnected from your trainer app, Zwift, Rouvey, etc… first), then come ride with us.
http://app.vqvelocity.com/join?a=rhs956
Download the Garmin (.FIT) and Zwift (.ZWO) files for this workout for FREE
Get my 12-week Faster 40km TT Training Plan with 25% off
As you work your way through this training programme you’ll enhance your ability to ride a solid and consistently fast average speed for 40km.
Designed for Intermediate cyclists and triathletes who want to improve their Time Trialing ability. This plan is to prepare you to COMPETE 40km TT at a higher level than you previously have.
Starting anytime, this plan progresses through phases to build you to your peak performance. Each week contains three-four cycle sessions that will have you riding at your best. To follow this plan you will require a Power Meter.
When purchasing, use the discount code “web25” to claim your 25% discount.
Prior to using this plan, you should be able to ride comfortably for 2 hours.
Purchase of this plan gives you access to my fortnightly coaching calls where you can ask me any training or racing-related questions.
Prior to using this plan, you should be able to ride non-stop for 60 minutes.
Purchase of this plan gives you access to my fortnightly coaching calls where you can ask me any training or racing-related questions.
When purchasing, use the discount code “web25” to claim your 25% discount.