This is a windtrainer session that is great for developing your specific cycling strength which will help you ride hills and in big gears. Although targeted at Half Ironman or Ironman 70.3 triathletes it will also benefit other triathletes, mountain bikers, and road cyclists too.
Each Wednesday I’ll post a Windtrainer Workout 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.
This session is inspired by a workout of Emma-Kate Lidbury’s published by 220 Triathlon Magazine. the original article can be found here.
Emma-Kate’s Strength Booster
- 10min Level II WU;
- 8min Build:
- 2min 70rpm Level III,
- 2min 75rpm Level III,
- 2min 80rpm Level IV,
- 2min 85rpm Level IV;
- 10x
- 2min Level IV 55-60rpm,
- 30sec Level III 100rpm,
- 30sec Level II 100rpm RI;
- 10min Level II CD;
- 10min Stretching
The Warm Up (WU) should be done at an intensity that is steady but not overconsuming at Level II for ten minutes.
The next set effectively extends the Warm Up (WU). This set takes eight minutes to complete and every two minutes we increase the effort and the cadence. Starting off at 70rpm and at about 70% (Level II) for two minutes. The next two minutes is now at 75% (Level II still, but maybe getting into the bottom end of Level III) and ride at a cadence of 75rpm. The remainder is all at Level III, with the next two minutes at about 80% and 80rpm, before finishing off at 85% and 85rpm.
The Main Body is made up of ten reps. Each rep is effectively 2:30min long with the first two minutes done at Level IV at a cadence of 55-60rpm, for the next 30 seconds decrease the intensity slightly to Level III but increase the cadence to 100rpm by spinning more. Hold this cadence of 100rpm for the Rest Interval (RI) at Level II for 30 seconds.
The Cool Down (CD) is at low intensity (Level II) for a minimum of ten minutes.
Finish with 10 minutes of stretching to assist with the 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.
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