Spending time riding at just above and just below your Threshold intensity will build your ability to ride at Threshold. Sweet Spot is a session that sees you riding alternatively slightly above and slightly below your Threshold. This session will help you develop that and is great for all cyclists including triathletes and mountain bikers.
Each Wednesday I’ll post a Wind 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. This weeks session is a bit longer.
The inspiration for this session comes from Alison Freeman of D3 Multisport. I’ve modified it a little bit. You can read the full article here. Last week I wrote about the same session but inadvertently left out part of the session.
Alison Freeman’s Actual Sweet Spot Bike Intervals
- WU
- 4min Level I;
- 3min Level II;
- 2min Level III;
- 1min Level IV;
- 3min Level II RI;
- 3x 1min Level IV 100+Rpm, 1min Level II RI;
- 3min Level II RI;
- 6x
- 30sec Level V;
- 2:30sec Level III;
- 2min Level II RI;
- 10min CD Level II;
- 10min Stretching
Start the workout with a ten minute Warm Up (WU). This Warm Up (WU) starts with a four minute at Level I, then three minutes at Level II, two minutes at Level III and one minute at Level IV.
After the Warm Up (WU) spend three minutes riding at Level II as Rest Interval (RI) before starting the main set.
Prior to the main set complete a set of openers riding at Level IV with a cadence of greater than 100 Rpm for three, one-minute repetitions. Follow each rep with a one minute Rest Interval (RI) riding at Level II.
Once the set of openers has been done, ride easily at Level II for three minutes.
The main set is made up of six reps. Start these reps with 30 seconds riding at Level V. The next two and a half minutes are ridden at Level III, preferably at the upper end of Level III. Then take two minutes riding at Level II as your Rest Interval (RI) prior to the next rep.
Conclude the intervals with ten minutes riding at Level II for your Cool Down (CD). The Cool Down in the original version of this workout is only two minutes long which like the warm up won’t be physiologically effective.
Finish with ten minutes 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 to my informative newsletter.
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If you enjoyed this workout, here is a similar session I published 12 months ago.
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