‘The Time-Crunched Cyclist’ by Chris Carmichael

ju5t1n
ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
edited August 2010 in Training, fitness and health
Saw this among the Christmas gift ideas in this week’s comic. Anyone got a copy? Is it worth putting on my Christmas list?

Comments

  • jacster
    jacster Posts: 177
    See:

    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12661092
  • ballspondroad
    ballspondroad Posts: 181
    It depends on what you want. Tthe most important bit of the book comes at around page 38, because it's here that he tells you exactly what the method can achieve and what it can't. In about 6 hours a week, in sessions that are usually about an hour long, over 12 (?) weeks, it will develop your cycling so that you can perform at your best for about 3 hours. He also says that you are unlikely to be able to use the plan more than 3 times a year. For these reasons it seems that the training would be most useful for the time crunched cyclist who has a specific event he wants to complete. Of course, if you have no more than this time to train then even these three hours are better than nothing. If you have more time to train or different aims, then he advises you to use a training plan that develops a greater 'depth' of fitness. The 6 hour training plan is not a miracle substitute for traditional training.
  • drewfromrisca
    drewfromrisca Posts: 1,165
    Apologies for bumping up a VERY old thread but I've just got this, read few chapters and just got to the 'power-meter' bit and though "ah, I don't have said PM and can't afford to buy one!"

    Is further reading going to be a waste of time or can it be done without powermeters?

    If it can't then it's for sale £8 posted :lol:
    There is never redemption, any fool can regret yesterday...

    Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I have the book and having waded through all the waffle I'm about to start the training for 'new century'

    No power meter; I have a £10 heart rate monitor. Apparently it's the next best thing. Hardest bit was finding a hill round here that would take 8 minutes to cycle up in order to do the continuous field performance test!
  • ded
    ded Posts: 120
    Is further reading going to be a waste of time or can it be done without powermeters?
    No you can still use it, keep reading if you've managed to get through the waffle! I've used it with a HRM and it's OK, even though many of the descriptions are power-biased...
  • velvetytoast
    velvetytoast Posts: 161
    You don't need a hill for the continious performance test - did mine on the back road between isleham and prickwillow - pan flat but did the job.

    I enjoyed the book - read it cover to cover - but didn't go with the training plans but have mixed up some of the ideas with the normal training just to make things interesting!
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    started working on this recently without a power meter - HRM is fine.

    The field test is best done on flat for 8 mins x2 he says, and the results have been spookily accurate for me. The SS interval pace is just spot on for longer interval efforts and even though several of the HR zones are quite narrow, they really get the correct 'feel' as well. I hope the results will show up as I start some CX racing later in the year :)
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Shows I wasn't paying attention!

    For some reason I still find it easier to push myself up a hill than on the flat though.

    My brother-in law lives in Isleham!

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