How Hard Does Your Training Need to Be? | Unbound Gravel Prep | TPC

Have you tried sticking to an intense structured training plan and then fallen off the wagon? Bruce has, many times. Now, he’s adopted an easier training strategy: Just ride your bike… A LOT. He explains why achieving good riding consistency is a simple and solid training strategy for normal people with busy lives and gives us his simple and low-stress 3-part plan to prepare for Unbound Gravel.
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0:00 Are we gonna need a montage? No?
1:22 The one simple secret to improving
3:06 An “easy” Unbound “training plan”
5:46 How to build your riding volume
8:00 Recovery is just as important
11:38 Who is this for?
12:31 When should you get a coach?

[@jeffermc99]

I felt the same way when attempting to go with a structured plan after I was cured from cancer in 2018. Bought a road bike from TPC and then bought a gravel bike from them, too. Started to get burnt out on my training plans and hours of structured hard riding. I finally stumbled across Dr. Stephen Seiler, who goes into great detail of training like the pros. 80-90% of your riding should be at an easy and enjoyable pace, 10-20% should have much more intensity. This has worked wonders for me and brought back my love of cycling. I did Unbound last year, and I'm swapping it up this year and doing The Dead Swede in Wyoming this year. Same day, June 1st. Thanks TPC for great deals and good content!!

[@azolyak]

Certified Normal Person who trained for a multi day bike tour trip last year with infrequent high intensity training, and Unbound 200 this year with more frequent less intense training. The training I've been doing for Unbound this year has been massively more productive.

[@MrWickedsmaht]

Great pointers here. It’s also like having a support group. He shares so many of the challenges any cyclist in training faces.

[@mediumrick7667]

5x1>1x5. Good advice that took me years to realize. I used to beat myself up if I was going out for less than 3-4 hours.

[@saxon1376]

Really enjoying this series

[@donwasinger6654]

Good luck at Unbound! Hope to see a video of how it goes!

[@dennisviquez7636]

Thank you so much some pretty solid advice on hours ridden vs Miles. I am preparing to do the Mammoth tough at the end of September and I have a smaller gravel bike race in Elko Nevada in June. Like what you’re saying about being consistent getting the hours and balancing life out. And recovery is so very important. Great series of videos on you getting ready for unbound thank you so much.

[@felixjackson2670]

EXACTLY what I do..try to get out every morning..so 5-6 times a week. Works for me. One tough ride per week if pos.

[@michiganstate149]

Your strategy is sound and works for a lot of people and scenarios. Having done a more structured plan, I did get faster and stronger, but maybe only 10-15%. The expense there was more time and stress to make sure you hit your calendar, plus the actual cost of the coach and Trainer Peaks/Trainer Road. Summary: keep is simple unless you are really really chasing the pointy end of a race or you have the time and money to go "all in" with structure. Love the videos!

[@TimothyM]

Amazingly down to earth training tips. Very much motivates me to put these tips to use and find my own balanced fitness consistency !

[@mongoliansheepfarmer1097]

Refreshing training advice 👍

[@hawkeye5035]

The book "Why We Sleep" by Matt Walker PhD is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand what and how to effect this critical aspect of wellness and aerobic performance!

[@pablom9137]

Hello which tires you recommend for unbound????

[@timtaylor9590]

mountain bike tires

[@pablom9137]

@@timtaylor9590 my bike is a Specialized Crux, which tire of gravel you recommend

[@richardmarzec9136]

Fat bike tires. 5 psi

[@theproscloset]

Check out our second episode for this series! th-cam.com/video/yZLaWYjUoYg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=DiWDfXSsequcEY3F

[@davehause8571]

Do you even Tro Bro Leon?

[@saxon1376]

👍

[@timtaylor9590]

if the goal is a 200 mile race then do 200 mile training rides on similar courses.

[@pandatactical4530]

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@timtaylor9590]

@@pandatactical4530sorry don't take my advice I train with Keegan, were not humans like you guys were aliens with different types of bodies. Of course you need to work your way up but you can't keep noodling around with the same volume and intensity. So the goal is upping the volume and intensity there is not limit to that 200 miles plus. Cycling is the only sport I know where ppl promote not simulating race day. Basketball players practice longer than games they practice more shots than they would in a game, gymnasts practice moves they would do in competition thousands of times. Imagine a gymnast trying a double flip in competition when they've only ever done single flips in practice. Listen, if you don't have time to train for a big race don't do it. Train for a smaller race. I bet you're expectations will be met more times than not. There's no reason to set yourself up for failure.

[@pandatactical4530]

@@timtaylor9590 All great points if you are a pro and you guys are awesome. However most of us mere mortals can’t handle that kind of training load especially us old guys so we do what we can and try to finish as fast as we can. I have put in over 4K miles since January with one long ride per week, however, nothing over 150. Rode the Unbound 100 last year and am going to tackle the 200 this year hope to see you in Emporia. Good Luck! 🚴‍♂️