Creating your Own Training Plan

With full knowledge of your non-cycling commitments and availability to train/race it can prove surprisingly easy and beneficial to create your own training plan.

We've provided a basic guide to completing this process below.


..........................................................................................................

Define a Target

Take a look at the Track Cycling event calendar for the forthcoming season and pick out the one event that you'd really like to perform well in. This could be a National Championships, Continental Championships or even a World Championships. Alternatively you could target a season long competition like overall victory in a weekly Track League competition etc.


..........................................................................................................

One Peak Season

If you are looking to target just one event, it is fairly easy to work back over a specific period such as one year from your event in order to target peaking. Use our guide to training periods to plan out your season.


..........................................................................................................

Multiple Peak Seasons

It's fairly common for riders to work off a training plan that aims to provide two or three targets, for example a National Masters, European Masters and World Masters. Again you'll still need to prioritise which event you'd like to perform best at, however depending on the length of time between each target there is no reason to sacrifice your performances elsewhere.

Weeks - If you only have a few weeks in-between your peaks fill the time with Recovery Periods and Speed Training.

One-Two Months - There are many options, you could start with a week of active recovery rides mixed with some in-season base training, before starting a compacted Power Training period prior to Speed, Taper and another Peak.


..........................................................................................................

Track League/Weekly Peaks

If your season is centred around winning or performing well at your local Track league you'll want to ensure you are top form all season on the night of your racing.

If you have a Winter and Summer Track League it is possible to compete for overall victory in both, however make sure you complete a period of base training in the time between the end of one Track League season and the start of the next.

During your racing season if you separate your weeks out into the training phases we have outlined you can structure them towards each session, for example

Day 1 - Rest
Day 2 - Power Training
Day 3 - In Season Base (Endurance) Training
Day 4 - In Season Base (Endurance) Training or Speed Training
Day 5 - Speed Training
Day 6 - Active Recovery Session
Day 7 - Race Day

Some of us are even lucky enough to live close to two velodromes and can get in two weekly Track Leagues! Depending on the amount of days in between your race nights, you may want to try the following

Day 1 - In Season Base (Endurance) Training
Day 2 - Speed Training
Day 3 - Race Day
Day 4 - Active Recovery Session
Day 5 - Race Day
Day 6 - Rest
Day 7 - Power Training

Further advice can be found in our Training Periods and No Velodrome? No Problem sections.