LaFlore

Yep, having a training induced low resting HR can be wierd at first. My first couple of years of racing, my resting HR got down to about 42. It's *not* low due to genetics, so that was a new thing for me initially.

I remember a couple of times sitting in a comfy chair, immersing myself in a good novel, when I got spooked by what felt like my heart skipping a beat. It didn't really skp beats, of course, rather my HR was so low that the beats felt more pronounced being spread further apart. LOL it actually scared me so I went outside and jogged around the block to get my heart rate back to "normal".

Back on topic of high vs low intensities.. I enjoy both. My high intensity rides are just plain better quality and faster, when I insert slower recovery days in between. Sufficient recovery is even more important with age. Also, IMHO it's easier to do a properly paced "easy" ride when you take the computer *off* the bike and stay in the small chainring.

Ron in Boise

roadbuzz

Good points, all. I have to sacrifice mileage for intensity/quality, to some extent, too. Amen on recovery. Takes longer, too.

Machka 

I prefer low intensity workouts. I don't think I have a fast-twitch muscle in my body.

Fortunately my cycling sport is long distance cycling . . . really long, long distances . . . and for that I need to be able to maintain a comfortable pace for hours (days), and that's what I appear to be built for and what I like doing!

Chris L

Alright, I haven't followed this thread too closely, but I'm having my say anyway. Personally I prefer a combination of the two. Normally my pre-dawn rides before work through the week are short and sharp and reasonably high-intensity. I might do the occasional high-intensity weekend ride, but normally I prefer to do a more relaxed pace and simply go for a longer distance.

Of course, sometimes on the weekend rides I might have spells of increased intensity (attacking a particular climb for example), but I tend not to worry so much about average speed on these things. My own view is that a combination of high and low intensity rides is the best thing to go for - even if I'm not a sprinter fit to lace Cipollini's boots.

fietser_ivana

It is a mistake to think that really long-distance cycling benefits most from long slow rides. Sure you need to have a base, but did you know that spinning was invented by a RAAM-cyclist? At least that is what I understand.
I alternate(d) hard spinning workouts twice a week with weight training (3x/wk) and still tend to ride fast to the gym and slowly back home.

Ivana

Guest

Keep in mind that even if Johnny G did qualify for RAAM, he never actually completed it. He created the spinning program and got lucky- it really came at a time when the exercise industry was pretty slow and boring. He was veeeeeeery lucky....

Koffee