The best training bible/book

[Indurain]

I've seen a few opinions floating around re: training bibles.
I've heard that Joe Friels Cyslists Training Bible is a little old school, but still useful.
I've heard good reviews about the book "Racing and Training with Power Meters" 2nd Edition.

So, while I know there will be varying opinions, what is the general consensus about which book/bible offers the best training tips for a variety of Road racing formats ie. Timetrialling, Sprinting, Climbing, Criteriums, Single Road races and Stage racing, etc.

 

[Martin318is]

It depends upon what stage in life you are, what level you ride at, and what commitment you can give to your training.

In my earlier years I used Friel's book to plan out a few consecutive seasons and whilst it went reasonably well, I only rode about 60% of my planned kms for whatever reasons (mainly lack of dedication).

Last year I used the Carmichael book for the time crunched cyclist. I found it really good for getting me back up to speed to race summer crtis (now I am late 30s have kids and serious job) BUT I ended up injured from too much high intensity with no external supervision to notice I was causing a strain injury to my ITB.

In neither case am I blaming the book involved, just saying that they have the advantages and their limitations. Can you give us more detail of what you want to get out?

 

[Indurain]

40yrs old. 100kg's but dropping. I have 5 children. Start work at 8am, so need to be there by 7.30am. If I want extra miles I have to wake up real early. My wife likes me home asap after work (25km each way = 50km for the day). Race Saturday mornings, wife wants me home asap, will sometimes ride at 5am for a few hours before race. No riding on Sundays at all. B/C grade rider. So I guess I'm timecrunched. But I would like a book that gives good training plans for both the timecrunched and those with plenty to give (even if it is only for knowledge).

 

[brianf7]

40yrs old. 100kg's but dropping. I have 5 children. Start work at 8am, so need to be there by 7.30am. If I want extra miles I have to wake up real early. My wife likes me home asap after work (25km each way = 50km for the day). Race Saturday mornings, wife wants me home asap, will sometimes ride at 5am for a few hours before race. No riding on Sundays at all. B/C grade rider. So I guess I'm timecrunched. But I would like a book that gives good training plans for both the timecrunched and those with plenty to give (even if it is only for knowledge).

You forgot to mention the chores that your wife has lined up when you get home.

Joe Friel has a couple of good books they are old and dated but he still gets down to basics of the average guy who works for a living with family commitments.
and a wife that is a slave driver.
Now that we have GPS on Garmin my wife can check when I am near home so she knows when to put the coffee on.

 

[Roland Rat]

Now that we have GPS on Garmin my wife can check when I am near home so she knows when to put the coffee on.

How do you do that? Do they have a tracker on the Garmin website? (I have a 705). I like the idea of someone being able to see where I am when I go training on my own down pitch-black country lanes in the winter.

And so that she knows when to put the kettle on!

 

[masking_agent]

this used to be my bible back in the mid 80's. Many topics still relevant today.

http://www.amazon.com/Greg-lemonds-complete-bicycling-Perigee/dp/0399515941

 

[Martin318is]

40yrs old. 100kg's but dropping. I have 5 children. Start work at 8am, so need to be there by 7.30am. If I want extra miles I have to wake up real early. My wife likes me home asap after work (25km each way = 50km for the day). Race Saturday mornings, wife wants me home asap, will sometimes ride at 5am for a few hours before race. No riding on Sundays at all. B/C grade rider. So I guess I'm timecrunched. But I would like a book that gives good training plans for both the timecrunched and those with plenty to give (even if it is only for knowledge).

Yep I hear ya! very very similar story (although I am a lot heavier and have only 2 kids).

I know what you are saying about the timecrunched program too. It works if you have 6 to 8 hours a week available. If you try to do more while on it you will wreck yourself. In my case, I was also using the bike to commute 10km each way to work - and I was doing so waaayyy too hard given the interval training I was doing in my lunch times.

That said, a lot of what is in that book beyond the outright 12 week schedule is quite interesting and valuable training information. I have actually built myself a revised plan building upon what is there.

 

[usedtobefast]

this book is still quite good too. Eddie B.
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Road-Racing-Complete-Competition/dp/0941950077

 

[bridgeman]

this book is still quite good too. Eddie B.
http://www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Road-Racing-Complete-Competition/dp/0941950077

I still have mine!

 

[Darryl Webster]

My prefered training manual is Agonistic Cycling, printed in 82.
Despite its age theres referance to power meters!

Hard to find and it seems highly valued..heres a copy on E Bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AGONISTIC-CYCLING-EDIZIONI-LANDONI-ITALY-HARDBACK-RARE-/300484701021

 

[cawright1375]

I use two books:

1. Weight Training for Cyclists
2. Racing Weight

Both are published by VeloPress. The first is pretty obvious as to what it covers and it has a wide range of exercises using weights and core/ stability balls.

I just finished Racing Weight a few weeks back and while it wasn't a revelation it was perhaps the best book I've read about getting lean, in that it presents the information that you need in a different manner that is directed more towards the non 160 lb rider that often seems to be the standard in these types of books. Rather the author looks at how much exercise you are doing and when and what to eat to fuel yourself. The focus also isn't so much on pounds but on percentage of body fat. Aside from a fitness test that is designed to show how getting lean improves performance there isn't much in the way do this and don't do that. There is also a chapter on supplements as well as the usual recipes. The book because it features a variety of endurance sports also has a food journal from various endurance athletes to show what the pros eat.

The only cons about the book is the shilling for Training Peaks and Accelerade, although I admit to be being curious about how well the Accelerade mix works.

Check 'em out if you can, my synopsis does not do it justice. It really is a great and informative book.