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Home > The Time-Crunched Cyclist: Fit, Fast, and Powerful in 6 Hours a Week (The Time-Crunched Athlete)
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The Time-Crunched Cyclist: Fit, Fast, and Powerful in 6 Hours a Week (The Time-Crunched Athlete)
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By Chris Carmichael and Jim Rutberg
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 (42 Reviews)
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Publisher:
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Velo Press
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Edition:
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Original
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Published:
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December 31, 1969 |
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Binding:
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Paperback
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Pages:
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256
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As cycling's popularity grows with men and women in their thirties, forties, fifties, and beyond, the traditional ideas about training for endurance sports need a new approach to reflect the daily challenges faced by parents and working professionals. In The Time-Crunched Cyclist, Chris Carmichael presents that new approach to cycling training. Using elements from the same program he designed for Tour de France winner Armstrong, this guide shows how to build competitive cycling fitness on a realistic schedule -- a schedule that fits into the busy lives of today's active middle-agers. Complete with training plans, case studies, nutritional guidelines, and success stories, "The Time-Crunched Cyclist" shows cyclists how to push the pace in the local group ride, have fun, and perform well in local races, or tackle a challenging 100-mile fundraiser ride without committing to a high-volume training program.
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Customer Reviews:
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Reclaim Your Identity, August 18, 2009
By J. Lynne (Boca Raton, FL United States)
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"The TCTP isn't about reclaiming your youth so much as it is about reclaiming your identity. Being a cyclist is an important part of who you are, and it's a lot easier to proudly identify yourself as a cyclist when you're good at it." [pg. 52]
Finally, a book that speaks to us "retired racers" who are in our late 30's and beyond, with a career, family, and obligations that do not lend themselves to 4+ hour training rides. Admittedly, the training plan is intense, but that's the point.
"Our relationship with our sport may have changed, but our desire to be fit, fast, and powerful hasn't diminished."
And how does he address that? By recognizing (finally) that all of the training plans out there do not lend themselves to the average athlete who wants to balance being an attentive parent and husband, a responsible employer/employee, and get in the training hours required to be competitive either in a race series or simply during intense weekend rides. His answer - high intensity, low volume, taper, recover, start over. Do no more than 2 to 3 cycles of this per year.
And his rationale -
"Initially I had a lot of trouble with the relatively short-term nature of the fitness gained using this program. Coming from the old-school mindset of endurance training, I struggled with the idea of a top-heavy training program that build high-end power without the deep aerobic fitness necessary to support it long-term. But for athletes with limited time to train, the alternative is sticking with old programs that can't possibly generate the fitness necessary to be a successful cyclist. Again and again I kept going back to the value proposition: Would you want to be really good for about 2 months at a time, even if it meant having to back off for 4 to 6 weeks before starting again? Or put another way: Do you want to be really good a couple of times a year or mediocre all year long?"
I only gave the book 4 stars because I have not tried the training program yet, but the fact that an internationally-recognized coach has finally put pen to paper to speak to the issues confronting the overwhelming number of athletes who fit into this category is worth the read alone.
39 of 47 people found the above review helpful.
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A Plan for the Masses, December 30, 2009
By Rhino C. (Oregon, USA)
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I started cycling again a few years ago after having ridden a bunch in high school and college. I had always ridden for transportation and a little fun on the weekends, but I started going on some group rides and found that I was pretty fast. So, I started riding with the "fast" guys. I made a lot of progress (got faster) two seasons ago without any specific training plan, and decided to try my hand at racing. So, I decided I needed to have an actual training plan. I read and tried to follow Joel Friel's Training Bible and made progress last season, but felt that there was something that wasn't quite right. I felt like the prior season had been much more beneficial. I was training smarter, but I wasn't progressing like I thought I should. The training often seemed way too easy. I read this book, and it all started to make some sense. I was rarely able to train more than 8 hrs/wk. When Friel's plan started calling for 10-13 hrs/wk, I just wasn't able to make it happen. I think I just wasn't stressing my body enough last season.
The TCTP (Time Crunched Training Plan) replaces volume with intensity, so you don't have to try to put in 10-12 hrs/wk. Based on my experience of the last two seasons, this should work.
The book is well written. He talks about making it short because he knows the readers are "time-crunched". I felt he could have shortened it a bit more, but it is way better than other books on training that are way too wordy. The three real life examples of CTS clients that have successfully used the TCTP are very motivational and effective as to how to use the plan.
I respectfully disagree with Peter Krogh's review that the book is only for century rider. I think he must have missed some of the book if it came as a surprise that you could be racing during the training plan. pg 5 - "Rutberg put Sterling on the TCTP six weeks before the start of the 2007 spring races in the Carolinas. He rode four times a week, never more than 7 hours total, raced four times in 8 weeks, and finished fourth, eighth, first, and third." pg 17 - "The TCTP is a high-intensity, low-volume training program that produces the fitness and power necessary to push the pace in local group rides and to be competitive in local and regional criteriums, cross-country and short-track mountain bike races, and cyclocross races." pg 17 - "However, there are limits....although the program lets Sterling race for the win, there's a reason he's focusing on the spring and fall series instead of trying to win races throughout the entire season." The book also goes on to detail Taylor Carrington's use of the plan to prepare to race Cyclocross Nationals and describes how he starts racing early in the plan to work on skills even though his fitness isn't very far along. Anyway, I don't get what Mr. Krogh is talking about.
At first read, I didn't understand what you are supposed to do in the 4-6 weeks between sessions. He explains it early in the book and calls it "Maintenance". It is so far in front of the actual plan that I had forgotten about it by the end of the book. When I went back through it, it was plain as day. The maintenance period should probably be briefly touched on again in relationship to the plans.
I'm looking forward to using the TCTP to prepare for the 2010 season. I've set it up to be peaking in April, July, and November. I wanted to write a review now because it is likely that I won't get back to it after I'm done racing next December.
Best of luck to all of you wanting to be "Fit, Fast & Powerful"
25 of 25 people found the above review helpful.
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 This Training Program Works. I have results., September 22, 2009
By Repoman (SF CA)
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I am a CTS client and fit into the "Time crunched" category. I am 43 and started biking later in life (early 30's). I have been involved in other competitive sports growing up, but when I started biking, I wanted to race. I was fortunate enough to hook up with a CTS coach and told him my work and family schedule. He said let's try something a bit different. I was a bit skeptical at first because I had read so many books on training and knew I did not have the 15 hrs/ week to devote to become a competitive racer. I gave this method a try and have put up some very good results because of it. I am no pro but on my way to a CAT 3 upgrade and recently won a NorCal criterium by soloing off the front for several laps. I have to say, the training really simulates the efforts that you put forth in criteriums or cyclecross. I also have been able to get a win in a road race by using this method. The book is a fairly quick and easy to understand read. If you don't have the time, you need to crank up the intensity. They just show you how to structure it. My first race of the season was in early April and last race was this past weekend, so it got me through the entire season.
23 of 29 people found the above review helpful.
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 Hello? Logic Editor? Hello?, September 21, 2009
By Peter Krogh (Nevada City, CA United States)
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This program purports to cater to everyone from exiled elite racers returning to the fold to weekend warriors who want to ride a century. I am of the former group, and, no offense, the difference between these two groups is vast in the extreme. That said, a lot of the principles offered, specifically wrt intensity load, correlate with my experiences over the years. My best years have not always been the ones where I had time to do a lot of structured base, but the ones where I (gasp) was forced to do 60-90 minute spin classes at high intensity.
That said, there is a tremendously massive gaffe at the crux of the story, and I can't believe Chris actually let this out to the publisher, or that the publisher accepted it. To wit:
On p.124-125, Carmichael charts out the 11-week program he's developed for the "Experienced Competitor." This part of the book is the "core" offering. Saturdays have structured intervals, Sundays have 2-3 hour group rides. So far, we've only been talking about using this program for TRAINING. I'm with you so far, Chris...
Then, on p.137 (in the FAQ section!!) Chris mentions that peak performance comes around week 8, and that I should have started racing at week 6. Hold on a second! Is this a training program that comes *before* a block of racing, or does it include the racing? The book reads like the latter until this point, then suddenly everything changes. Where do the races go back on p.124-125? Do they change the workouts on either side of the weekend? I'm so confused...
Then it starts to come clear... This book is NOT intended for an "Experienced Competitor." It is exclusively for the century rider. I feel punked.
Finally, it's an 11-week program, right? If you know you're not going to do it until February for example, how about a couple pages devoted to what you might want to be doing up until then? Just something from the 30k foot view you know.
16 of 28 people found the above review helpful.
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Not what I expected...., September 1, 2009
By dugirl (Idaho)
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I was hoping/expecting more actual workouts! This had a lot of information in it I already know so it was not that useful to my needs. I was simply looking for a bunch of sweet workout ideas for all types of biking terrain, distances, race types and so forth. It really didn't have much if any of that type of focus. It will sit on my shelf at the healthclub/office and perhaps a client could borrow it if need be? I won't be using it much..:(
9 of 23 people found the above review helpful.
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 Do Not Waste Your Money, August 31, 2009
By Middle Class American (Tampa, FL)
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DO NOT Waste Your Money: This book is all about the writer (and his products) and how great he thinks he is and his relationship with Lance Armstrong.
7 of 74 people found the above review helpful.
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Simple to follow, now to see if it works, August 21, 2009
By Johnnysfun (Houston, TX USA)
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Chris goes into a great deal of detail about the reason for and the theory behind this workout plan for those who still enjoy cycling but cannot dedicate more than a limited amount of time to training. Seems solidly based on experience and gives a plan for a number of different skill levels and goals for riding. Can't wait to see if it results in the fitness level I am looking for in my cycling.
6 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Someome thinks highly of himself, May 25, 2010
By Brent Kenreich
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The most common two letters in the book are TM. Chris, I understand you've had an amazing career and have a lot of knowledge to share. However, when you trademark every third word in the book it makes it impossible to read and the only thing you can really get from this book is that you really, really, really, like yourself
6 of 23 people found the above review helpful.
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 Still trying to figure out how to fit this into a racing schedule, October 19, 2010
By Michael C. Possehl (MN USA)
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This is the first book I've read on structured training. I've been racing for over 15 years with varied success. Now, with 3 kids and a career, I was excited to find a program to be get the most out of my limited time to train and race.
As others have noted, the book does waffle a bit on setting expectations. At one point it will talk about being able to get to a place where you are successful at a cat 3 racer (which is no small achievement) and then will provide an example of someone using the plan to compete in a national championship event. So, it does try to set realistic expectations (that you won't likely be racing at a professional level on this plan), but sets a broad range of what the limitations may be.
It was easy to follow and it did seem valuable that they included an 11 week training plan for different types of cyclists (exp racer, new racer,exp century rider, and new century rider). I also like the explanations about LT and the field test to calculate it.
However, as other reviewers have noted, it is not clear where racing fits into the program. During you 11 week plan, you can be racing, but it isn't clear how these are substituted for the prescribed workouts. Also, there is a required 6 week 'break' between 11 week blocks. However, it also wasn't entirely clear if you could race at all during that time (with lowered expectations), or if you should refrain from racing all together.
In summary, the book was valuable to gain knowledge of structured training and the plan can be used as a starting point for building a training plan. Unfortunately, it isn't entirely clear what kind of adjustments to the plan can be made without impacting the results.
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Does exactly as promised (even if you fudge a little), June 19, 2010
By Recreational cyclist (Washington, DC)
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I grabbed TTCC because I signed up for a metric century and was not in any shape to do it. When I started the program, I could do about 20 miles over roughly 1 hour of riding before I was done. I followed the program pretty closely, but sometimes missed the 1 or 2 midweek rides and was still able to complete my metric century in 3hrs and 15mins after 9 weeks.
What I really appreciated is that the book explains the method behind the madness. I changed my pedaling style to a higher cadence and was able to keep my lactic acid buildup to a minimum. I have focused on the using my heartrate as a gauge for effort and that made a huge difference.
My only point of disappointment was that I started gaining weight (especially around weeks 3-5) as I added muscle mass. It was discouraging, but I did see a change to my physique as my legs got bigger and my stomach got smaller. At week 9, my weight is down 5lbs from the start, but my body has changed and my clothes fit much looser, especially around the waist. This book won't make you drop pounds quickly, but it will make you quicker on the bike.
I was very impressed that Chris & Jim have been very responsive to questions i asked via Twitter ([...]) about the program. It is very unusual for an author to answer individual questions like that.
I have a friend who is training for a true century and I've already bought him a copy. I would recommend you pick up a copy, too.
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Quality Info, not sure I'm the Audience, December 12, 2010
By raspell (Memphis, TN USA)
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I enjoyed the book but felt it had flaws which possibly could be explained by my level. I've just started riding 3 times a week this year. I'm 57, one year removed from being nationally ranked in another sport and formerly nationally ranked in another sport. BUT, I'm an older, in-shape, beginner cyclist with no interest in racing. What does that really mean? It means I've spent my first year getting dropped by solid riders and enjoying every minute of it. But, take my information from that frame of reference.
From my perception, this book could have been written in 15 pages. The tenet of the book, "you don't have time so we're going to give you the secret to enjoy and be competitive even with as low as 6 hours of training a week. Ready? Train incredibly intense in intervals." OK, that's the secret. But there are 200 pages in the book as you have to have some bulk to make it a book to sell.
While I described the purpose of the book I will admit that this book has great discussion and other little nuggets of information that for a beginning cyclist like me were very helpful. So, while I'm somewhat negative on the book descriptor, I really enjoyed the book and learned quite a lot.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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The title is correct, October 20, 2010
By Mrchris42
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I'm currently on my second go-round at week 8 of pure unadulterated torture...
If you have limited time, this is a great workout, if you have endless time available for training, a higher volume workout will be more beneficial. The book is small enough to read in a few days, and big enough to give some good insight on the body's reaction to workouts and fuel intake. Just don't expect to have too much fun riding, the workouts are rather high intensity and you'll feel fatigued for a few weeks in the beginning (and jelly legs after workouts!). Although I like the high intensity workouts and feel like I get quite a bit in, in a short amount of time... The one thing I don't like is that how to incorporate this workout into a race series is left out and leaves you guessing.
About 6-10 hours a week in 4 days. Workouts usually are an hour or so of short intervals and rest periods, followed by 1/2hr to 1 1/2 hr of just regular riding (below threshold). 1 day a week is 120-150 minutes of regular riding, which you'll really appreciate ;)
The workouts seem to work well for racing up to 3 hours or so, and longer lower intensity rides. I've been racing CX this fall again and getting top 5 in CAT3 if I start in the front, and believe me I'm not gifted genetically. Not great placement(don't think I'd ever do well in CAT1-2 even with any amount of training), but not bad for training 6-8 hours a week. If you were given a V02 max higher than most, I think that you would have no problem racing CAT2 or MTB Expert/Pro upper-midpack.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Just What is Needed, April 16, 2010
By L. Miller
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This plan is exactly what is needed by amateur racers who dont have the money for individual coaching, and/or the time to put in high volume training. While the book is not high literature, is straight forward in its explanations and descriptions. I am in the second week of the program and can already see and feel improvment, I'll be sure to post an update of how I do in the race I am peaking for.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Awesome Book! A must have!, March 25, 2010
By Icabob Crane
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Thank you for renewing my love of cycling. As a working professional with 4 kids, each involved in a myriad of activities, finding the time to put in the hours that traditional training plans require is simply impossible for me. This is the perfect recipe for all of my needs. Absolutely awesome. A must have for all cyclists!
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Well-written and sensible, January 23, 2010
By teetch (Lakewood, Co USA)
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Very well-argued book. The thinking behind the plan is made very clear and all of Chris's comments are illuminating. I've read several training books and have been training systematically for 3 years. No other coaching book is so clear about its intents. I'll incorporate some of his suggestions into this year's plan.
The chapter on the actual training plans is somewhat confusing, dense and too short. I fthis is your first year training you're going to find it difficult to follow. minus one star.
Chris shills for GU nutrition products at every chance. Seems a bit strange. Go to CTS web page and find that GU are a CTS sponsor. Shameful. minus one star.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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A good book to start with, December 10, 2009
By Jason T. Nelson (Massachusetts)
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I'm 38 and have been cycling for 3 years and have never read a book on training. I found this book an interesting and fast read and a very good place to start. Chris does a very good job about explaining the science of this training method and makes it interesting with real life examples. I haven't started the program yet in earnest but have tried some of the work outs. I'm now reading his "Food for Fitness" now which is also very good and I recommend it, as this book only touches lightly on nutrition. I give it 4 stars just because there isn't a nice full page pull out or something to put next to the trainer as a reference on the wall (I've contacted him about this). Chris has a long experience in the sport and skill at explaining it in easy to understand terms which is likely why he's been so successful.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Well-written solution but the graphs are lacking, September 8, 2009
By Joel Biederman
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This is my first Chris Carmichael book, so I'm not sure how much of the material was already available in his previous publications. If you are truly time-crunched AND have experience following a training program, you can skip right to the sections on power testing, workouts, and the training program. My only real complaint is that the graphs are nearly unreadable. They seem to be printouts right out of CyclingPeaks WKO+ software, and they are not at all appropriate for printing. It is also a little difficult to tell how to incorporate racing into the program, but if you are experienced with a training program, you should figure it out. Only the next few months of cyclocross season will tell whether this program works!
3 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Real world bike training, October 19, 2010
By Dwaine
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You are obviously reading the words of a world expert with this book.
The information is concise, current and structured in a logical manner so that you are confident that his training method for 'time crunched' cyclists will work.
The training programs are tough but the amount of hours required is very realistic for the real world cyclist who has a full time job and family.
I recommend this book to anyone with the motivation to ride well and who is 'time crunched'. Isn't that all of us?
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellence-was there any doubt?, April 19, 2010
By Chicken Legs (SE Kansas)
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Once again Chris Carmichael brings us a jeweled lotus of a book for the non-professional bike racing enthusiast. The book is clear, concise, and delivers the goods. Do not make the mistake of thinking this program is easy just because of the limited time involved however. If followed appropriately, you will find yourself worn out most of the time. After just three weeks however, I found much improvement in my CTS field test. Im getting ready to race in a mountain bike event this coming weekend and cant wait to see the results!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great book, February 3, 2010
By R. Gade (Houston, TX)
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This book has a lot of great information. I am presently in the third week of the training and know I will be a much stronger and more confident rider in the end. The only recommendation I have is that you take notes while you are reading it. It takes some time to find information after you have finished. I am thinking of re-reading to get everything stronger in my mind and noting where important information is located.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Good book but a lot of waffle in between some great information, February 24, 2010
By Mianos (Sydney, Australia)
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The title of my review summarizes my opinion of this book. There is lots of good stuff but, for me, I find it all a bit disorganized and he seems to take too long to get to the point.
The book looks like it was written by different people from a range of long winded audio notes. The writing style varies widely and in many places is repetitive. Often different places in the book state differing ideas and values (such as workout timing and the period of the training), probably the result of parts being written at widely different times.
If this book was better written it could have been a modern training reference. As it stands it's still a worthwhile addition for anyone who has an interest in cycle training.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Plans are Solid, but lack details, February 15, 2011
By L. Lesser (Los angeles, ca usa)
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The science behind this message is well written out. The training programs look good, but the writing leaves you with a lot of questions on how to actually do the plan. The chapter with the actual plans is only a few pages long, with a paragraph for each type of workout. It needs an expanded FAQ section, answering questions like: what if you live near places where there are only hills? What if you need to take a break in the plan (vacation, child sick, etc.)? When should you race with the plan? The book alludes to these issues, but the writing is too brief to actually give you advice.
I like the concept, but the book could be better written.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Pretty good, January 1, 2010
By drummerboy (Texas)
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Simple and straight forward explanation of the concept. Just enough of the science of it all for the target of the book. It was a quick read and worth the time. I will change my training this year because of the book.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Just What I Was Looking For, June 24, 2011
By Lake Moultrie Rider
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I wanted to get faster on my bike by using a structured training program that fit my schedule. Chris Carmichael not only shows how to do this, be he also explains how it works.
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Faster at 50 than I was at 25, June 23, 2011
By Ken (MT)
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I have used base-training for years, but in my case it has been mostly baseless. One long boring workout after another. This system is much more exciting however- the workouts are challenging, the results are convincing, and the feeling strong and energized showed me that this system really works. I wish that there would have been something like this 30 years ago.
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Decent Book, April 25, 2011
By GG (Belmont,MA)
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A decent book with good information. This book is 100% for the masses, and offers a generalized approach to improving cycling performance. Some of the other reviews on this page lament at the lack of specificity within the workouts. Everyone has their own unique situation. Someone looking to derive a tailored program which meets their specific needs, or take into account the geography of their specific location, should hire a coach. As with any other workout, you need to test what works and what doesn't..Applied correctly, the concepts in this book will work for the vast majority of experienced and non experienced cyclists.
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A great training bible for the cycling enthusiast, April 12, 2011
By Stuffbuff
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Lot's of good info and clear explanations as well as directions and plans to put that information to use in improving your cycling performance and enjoyment in practical ways. I've read a number of training books, including Joe Friel's Cycling Past 50. Friel's book is good but IMO aimed toward more serious quasi-pro level training.
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Taking The Hunch Out of Time Crunched Training, March 5, 2011
By 1garyc
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If time is your enemy, then this is the training book for you. Chris simplifies the approach to cramming in all the training needed to perform at your best given time constraints. His approach is not without its required sacrifices to your personal life but they are few and necessary if you want results on a limited schedule. There's no middle of the night training involved here. Just the facts and the results if you stick to his plans and recommendations.
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Top book, January 21, 2011
By Limited Rider
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I bought this for my husband who, like myself, is a club cyclist. He's always complaining that he doesn't have enough time to train and this book outlines how to train effectively when you don't have a lot of time. He hasn't finished reading it yet but already one of our friends from the club has seen it and wants to borrow it.
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Very effective, real world training, January 6, 2011
By Gaff Man
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This time crunched training plan helped me dramatically improve my cyclocross performance. I've been riding CX for several years and have been a triathlete for 10 years, but I was typically a mid-pack CX racer in the Category 4 (beginner) fields. This season I won the state championship in the 45+ masters Cat 4 division and was typically near the front of open Cat 4 races. Chris Carmichael does a nice job applying elite-level training methods to those of us with limited time, with clear, concise explanations of the science and how to apply it in a way that's realistic for most of us. The plan is based on experience with a lot of amatuer and pro athletes, and it sure worked for me. I also found the nutrition, strength training, and racing tips useful. Highly recommended for any cyclist with 8 hrs or less a week of riding time during most of the year.
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Excellent book!, December 12, 2010
By annabelle (Virginia)
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This is an excellent book for those who don't have lots of training time. And Chris has made the book a short read also.
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Great information for cyclists with 6-10 hours per week, September 17, 2010
By Ben (San Antonio, TX)
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Finally a book for the rest of us who have only 6-10 hours per week to get on the bike. Excellent information and practical advice ranging from diet to technique. Criticisms: overly redundant. The training plans are almost an after-thought. Those things aside, I highly recommend this book.
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True to the title, August 4, 2010
By Big Kid (Bay Area, CA)
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This book is exactly what I was looking for. I have 3 kids and exercise can be tough to fit in. The suggestions in this book work perfectly for my hectic schedule. After the purchase of an indoor spin bike with a watt meter, I was ready to go. I am on week 3 of one of the books plans and love it. It also gives a great overview of exercise physiology and why he has you train the way he does.
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It worth the money, July 19, 2010
By William F. Turcato (Northville, MI)
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it provides a good understanding and guidance of the basics in nutrition and taining program. It is specific enough on how much carbohydrates to consume per your body weight and it has different training programs for levels of fitness.
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Very disappointed, August 2, 2011
By Benzer
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I was excited thinking I would see a good selection of workouts and was very disappointed. I'm a novice biker and this is based on training intensities and calculations which I'm not into at the moment. Also the programs are too compact and you have to figure out the codes. Basically a waste of money.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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The Road To Perdition, June 17, 2011
By Stephen B. Foskin (Midwest USA)
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There is no questioning Chris Carmichael's success as a pro and as far as I know he played straight up. The author suffers the usual infatuation with Lance Armstrong, a trust that may be misplaced as more and more evidence surfaces over Mr. Armstrong's enhancement endeavors, all of which he continues to deny. While the writing is average, if you can get past the Tony Robbins style self promotion, and typical smugness of the modern day personal trainer/coach then there is in fact some useful information here. If you are challenged for time then the training principals are effective and will make you stronger, fitter, and faster. Six hours is the 'bare' minimum though and you better be prepared to suffer to get results if this is all you have to invest. Those who can bring strict discipline to the training will do best and spend some time in the gym, even during the riding season, don't ignore core and upper body conditioning. Heavy squats once a week have helped me immensely. You have to pay special attention to diet, you won't burn through enough calories with this program to get and stay lean, especially if like a lot of us, your body wants to be heavy. Bottom line is 'it works' and I'm a better rider for it.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Haven't finished it yet..., November 13, 2011
By L. Aaron Dougherty (Kansas City, MO)
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...but this book has really got me jazzed about the possibilities for next season. As in all his books, Carmichael cuts to the chase; his writing is thorough but concise. I have a really low tolerance for hype and fluff, so this read is a wonderful rare thing to find. ANd I hate to be told stuff on faith of the author's expertise, he doesn't ask you to 'just trust' him - all the science is right there for you to mull over and consider. And you know he loves riding fast, you can just sense it in his writing and it becomes infectious, makes you want to suit up and go. I don't get all the criticism about his selling his coaching biz - he mentions it, of course, but only in passing as he cites examples that support the material he's presenting.
This approach also really seems to answer concerns I had about "The Ultimate Ride" - I never felt like I was getting where I should because - and it makes perfect sense now - I was only spending half the time necessary to make the program work. It's not like making half a recipe if all you want is fewer crepes (I just ate breakfast...). You train fewer hours but more intensely, because you[re naturally getting more recovery time between workouts.
So just get the book. You're not going to lament the 8 bucks spent - for a used copy, if you're cheap like I am.
-A
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Great, March 27, 2012
By Nes
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Great book and seller. Timely and as described! Will order from this seller again. Great insight to begginng cyclist that want to get fit and live actively but not necessarily to road race.
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Great info but a bit daunting for beginners, February 28, 2012
By Matthew (Brooklyn, NY)
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I commuted for years and finally bought a nice road bike last year. I loved it much more than i expected. Its fun to go fast! But my riding could use some structure.
I just completed the self assessment and i'm about to start the training program. Its a bit daunting to get started. The book is very dense with information, so much that it required rereading. And I'll probably reread it again. This is partially due to a flaw in the book - the information should be presented in the order that its going to be used. perfect example: another review references the maintenance period being explained before the training program
still, you're not going to get this info anywhere else unless you hire a coach. when you consider the time and money you're putting into the sport it would be ridiculous not to buy this book.
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Great read!, January 15, 2012
By K. Myers (Gresham, OR United States)
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I really like the concept of this book. Especially, as it says, for people who have families and more going on in their lives, but still want to train for an organized ride. Alot of great material in this book. I give it two thumbs up.
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It worth the money, July 19, 2010
By Sun & Fun (Tucson, AZ)
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it provides a good understanding and guidance of the basics in nutrition and taining program. It is specific enough on how much carbohydrates to consume per your body weight and it has different training programs for levels of fitness.
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Get to chapter 5, December 1, 2011
By AsianArnold1 (Sacramento CA)
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Chris is a good writer and explains things well, but it's a long read with lots of extra jargon that most regular cyclists don't really need. It's mostly Nice to know, not Need to know stuff. But i'm sure one can argue that these other chapters are a build-up for understanding the actual program. Maybe so.
Also, go to any cycling forums and search for TCTP for opinions and tips.
Anyway, i can't give it a 5star until i actually apply it. I fit this time-crunched profile exactly, with wife, kids, job, 8+yrs cycling, 3yrs racing, and mid-pack "A" rider or up-front "B" rider. I'm not racing anymore, so this is for my personal satisfaction.
I'm hoping to do the following programs: 1/2 of New Competitor in winter, Experienced Century in springtime, and Experienced Competitor in late summer.
now comes the hard work. hopefully it pays off for some bragging rights.
-jl.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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