How do you set the decay method when you aren’t training for a while? I’m going on vacation in four weeks and won’t be training on the bike for about 18–20 days. Right now, I have it set to “Optimal.” Would it make more sense to switch it to “Small” or “None” during the vacation?
Small Decay can be used to limit signature decline during your three weeks off.
No Decay is useful when you are actively training but not exhibiting maximal efforts frequently. Signature adjustments will reflect changes in TL alone.
For example, you’ve established a viable signature with a recent BT and expect you’ll be mostly riding endurance for a while (extended base phase).
Optimal Decay would more likely result in a BT when you resume training once you insert some maximal efforts on HIT days (sprints or intervals to failure).
Reference –
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Thanks ridgerider, that helps me out.
FWIW, I have settled on just leaving my account permanently on “Slow” decay, both when training heavily & when I’m training less (traveling, vacations, etc.). When I do return to training again after a break, I often aim for a breakthrough in my first week back to ‘reset’ my signature before I start heavily training again. Hope that helps!
Enjoy your vacation!
Scott
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That helps—thanks a lot. I think a break will do me good. I’ve been cycling non-stop for seven months now.
Absolutely - it’s impossible to always be in top form (or to be continuously “building”). Even the pros have certain races that they peak for before allowing themselves to detrain a bit.
Enjoy the physical & mental rest, and you’ll be refreshed to rebuild stronger afterwards 