The Wahoo community feels like the perfect place to ask for help with a time‑sensitive training challenge that starts today.
In five weeks, I’ll be doing a week‑long cycling trip exploring the hills of Georgia. I’ve never ridden there, but everyone tells me it’s constant rollers — always up, always down. I have solid experience, but the past month has been limited to Zone 2 work.
What System Plan would you recommend for the next five weeks? I’m open to Event Plans, General Fitness Plans, or even using just the first few weeks of a longer 12‑week plan. My weekly limit is roughly eight hours indoors or twelve hours outdoors, though I am retired and can be flexible.
My goals are simple: I’d love to stay near the front, but at the very least avoid walking up hills and keep my self‑respect intact. Thanks in advance.
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Sounds like you have some great enterpainment lined up!
I’ve done a lot of riding in Virginia where many climbs exceed 5 km long and I’ve found threshold training to be the most beneficial.
If the climbs in Georgia are shorter, but you expect to hit them hard and often, then I’d lean towards more of a MAP focus.
Systm has 4-week Building Block plans in the General Fitness section with various volumes that will fit your timeline nicely. Choose the one that emphasizes the skills you expect to need the most.
You don’t really have enough time for a more balanced all-purpose plan IMO since they are 12 weeks. I’m a strong supporter of these, in general, since I believe you miss out on a lot of development if you only work on certain skills but in your situation, it sounds like something short and specific might be exactly what you need.
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I grew up in SE Tennessee. You might also consider the Mountain Fondo plan. Depending on your gearing and ftp, sometimes the only choice is to grind away at a modest cadence. There are plenty of Sufferfest workouts that focus on that kind of training.
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Thank you all and I welcome more ideas. Everyone on the Forum rides with an affinity for pain but a month loaded with over/unders, high torque/low cadence, and longer Tabatas is something I would rather see others do. Luckily my recovery from MAP efforts is pretty good and I could always start at the front on a hill and hide while sliding off the back. Thanks
ps) I had not looked at the Mountain Fondo but I do like just following what I’m told to do. 
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Even though it’s just 5 weeks, don’t just load up on hard workouts every day or else you’ll burn out. Space them a couple of days apart with something light in between so that you are recovered enough to hit it hard again.
Take the final week very easy so you’re raring to go (both physically and mentally) and throw in Primers the day before just to wake up your legs again.
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Steve, you are totally right. Two or maybe three hard workouts per week with the rest of the time either relaxing or easy Zone 2. I’ll slowly dig myself into a hole for four weeks then week five, basically donuts and McHale’s Navy reruns. Thanks so much for your comment.
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One or two more suggestions.
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The lac du cap de long on location with Mike Cotty is a good long ride with great scenery. You could adjust the intensity to make it easier or harder, but either way it reminds me of why I love the mountains.
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Climbfinder.com is amazing. It covers every possible climb all over the world. I copied this image of North Georgia climbs near bald mountain. You can check out some of your climbs if you know where you’re going.
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