Zone 2 Training - does it have to be the Erg?

[cannondalerugby5]

Thanks for reading,
Having read and listened to information regarding the importance and effectiveness of Zone2 training I.e Peter Attia, 80% zone 2.
My question is;
Would you achieve the sales outcome if the training was cycle based and not ergo based?
Anyone have any insight?
Reason for question is that I have a lower back problem that makes my leg and foot go numb after about 15 mins of rowing but I have no problems on the bike.
Thanks
Steve

[MPx]

IMO it depends what you're training for Steve. If you just want to be fitter - it doesn't matter what you do it on, put in the time and you'll get fitter. If you want to get better scores on the erg - well that's more specific. But if you can't do more than 15 mins on the erg anyway then you wont be scoring any ranking pieces over 2k so it probably not something you're worried about?

[cannondalerugby5]

Thanks Mike
I will only be aiming at the sprint distances I.e 1k and below.
Could not face the pain and anguish of a 2k race

[Dangerscouse]

Yeah, I'm with Mike on this. Fitness is fitness, albeit there is definitely an erg specific fitness that is required for the really fast results.

I'd guess if you did enough really tough sprints on the bike, along with the 80% that you refer to, that would definitely be a good alternative to the erg.

I say, 'guess' as I've never done it myself, but I do think that regularly doing a 45 min spin class about seven years ago was great cross training.

[cannondalerugby5]

Hi Dangerscouse
Thanks for your input,really appreciated.
I can do intervals on the ergo of up to around 12 mins ,and then have to have a few minutes rest to shake of the numbness,then I can do another rep.
Any reps less than 12 mins I can do as fast as my capacity will allow me(not good at the moment)
It’s really building the aerobic base on the bike that I have a question about.
The other zones.ie VO 2 Max I can do on the ergo.

[nick rockliff]

Back when I was at my peak in my late 40s UT2 sessions produced great results for me. Can say the same as I went mid 50s but now in my late 60s I find I don't make the same gains with UT2. I move forward more with what I would call top end UT1 type sessions.

[Dangerscouse]

It’s really building the aerobic base on the bike that I have a question about.

I think you'll be fine with that plan. The bike is just as good for building aerobic fitness.

[btlifter]

Back when I was sprinting, my low intensity exercise was almost exclusively on the bike. This served me pretty well for 500 and below. But, as 'short' as 1k, I noticed benefited from rowerg-specific-low-intensity. Having said that, the exercise you can and will do is much better than the exercise that your body can't tolerate.

[cannondalerugby5]

Thanks Nick
That’s where I eat confused,ut1 and ut2.
Peter Attia and many of his cohorts are classing Zone2 as everything up to the production of 2mm of lactic acid.
It’s confusing,that difference between ut1 and ut2.


Thanks BTLifter
That’s great feedback as my initial targets will not be longer than 500m