The Most Common Early-Season Mistake Cyclists Make (And How to Avoid It).

Everyone needs time off at the end of the season.Only when you fully reset can you build properly toward your full potential the following year.

But when it’s time to start training again, don’t simply jump back in where you left off.

Too many riders begin their winter endurance phase using training zones from an FTP test done at peak fitness. For busy cyclists returning from an off-season break, this is a fast-track to unnecessary fatigue.

Your body is not the same as it was in July. A ~10% drop in blood plasma volume and a temporary reduction in mitochondrial enzyme activity mean you’ll naturally ride harder than intended if you rely on old numbers.

And jumping straight into a fresh FTP test isn’t ideal either. At this time of year your fitness shifts so quickly that the results won’t stay relevant for long.

So for the first 2–4 weeks of the Base Endurance phase, ride on feel rather than data.

There’s no need to over-complicate it. Simply ask yourself several times per ride:

• Am I doing some work, but does it feel genuinely easy?

• Can I hold a full conversation right now?

If the answer is yes, you’re in the right place — regardless of what your power meter shows.

The hidden fatigue of endurance work

We see many riders treat endurance rides like a gift that keeps on giving — assuming more is always better, and that riding in Zone 2 is so “easy” it can’t possibly cause harm.

However, doing too much endurance during Base training is one of the biggest causes of early-season burnout, especially for high-performing athletes balancing work, family, and travel.

Endurance fatigue is subtle. Unlike high-intensity work (which sends clear signals), endurance fatigue creeps up quietly. It usually appears at a central level — where the nervous system itself becomes depleted — and it often slips under the radar.

Common signs include:

• increased irritability

• low mood

• restlessness

• trouble focusing

• suppressed heart rate

A gentle three-hour endurance ride still places a meaningful load on the nervous system.

So be mindful: more is not always better when it comes to Base training.Your season is long. Build patiently.

If you want help structuring a personalised winter base that fits around a demanding life, this is exactly what we do — and it’s where the biggest gains are found.