High Intensity Training?

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There have been a few articles in the media recently about High Intensity Training (HIT) and its benefits. Michael Moseley has written a couple of pieces in the Times [cynic] author of a book about HIT[/cynic] and it does seem to have scientific basis. As far as I can tell a couple of very intense bursts of effort (15-20 secs to absolute failure) are sufficient to increase strength, fitness etc...
It just seems a bit too good to be true.
I could do four or five maximum attack, arse up head down sprints on my ride to and from work every day and I'll be in Rio 2016!
Do the far more learned denizens of Pedal Powered have any knowledge or opinion (with or without knowledge - usual rules apply...) of HIT?

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Thanks, the name Tabata did keep cropping up as well as a recent study (that precipitated all the articles) in American College of Sport’s Medicine’s Health & Fitness Journal.
I remember well fartleks and intervals, in particular, from my rowing days; the difference here being that the HIT seems to replace normal training (ie "just 10 minutes a day!") rather than complement it...
I suppose I am naturally suspicious of any quick fixes (like most of us here) but I shall give it a bash on my regular commute (the worst that can happen is I'll get to work more quickly )and see how it goes.

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yellowjack said:

and anyway, 'faster' isn't the end game for me. I just like riding my bike. Lots. If 'faster' comes along as a byproduct of hours of riding through quiet country lanes, it's just a bonus, really. I can't see me setting out to ride at 'high intensity' for twenty minutes, it's just alien to me to ride for anything much less than an hour. Hell, it takes me more than twenty minutes to fart-arse around getting ready for a ride, and the same again stretching off and showering afterwards. Each to their own though. If you are training to compete, I can see why you'd sacrifice enjoyment for results, but I'm not, so I won't

I'm with you on that - what appealed to me was the assertion that incorporating a handful of high intensity bursts into my daily commute could allow me to consume more guilt free beer / cake

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S10GTA said:

Personally I don't think you can do proper interval training on a commute. There are too many vairables (assuming you ride into a town)

Proper interval training is hard to do properly anywhere, except on a turbo

I couldn't if I was riding through town, you're right. My ride in is all cycle path / sea front with quite a few clear stretches which allow a good burst (the HIT article said 20 secs max) unimpeded.
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