I set mine to what my FTP is. If you think workouts will be too hard, then you can set your FTP a bit lower and go with that. You're better off with your FTP a bit on the low side over having it set too high. This also depends on the test you did as some tend to over-estimate FTP. If your FTP is correct, workouts shouldn't be too hard.

Also, you don't need to target specific numbers in workouts. Instead of trying to hit 100% of your new FTP in threshold workouts, you can go a bit below that at first, see how it goes and then adjust. As the saying goes, train with power, not to power.

I would increase it enough so that you can finish your scheduled workouts successfully, yet still make them challenging. There is no reason to immediately go out there and kill yourself and/or bail on workouts because they're too hard.

If you are not able to do 2 x 20' at 100% FTP, then your FTP is set too high. It's just that plain and simple.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll set power ranges instead of specific numbers. I think my FTP is set correctly, I just don't like failing workouts and I don't want to burn out.

well most PM's are 1.5% accurate. If you do a test and you're FTP comes out to be 285 that really means it's somewhere between 280 & 290.

use that range. If you're feeling like a badass shoot for the higher end. If you're dragging ass shoot for the lower end.

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

How did you estimate FTP and did you use the same test in March?