I just retested my FTP. I’m using Trainer Road virtual power. I have a feeling my FTP is a little high but it doesn’t really matter since I am keeping everything constant when I retest. My FTP was 402 and LTHR is 165. I’m finding that even at 85% FTP my heart rate is in Threshold zone (zone 4) for a lot of it. Is this normal?
If your Threshold is 402, unless your 100kg you should take up cycling instead.
How did you calculate your LTHR?
I did the 20 min power test in trainer road and it calculates LTHR.
Are you using Virtual Power or is TR reading a power meter?
Virtual Power
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I don’t believe TR’s LTHR. I’ve had my HR monitor on for the last six tri’s I’ve competed in ans my average HR in all those was 172 bpm and were in the 45 minute ride time range. When I did a FTP test on TR, it calculated my LTHR at 141 bpm.
Also your FTP seems pretty high, Your FTP would be the highest by quite a bit on TR’s SlowTwitch team. Are you using the right trainer?
Tension and the correct trainer first come to mind when I see an FTP of 400. If this is true you should just ride your bike a lot more and race.
Tension and the correct trainer first come to mind when I see an FTP of 400. If this is true you should just ride your bike a lot more and race.
That FTP might be higher then Metcalfe’s. The highest FTP on Team ST is 345
If you’re FTP is 402, you’ll be riding with Kienle and Starykowicz this season!
Your heart rate could be high for a number of reasons: temperature, humidity, altitude, adrenaline, hydration levels, etc. Day to day variation can be significant.
If you’re FTP is 402, you’ll be riding with Kienle and Starykowicz this season!
Your heart rate could be high for a number of reasons: temperature, humidity, altitude, adrenaline, hydration levels, etc. Day to day variation can be significant.
His heart rate might be be a little high because he’s cranking out 402 watts.
If you’re FTP is 402, you’ll be riding with Kienle and Starykowicz this season!
Your heart rate could be high for a number of reasons: temperature, humidity, altitude, adrenaline, hydration levels, etc. Day to day variation can be significant.
His heart rate might be be a little high because he’s cranking out 402 watts.
make sure your wheel size is set correctly in the TR settings
make sure you are making all variables the same every time (wheel inflated to same psi, trainer tension the same, etc.)
as everyone else (mockingly) keeps stating, your FTP is too high…
you know, kind of like your seat…
Like you’ve stated, your FTP does not matter as long as you keep your setup protocol consistent. HR can largely be ignored; I use it as a check more than anything else.
precision > accuracy
precision > accuracy
ughhhhghghgghhrababab
.
If you’re FTP is 402, you’ll be riding with Kienle and Starykowicz this season!
Your heart rate could be high for a number of reasons: temperature, humidity, altitude, adrenaline, hydration levels, etc. Day to day variation can be significant.
His heart rate might be be a little high because he’s cranking out 402 watts.
make sure your wheel size is set correctly in the TR settings
make sure you are making all variables the same every time (wheel inflated to same psi, trainer tension the same, etc.)
as everyone else (mockingly) keeps stating, your FTP is too high…
you know, kind of like your seat….
LOL. that made my rainy morning.
I realize my FTP might be wrong. I’m pretty sure its not 402! I’m using the correct trainer and using the same tire pressure, etc. The last two 1 hr workouts I did were 3x12 at 85%. On all three of these intervals, my heart rate was in zone 4 (158-163). It seems kind of high for 85% FTP.
precision > accuracy
ughhhhghghgghhrababab
What is this rabble?
I’m big on the importance of accuracy, especially in the context of measuring power where if it was actually precise, it should be accurate as well with minimal effort.
It is difficult for trainer speed to be a precise, consistent measure of power, because clamping force is hard to control for, tire crr varies a bit with heat, etc etc. You can do it, but you should first make some attempt to calibrate. For instance, this image depicts 4 theoretical scenarios where a power meter could be 100% consistent, but not accurate. Each of these would negatively affect your ability to train by power in some way
Something to think about. Borrowing a power tap and testing a few wattage points (100, 200, 300, 400) to see how you trainer setup scales would both avoid these pitfalls and give you a more realistic view of your power output which will be useful if you ever should witch trainers, or get a power meter.
That’s fair, I see your point. However, I’d like to think that established companies would do a reasonable job at approximating their power curve. If Mr. Kinetic says my FTP is 300 watts, I’m going to go out on a limb and trust the guy. I may be shutting my eyes and slamming my fingers in my ears but for the price point I’m willing to accept a little noise in the data.
Kinetic is pretty good, but your tire and clamping force will cause some variation form their published numbers.
You are welcome to come by and borrow my power tap to check =)
That’s fair, I see your point. However, I’d like to think that established companies would do a reasonable job at approximating their power curve. If Mr. Kinetic says my FTP is 300 watts, I’m going to go out on a limb and trust the guy. I may be shutting my eyes and slamming my fingers in my ears but for the price point I’m willing to accept a little noise in the data.