After a hard 3-4 week block of cycling training, I just completed a bike race yesterday that turned into a 40 mile chase as I flatted at mile 2. Other than very-short term power, I basically set season high power records across all time periods. Training peaks suggests I up my FTP by 30 points over where it was 3 weeks ago. The TP number seems to be in-between my 20 min and 60 min number. Should I use TPs recommendation or do I just use my 60 min number? As it stands, 60 min power will be 94% of the recommendation, and 90 min power will be 90% of recommended FTP. Since there were a few moments where I was able to rest as I caught someone and worked with them a bit, my 60 min power is probably a bit lower than it could have been.
The reason I am asking is that 30 points seems like a huge increase. Is a one day test like a race really an accurate predictor where mentally and physically everything is primed and ready to go as the basis of future training?
A race is the best setting for pulling data because you are primed and motivated. You’re generally stronger than you think. Racing can bring that out. Yes, that’s a good basis for trainig because now you know what you’re capable of. You’ve got a new target. It’s not like you’re supposed to go out and crank at 100% FTP for an hour everyday.
A race is the best setting for pulling data because you are primed and motivated. You’re generally stronger than you think. Racing can bring that out. Yes, that’s a good basis for trainig because now you know what you’re capable of. You’ve got a new target. It’s not like you’re supposed to go out and crank at 100% FTP for an hour everyday.
So, does one go with the FTP Training Peaks came up with, or the 60 min power?
Why not choose a number slightly above the 60 min AP you had in your race but below the TP recommendation? Use that as the basis of your training for a couple weeks and see how things feel. In my experience it’s usually easy enough to tell if your FTP is outside the realm of being reasonable (high or low) after a handful of workouts. It’s not like the number has to be nailed down to the watt. The value does change over time, after all. By pretty much all accounts, the FTP you’ve been training with (at least recently) is too low.
So, does one go with the FTP Training Peaks came up with, or the 60 min power?
If you have a recent 60 minute power test, you use that.
Also learn to use a mean maximal power chart, and you will come to understand what training peaks is doing behind the scenes to guess at your 60 minute power
When I’ve gotten a number that seemed high in the past from TP and I have another number that seems more reasonable from another metric, I’ll usually split the difference. I use my FTP mainly to set zones and power targets for TT’s. A difference of 5 or even 10 watts isn’t going to make that big of a difference. It matters most for TT power targets, but I also set points during the TT to see how I feel and if I should increase (or decrease!) my output. Don’t kill yourself over it.