First FTP Test of the Year
Last evening was a first for 2009 for me. I performed my first FTP test of the year.
First up: Testing protocol. My philosophy is simple. Nothing but the best will do. Why go to the trouble of a test** for estimating Functional Threshold Power when you can measure Functional Threshold Power directly? I did a 60 minute TT. On my trainer.
Side note to all you "hard men" who ride in the wet and the cold but who can't bear the thought of riding a trainer (at all, much less for an hour): HTFU
Now drop and give me 20. :)
Results-wise, I got about what I expected. My FTP is up about 3 W from where I had it set. That's good for about 15 seconds over a 40 km TT. I'll take it. I had estimated I'd see about a 5 W increase, but I may have lost those 2 watts in the previous days' snow shoveling. No matter, the difference isn't all that significant.
What is significant is that there is progress given the time of year and the type of training I've been doing. I'm pleased with results so far and I'm optimistic for a good 2009.
Not so fast...
First off, huge props on the improvement. Having an increases this time of year is great...most people are building base and not even thinking of 60 minute best efforts.
Second off, more props. Riding on a trainer is much tougher than being a tough guy and riding outside. OTOH, if you do not ever ride a trainer regularly, it seems like torture. All in all, I always get a better and more efficient workout on the trainer (and "always" is a tough word to use in cycling).
Finally, not so fast. I would still argue that you have not directly measured your FTP. I think the trainer by definition is at very best an analog for the real thing. In the ideal conditions you might be a bit stronger than your trainer conditions approximate.
Seriously, Great job!
Contant Forward Motion
You're on the right path and getting the times down already, well done. By the time JoJo has the weekly TT series rolling you'll be leaving me in the dust. But remember to leave a little in the tank for August and the state TT, grasshopper.
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