FTP test versus Garmin's auto FTP

[MudLark]

I am one of those blokes who has a very high VO2Max (for his age group) but a pretty poor FTP (basically I don't have very strong legs). Be that as it may, the point of interest is that for about 10 months I used my Garmin Edge 1030 only (no power meter) and would occasionally look at the FTP number. When we did a test with my trainer (using an indoor trainer and power metre) for the first time, the FTP number was almost exactly the same as the Garmin had calculated over the previous 10 months. So the Garmin auto calculation appears to be pretty accurate – or at least it is/was in my case. 

[Mamil]

Well the first thing I did with it was march into the LBS and infomr the junior mechanic there who is 30 years my junior and who pitches at the races on minimal training and smokes me by 15 mins over 100k, that it wouldn't be long before I haul past him and that all I had to do was stop eating ... he didn't look nervous and so I ordered a choc chip cookie and sat down to go through the test data in detail on my phone.

 

The second thing I've done is got to grips with the intervals.icu and elevate data and dismissed the idea of taking out a paid sub to Training peaks. Fascinating and really interesting how just the data from my warm up, test and cool down rides has already shown me a few things and I already get the feeling that the way I think about effort on the bike is starting to change. I'm looking forward to collecting more data.

 

But you are right - now I need to use this information and I suspect that this is where the shine may wear off my new toy and be replaced by some pain. A mate has generously dusted the cobwebs off an IDT he says I can have and so that and some zwifting and structured workouts there are in my future.

 

But in terms of putting together a specific training programme I have a lot to learn. There's also a slight reservation about doing this - I love cycling for many reasons and one of them is the sense of freedom and escape it gives me (lots more reasons but that's another thread) and maybe I don't want this most excellent passion to become another "have to" regimented aspect of my life. Then again, if I want the gains .....

 

Need to ditch the chocolate cookies though.

 

 

Cool.  Now you know what your FTP is.  What you going to do with it?

 

Of course, if you test again in the future and its gone up, you probably a bit faster.  But the real trick is to use this number to train with.

 

Lots of info on the web how to train using your specific ftp and power.  Try use it - otherwise it's just another number.

 

Good luck!

[davidtinker]

The power meter really helps with motivation when you are doing 23km/h on the flat slogging into the south easter.

[Dubber]

 

But in terms of putting together a specific training programme I have a lot to learn...

If you do manage to get your hands on an IDT, the try the Zwift route.  It makes IDT work as interesting as possible - which is just about tolerable :-)

 

Zwift comes with a whole host of training plans - all included in the subscription fee.  The quality of the plans can be debated but I would say they are 100% better than no plan...

 

And as for riding your bike for the freedom and joy of it:  I hear you loud and clear.  But nothing gives you as much joy as smoking your mate up your local climb :-)