Power Meters / Powermeters (SRM, Powertap, Quarq, Ergomo, Vector, Stages, power2max, P2M, 4iii, InPower, Cinch)

I've not looked into it but my reason for distrusting the Strava figure was that it appeared to simply take the 20 min power and use that as your FTP.

I may be wrong though.

I would ignore most of Strava's "calculated" values... they seem to generally be pretty iffy.

Stick to what Training Peaks is telling you (pretty sure I have seen you post up some TP graphs before - so presume you are using it)

The calculated (from cp20) FTP I got from TP and TrainerRoad were within 1-2W

In terms of differences of FTP calculation (20min CP test), I presume it is also common to have a lower estimated FTP when calculated 'on my own' vs in a race? The main difference I can think of is that I usually ride my road bike in my own tests, but then ride the TT bike in races. Still, I think a large amount of the difference is psychological.

Yes. It's just difficult to kill yourself for a test. Real hard.

If you're racing on your TT bike you should be training and testing on it. You'll lose power in the TT position if you're not adapted to it.

Agreed, but not necessarily at this point in the season. My A race is IM Wales in September and I plan to race 2HIMs, at least one 100mile TT and other TTs, and train on the TT bike over the summer to adapt, but for now it's mainly about having a bit of relaxed fun on the winter bike (with half a nod to the London Mara in April).

Still, I did a 20min CP test on Friday and it was way down on what I'd have expected from a race. I'm pretty sure I'm a bit weaker than I was at my best during the Summer but I'm sure not that much weaker :-)

I would ignore most of Strava's "calculated" values... they seem to generally be pretty iffy.

Stick to what Training Peaks is telling you (pretty sure I have seen you post up some TP graphs before - so presume you are using it)

The calculated (from cp20) FTP I got from TP and TrainerRoad were within 1-2W

I'm using the FTP value from the 2x20 Trainer Road test, which I input into Training Peaks (257 watts), it was a dreadful test though - at least half was at tempo tbh.

I've been using that as it was an actual test, that I did, rather than an algorithmic interpretation of ride data.

However, the intention (use hard data) may be actually generating bad data (FTP set too low, bonkers TSS and CTL values the result).

Does Training Peaks have an "estimate threshold power" function? I'd be more inclined to trust that than Strava.

For e.g. 37 minute commute this morning scored 41 TSS.

Neil for your interest.
I haven't tested my FTP since a MAP test last season.

I just use an educated guess on where it is based on recent workout ands use that figure. Then change of need be. It's currently set a bit high as I'm always riding trainer, but all that means is CTL is a bit lower than it should and my TSS is worth a bit less.

You don't really need to test, just use your common sense.

Yeah, there is a tick box in the options for it to email you when it thinks your FTP has changed based on the data you upload.

It only notifys you of an increase though (for obvious reasons I Guess). So while its great to come back from a 2x20 climbing session to a happy E-mail. You still need to test Yourself. Otherwise you end up like me. In denial. Killing yourself trying to hit targets set nearly 10% too high.

Does Training Peaks have an "estimate threshold power" function? I'd be more inclined to trust that than Strava.

Yes, it does. I've got it so it e-mails me any update on my FTP and automatically uses the new FTP figure to work out TSS and the like. Seems reasonably accurate. When my Training Peaks calculated FTP figure was 275W my average power over a 25 mile time trial (25.8 miles because I got lost) was 267W and I was riding slightly conservatively as it was my first 25. Laughably unscientific, I know, but the TrainingPeaks figure 'feels' about right.

In which case TP clearly thinks the current 257 figure is correct!

I did a 20 minute FTP test the weekend before last at the velodrome in Aigle. Nothing like a velodrome for really hurting yourself. Got it up to 283 watts, so my 300 watts FTP target is within sight. Sadly, my 75kg weight target isn't at the moment.

No

You can turn the feature on and off. I've it turned off.

Snap.

I want to hit 4w/kg.
Current weight 80kg. But was 77kg last season.
Current FTP 260w. But was 280w last season.

I think 75kg is doable. But 300w is going to require serious commitment.

But 300w is going to require serious suffering.

:)

I plan to do more climbing repeats. Purely because they are a time efficient way of trainng on a bike outside.

But ultimately I lack base miles. So my legs fatigue if I push them for 20 mins.

This may all change as I still havent committed to races for the season. But I expect to be dragged into intense 4 hours races. With my mate that has a 50w higher FTP. Hanging on the edge of a fast Group by the very skin of my teeth. Being momentarily dropped With every slight Acceleration. Fun stuff.

I don't think 'base miles' is really a thing*. So that's not your problem.

You don't have a foundation as you like to ride hard short efforts (judging from previous posts) You could get a 'base' off 2x20 , 1x60 or 1x90 efforts happily.

You might not be able to reach your genetic potential as long steady rides are needed, but you could get near it, and happily build a base.

• You do need a foundation or to build off. And foundations aren't made up of anaerobic efforts. Mainly aerobic longer efforts. But a base isn't simply longer steady rides.
  

Thats reads very positive.

I do long rides. Did a 540km sportive last season, and a 5000m climbing day in france, to boast a bit. But I did these slowly. So they arent really anything to boast about TBH.

Theres a 20min 7% Climb quite local. Its so perfect for training.

You ride for 25 mins along a flattish road to the base, to warm up;
Climb up one side at a target of 110% FTP;
Spin the legs out along the short Plateau at the top;
Desend Down the other side;
Climb this side at a target of 110% FTP again;
Ride the 25min flattish road back to cool Down.

Only trouble is that you need to Catch a Ferry to get there, and the Whole thing always ends up taking at least half a day. Still, I hope to do this as much as possible.

This is my strategy at least...
...This and beetroot concentrate.

Cheers Skinny

Only trouble is that you need to Catch a Ferry to get there

Wrong kind of suffering

.

1 Attachment

Or just get on the turbo and pretend it's a Col. What I do, every day.

Re: the TP threshold notifcation thing.. It seems a bit dumb to have it turned on. Surely you can just adjust it yourself by looking at the data you're producing?

It's not always that reliable and some data can really skew it. Last year I uploaded a session that was a warm up and 3x standing starts as Man 1 on team sprint from an Open at HHV - for some reason TP decided that based on those 3x maximal anaerobic efforts my FTP had gone up to 450w... which (unfortunately) is nonsense.

The notification thing is separate from the automatically-change-my-FTP-setting thing, so you can have notifications without FTP changes. I've got both turned on though, mostly because I'm lazy but also because the FTP figures that TP has produced have been reasonable enough so far. If it started producing silly figures (which I'd know about because of the notifications) then I'd either turn it off or change the FTP figure by hand.