-
I am aware of good testers closing the FTP gap to a few %, but they are probably not as fit as they would be had they done more training in a traditional position so it's not something I focus on or try to compare.
I think Bigham interviewed about narrowness of hands which he says generally tests faster on almost everyone, and is roundly more uncomfortable for everyone...but it is inherently trainable eventually without physiological limitation on power output.
onyerbike-
I am aware of good testers closing the FTP gap to a few %, but they are probably not as fit as they would be had they done more training in a traditional position
I'm pretty sure I never fell into the category of being a good tester, but when I was racing TTs a lot my average power output was always the same as on a road bike, to within a modest margin of error. I suspect that's because I was only racing on a TT bike, and that made up quite a lot of my 'training'.
Brommers
Is it even true that your power output in TT position can ever equal your output on hoods or in drops? I don't think that's something I've ever heard or read, so not something I've been chasing. Just accepted.
I figured that yes... there's a drop in power output, but you're still working as hard as you would be if out of position. So by improving your power in position; you're actually improving your fitness, and thus your out of position power ftp improves.
Wouldn't ones power capability in TT position be more a function of position? Hip angle, position over BB, comfort etc.
But what you loose in power through the bike, you gain back twice over (or more) in aerodynamics. So it's well worth the 10-15% drop.