FTP Success Stories

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I, like some thread viewers, do not yet approach the power numbers some of you describe. I'm a cat 4 35+ with 1 and 1/2 years racer/rider experience (mtn and road racing) with my first FTP on my new powerap tests suggesting an FTP of 240W at 146lbs-not the 280W+ I was hoping for but what would be expected based on Coggan tables and my race performances. So I'm curious what kind of power increases (FTP) have some of you achieved with years of training. I know this is individual but what kind of power increases are possible. Also, since I tested at 6,000 ft does that mean my FTP is about 5% higher at sea level. Thanks.

Yes, I do know what a question mark is since these are questions I'm asking. Thanks

Check out the "its killing me but.." thread in Cycling Training forum. Its long and full of lots of FTP increasing info. I also consider it to be the "mother of all FTP success stories".

Check out the "its killing me but.." thread in Cycling Training forum. Its long and full of lots of FTP increasing info. I also consider it to be the "mother of all FTP success stories".
Thanks, I'll check it out.

In May 2005 my FTP was about 245. I'd been racing for a few months, rode about 5000 miles the year prior.
My current FTP is around 295. I'm 36, the same weight as you, and rode 10,000 miles last season.
You can see considerable improvements -- provided you do the work. :cool:

Check out the "its killing me but.." thread in Cycling Training forum. Its long and full of lots of FTP increasing info. I also consider it to be the "mother of all FTP success stories".

Long?

I've been reading for a while here but only on the Power Training forum. After your recommendation, I went to check out the "It's killing me but..." thread and was astounded to see that it's _84 pages_ long...

Cool. That's what I like to hear since I'm not just starting from couch potato status. It gives me hope that a year from now I may be able to achieve more than getting my FTP to 243W.
P.S. The killing me thread is great although long indeed. Thanks, Ho

Sounds like you're in CO.

240 to 280 in one season is attainable if you're not that well-trained already.


I, like some thread viewers, do not yet approach the power numbers some of you describe. I'm a cat 4 35+ with 1 and 1/2 years racer/rider experience (mtn and road racing) with my first FTP on my new powerap tests suggesting an FTP of 240W at 146lbs-not the 280W+ I was hoping for but what would be expected based on Coggan tables and my race performances. So I'm curious what kind of power increases (FTP) have some of you achieved with years of training. I know this is individual but what kind of power increases are possible. Also, since I tested at 6,000 ft does that mean my FTP is about 5% higher at sea level. Thanks.

My peak 20 minutes went from 257 to 316 watts from January to October of this year. This is my 4th year of active racing.

But it required total neglect of friends, social contacts, wife, etc.

Hi...

Pertaining to your question about altitude and how it relates to power, I actually wondered the same thing initially in my own case.

I live at 5600 feet and train/ride at altitudes ranging from 5200 ft to 12000 ft.

You may find this chart quite useful:

http://midweekclub.ca/powerFAQ.htm#Q17

The general idea is that your Vo2max will be lower as you get up higher - though living at altitude means the effect is much less so than for a person who is not acclimated.

I've noticed a slight but consistent downtrend in my FTP once I start riding above 9000 feet, with RPE going up a bit as well - we are talking maybe 2-3% as I do this one climb every week practically. Interestingly enough, having done tests for both aerobic & anerobic power at those heights, I've found that my anerobic power is less impacted.

Your power should be a bit higher at sea level, but that doesn't mean you'll go faster per se (in terms of outright speed), since air density/drag changes at sea level vs. at altitude, and does affect speed quite a bit. Witness how the one-hour speed record for cycling has been set a few times at altitude (mexico city).

As for success stories - mine is entirely too early and modest to deem it as such - but since beginning to ride in July, I've tripled my FTP :)

Thanks to all and for the info on altitude Lucy. I'm in colorado so I frequently train from 5,000 to 9,000 ft+. I'm relatively new to racing and riding but consider myself reasonably fit (whatever that means) but my training has lacked structure hence my new powertap purchase. In the first few weeks of measuring power, it seems that increasing FTP will be a difficult and slow process for me since I'm not starting from an untrained state but I hope to be nowhere near my max potential.