Unmeasurable Improvement During a Plateau

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

I had an FTP plateau this summer but I think during that time my 3 hour power improved or at least I like to think it did.... I have no easy way to measure it. I'd rather not think I wasted all that training time is this a possibility? I finally saw an increase in FTP again after taking some advice from some people I used to consider cycling cyborgs on this forum as it turns out I was not replenishing sugar and carbs during the critical 1/2 hour (thanks DaveR). This helped create my aversion to 5x5s and consecutive day training and had me amazed at most of your weekly TSS numbers. FWIW I am noticing a much greater need for vitamin D while training 4 days a week has any one else noticed this?

You can quite easily test improvements in 3hr power by doing an LT test every couple months...

What does that involve?



You can quite easily test improvements in 3hr power by doing an LT test every couple months...

Usually a computrainer and blood drawing during a graded power test.

Think stress test on a bike, but being pricked with a needle at the same time. It was fascinating to watch while I interned at Vision Quest...

I had an FTP plateau this summer but I think during that time my 3 hour power improved or at least I like to think it did....
I have periods in my training from this year where it didn't appear FTP was increasing but my power curve seemed to flatten as well. In fact, at the end of the day, that's really what I consider CTL to come out to be - not so much is CTL an increase in "FTP fitness" but a combination of increased FTP and flattened power curve.

VW