It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and it’s also been a while since I’ve done an FTP test. I’ve got a cycling sportive coming up in mid March so training is currently leaning towards cycling power and efficiency.
If you don’t understand FTP and it’s importance in cycling, the easiest way and shortest way to explain it is that functional threshold power represents your ability to sustain the highest possible power output over 45-60 minutes.
Measuring FTP is a good indicator of whether you are improving performance. The measurement itself is a tough workout performed over a total 45min routine with a 20min block of the hardest power you can sustain for 20mins the measurable portion. 95% of your average power over that 20min block is your FTP.
Typically I get off the bike with absolutely nothing left after those twenty minutes – if you have more in the tank then you didn’t go hard enough.
My FTP at last measurement was 185w which at the time I had been reasonably disappointed in. My FTP as measured today came in at a much improved 202w.
This test will get repeated again at the next block to see the impact of this block of training!
