Home› General Training Discussions

Week 17 FTP test?

Chris OubreChris Oubre
in General Training Discussions

Why do we do a bike test on Week 17 of the HIM plan?  I'm not convinced that I want to take a shiny new FTP into a race.  Seems like I'd rather take the proven FTP that I've been training at for a while and let the extra watts that I may have gained go to race variability and extra run freshness,

 

What are the team's thoughts?  Do you use the FTP bump (if any) in your race prep or do you just  use the test as a validation/measure of fitness?

Comments

  • Peter GreaggPeter Greagg
    I do test in week 17 of my HIM build.
    Each year I do a particular HIM that is 10 weeks out from my A Race, which is IM Australia.
    Experience tells me that I will have a bike split in the 2:30 2:45 range depending on my fatness and fitness.
    The EN power racing kit translates that bike split into an IF of between 0.83 and 0.85.
    So I do test in week 17 to give me the most recent estimate of my FTP, so I can use that estimate in my last RR. It is the EN power racing kit that limits my race power target, so if my FTP has risen since the previous test (as often happens), if I didn't test I would leave some bike time on the table.
    For an IM though, I use my 5 hour power to set my race IF target.
    BTW, given I know where my IF is likely to be for my HIM race, I prepare accordingly in my HIM build. Specifically, I push at the top of the IF suggestions in the HIM plan. In other words, if the set calls for an IF of 0.8 to 0.85, I target 0.85. I also use the APB rides as an opportunity to try and average an IF of 0.85 for at least 2 hours.
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    I personally don't as I am intimately familiar with my FTP. But many are not - or rather "think they are," so this is the solution.

    This is also part of the Race Pacing determination process, which RnP need to update this year....
  • rlh2000rlh2000
    When I saw the subject "Week 17 FTP test" the first thing that popped into my head was "sucks". :-)
  • Chris OubreChris Oubre
    @Rachel. Lol!!

    @CoachP Looking forward for the updates.

    @Peter A nifty way to set goals. I haven't thought like that before.

    So it sounds like this is more of a validation??? I feel like I can turn myself inside out for a 20' test so I'm going to go with where I've been training (238) instead of my week 17 FTP of 245.

    I'll use the 245 for the rest of the non-RR rides and after my HIM
Sign In or Register to comment.