concerns over test results
This is my first OS and the first time I've ever worked this hard on a bike. I didn't miss any workouts or rest days. 1.0 has been so hard for me that I figured if I had a 1 or 2% gain for my 2nd test that I'd be happy with that. When I saw that just about everyone has seen much larger gains than that I started to wonder.
Patriick in particular saw a 25W gain? I couldn't hold an additional 25W over my November 1 test for 5 minutes let alone 40! Should I take my 5W gain and be happy with it or is there something else going on here?
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More improtantly there iw always a big margin or error in any given test. We use them as benchmarks but not even the only way to figure FTP once you get more into it. There are also a million variables involved so comparing yourself to others is often just a frustrating exercie. I did not see your numbers posted but 3.6 w/kg ie pretty good depending on how big you are.
Take away is to keep at it, keep redifing what it means to work hard on the bike, not be afraid to bury yourself on the bike, really hard to injure yourself riding hard so just go for it til you are a shaking mess when you get off then repeat a couple days later for years.
To be clear, my 25W gain only puts me back at where I was pre-crash..IOW, no NEW fitness here. Now the real work begins!
Oh don't worry; I'll keep at it. Thanks for the feedback.
I did IM Louisville and took about two weeks off from running afterwards. I continued to ride a lot and run some until the start of the OS, so I came in fairly fit I suppose. I will keep working hard and look forward to more gains next time.
I need to check the "heads we win/tails you lose" spreadsheet for Rich's prediction. Last time I checked, about a week ago, he still had not predicted mine. I thought maybe he was waiting until after the 2nd test.