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Bike FTP Test - Indoors versus Outdoors

kevhillkevhill
in General Training Discussions

Hey all, sorry if this has been answered already, did some searches but found differing answers.

For the IM Plan are you peeps doing the FTP tests indoors or outdoors?

During OS did all my tests inside on the computrainer (with Quarq as well for calibration/checking for outdoors). OS I was riding mostly indoors to make it easier to hit target watts etc (traffic gets bad here, especially during the week).

For the IM Plan I am doing most of my weekend ABP/Long rides outdoors, with the week-day shorter rides indoors mainly.

Issue is to find a flat piece of road without traffic lights everywhere I am probably going to have to pack the bike in the car and drive 30 minutes to get there - is this worth the effort for a "better" FTP?

So what say you guys, indoors or outdoors, which is "better" - or what would you do?

Thanks!

Comments

  • Keith WickKeith Wick
    You already have a number for inside and since most of your weekend rides are now moving outdoors you definitely need to test outdoors. Testing outdoors also gives you an accurate number to base your race watts off, since you'll be racing outdoors.
  • Gordon CherwoniakGordon Cherwoniak

    Yes its definitely worth the effort to drive.  There are others on here that have been using power for some time that can get pretty accurate with looking over their 30 day power numbers. 

    Gordon

  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

    No question, you need an outside FTP for an IM to pace it properly. Sometimes there can be as much as 10-15% difference. That's a huge amount to be over or under on race day.

    Myself, I have a good spot for my FTP test which is about 15-20 miles from home. I drive 12 miles to get there (across a TOLL bridge, no less), park at a huge county park/golf course right on Puget Sound which allows me space for a brick if I want it, as well as restroom for changing if needed. I warm up on a hilly section for 3-5 miles.

    My route has no lights, wide shoulder, only one hill (at the start and the end - it's out and back), and goes through an Army base (the road is open to the public), with minimal side road traffic. It's worth the drive for all those qualities. I can end up with a VI almost 1.0.

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    The closer you get to your race, the more critical it is to dial in your outdoor FTP. You can do that either through a formal test and/or by using WKO+. I have a post in the wiki about methods for determing FTP

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