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Handling indoor vs. outdoor FTP in WKO

MattAaronsonMattAaronson
in General Training Discussions

My last indoor FTP was 235 and my new FTP tested outdoors is 248. So a material difference. Of course the indoor is probably a bit higher now too, but doubtful >240.

There were some past threads on how to handle the different FTPs when you do both indoor and outdoor workouts and my takeaway is that people seem to do one of three things:

1. Change the zones in WKO each time you change between iundoor and outdoor workouts. Seems like a huge PITA to me. Also if you use TrainingPeaks in parallel you have to do the same thing, and in TP it is even more of a PITA.

2. Create an outdoor "athlete" so you have two "athletes" in WKO, one for indoor and one for outdoor. Then you can't use all of the performance management features.

3. Just set the zones based on the outdoor FTP. Makes your indoor workouts really hard (and you might fail on some), and the performance management charts and TSS scores are understated.

I'm really leaning towards #3 (although I expect some seriously failed attempts at z5 / VO2 max workouts as a result...298 watts...yikes!!!).

Is there some definitive WSM or coaches' advice on this?

Cheers,

Matt

Comments

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]
    Good question Matt. I was going to ask the same thing! A variant on number three I was considering would be to use the new outdoor FTP number for WKO and TP, but do indoor workouts using the older indoor FTP and don't worry about it. The TSS and IF of the indoor workouts would be underrepresented in the performance management charts, but maybe if the hours spent riding inside are small compared to those spent riding outside it's not too big of a deal? Will be interesting to see what others do.
  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    I have been using #1 and it is a PITA. I'm going to create an Indoor Bob and an Outdoor Bob I don't use most of the PMC features anyway.
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

    Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I just timed myself in changing my FTP in WKO. It took 8 seconds, and I was going as slowly as I could. That doesn't fit my definition of a PITA.

    It's: (1) click on the "effective date" drop down calendar in the power training zones section, upper right of the athlete home screen, (2) hit today's date, (3) select the "threshold watts" (4) type in the number d'jour.

    So I vote for (and do as a routine) #1.

    Creating two athletes seems way more confusing and complicated and a PITA to me. Especially when trying to follow one's Training Stress Balance over time.

  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    @ Al - so you change the FTP but not the zones?
  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    I do that Al but it doesn't "keep" every time if you get what I'm saying. I save the changes and all but when I go back and look at the workouts it's often the wrong # -- either the outdoor ride has the indoor FTP or vice versa. I'm pretty sure I'm not doing anything wrong it just isn't working like it's supposed to.
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