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FTP on Tri vs Road Bike & Indoor vs outdoor

scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
in General Training Discussions

to date i have done all of my FTP tests on my road bike on the drainer. i am doing most of my riding on my tri bike on the roads, and doing my short midweek interval session on the roadbike/trainer.

i have read that most people tweak their FTP up 10% for outdoors vs indoors. I guess i would have to switch this in WKO+ as i am moving from indoors to trainer and back?

additionally, what, if any, adjustment do most people find on road bike vs tri bike?

Comments

  • tuckermtuckerm

    Scott, I don't think it's constructive to ask what other use to SWAG their FTP. Everyone is different. Some have the 10% gain, some have none. Which are you? Know way of knowing. I don't think that's a risk you should be taking a month out from Louisville. 10% = 22 watts. Not a gamble I think you should make.



    My suggestion, find a place that fairly flat and not as steep up or down, or even just a long uphill section, and do a outdoor FTP test in the bars. What about driving over to 9W?

  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    I second what the Trucker said... I've heard a lot of people say their outdoor or tri-bike FTP is higher, but for me it's lower. You really should try to test it outdoors on your race machine.
  • kevhillkevhill
    Completely agree with Tucker and John. I sucked it up and now drive 40 minutes to do my FTP test outside. Totally worth it as I found my outside aero FTP was around 20W LOWER. It was on a different bike and sitting up inside versus outside and aero so am really glad I did it to have a good number for RR's and now feel very dialed in for IMRG next weekend.
  • scott dinhoferscott dinhofer

    @tucker - which section of 9W are you referring to? hadnt thought about that, had my mind on westcchester with no luck figuring out a flat road. if you can give me a specific section i can map it online and compare the profile to the spot i was thinking of.

     

    thanks all, good comments!

  • scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
    ok, first outdoor FTP test done. I think it was pretty good. there is a bike path nearby that follows an old defunct train line. think of trains, no big uphills or down, just grades. got out early before all the noodlers. the way out was a very slight net downgrade, the way back, net opposite. Came in at 220, last time i tested was february on my road bike on a drainer(218). i think this new test that is probably close to 95% or higher accuracy.

    probably a good number to work with for IMKY, the numbers feel right when i am riding, lots of work to do for IMAZ and the OS, what would be a reasonable goal for FTP improvement over the next year?

    still dont think that my Joule is reading the correct IF #s and hasn't "taken" the correct Threshold # per instructions in another thread... but WKO+ did do it right.
  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    @Scott- I am pretty sure I know where you are talking about. The rail/trail off 100. Sometimes I park on 134 near intersection with 100, other times I park on 118 (heading north from 134, it is just past the bridge).
    Have I got the area correct?
    My family lived off 9a and I travel back regularly as I am the executrix of the estate.
    This is probably a great place to test- in some ways. I would prefer a long steady incline like that for testing. When I test here, I take what I can get. 42' is a long time for flat.
    Anyway- maybe start near intersection of 35 and 100, heading south on 100, turn right at 118, then pick up the rail trail and head north. When you get back to 35, take a right and head back to the car.

    My FTP are close for road and TT bikes, same with indoor and outdoor. So SWAG doesn't work well. My Joule doesn't have an IF during the ride, it always reads zero despite setup, and during ride TSS is always 5000+. I have never figured this out. I just wait to see what WKO+ says. After 3 years, I can estimate pretty close.

    FTP improvement depends on fitness level and experience with PM. My first OS and season, I saw a 45% increase. Short of a miracle, I have never gone higher since.
  • scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
    @michelle, you have the right place, but your spot (which is much more scenic) has more of inclines and declines on the way back. i park where 133 loops through near the A&P and then went south, the first few miles are actually the nice shoulder of 100, then in briarcliff the trail breaks off on its own again. the section of 100 near intersection of 35 is actually a bit hillier than one thinks!
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