FTP test: the good, the bad and I’m ugly

My FTP test, following my rest week at the end of Build 1.

The good:
-My BFF K-berry lending me his Powertap PRO
-Perfect calibration on the ‘tap—0 watts while coasting
-the new kit–rocking the WHITE leg warmers
-the weather–45 and cloudy, Belgian style, and my ideal ride temp
-my favorite TT loop around the Blue Hills, finish on the access road

The bad:
296 watts average, for 25 minutes at 97% of LTHR.
Normally, in a 20 min effort, you estimate this to be 95% of FT power (so, 296/68 kg x 0.95) yielding 4.14 watts/kg
However, since I went 25 minutes, the number slides to 97% of FT power (296/68 x .097) yielding 4.22 watts/kg
This is a CRITICAL difference, as that moves me from the high Cat 3 range to the lowest Cat 2. So, upgrade me Diane!!

I’m ugly:
-shaved 1:30+ off last weeks time by switching from my cross bike w/ 35 mm tires to the road rig
-I am roughly 30-45 seconds slower on this loop than my peak fitness last year (a week before GMSR)!!!!
-the gate was DOWN on the bloody access road! I had to dismount, go into the woods around it, and remount, starting the climb from a dead standstill after 18 min. at T-hold. Cranky!
-my power goes in the shitter when the pavement flattens out or slopes down…need to work on that

I am not sure that this will change anything for me…but good to have a number to chime in with when the power chat starts

4 Responses to “FTP test: the good, the bad and I’m ugly”

Shane says:

March 29, 2009 at 2:24 pm

POWAH!
ken says:

March 29, 2009 at 3:04 pm

Nice!!!! You da man.
Aaron says:

March 30, 2009 at 3:03 pm

Cory,
That’s very, very good! Especially because testing outside on an irregular course tends to underestimate one’s theoretical FTP maximum.
leo says:

March 30, 2009 at 4:04 pm

very, very solid. nice work Cory!!

-Leo