Today’s ride turned out to be something of a disaster. Last week, I mentioned that I needed to perform an FTP (Functional Threshold Power) test to gain a clearer understanding of my current fitness level.
I checked MyWhoosh, specifically my website that tracks available workouts on MyWhoosh, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find a short FTP test like the one offered on Zwift. To complete the full 20-minute test, I would have needed to ride for an hour and fifteen minutes, as that is the only workout option that includes the 20-minute FTP test.
The next best one I could find was the MyWhoosh Ramp Test. This choice has the added advantage that it doesn’t require sustaining the effort for 20 minutes.
Going into this test, I expected my FTP to be lower than my previous figure of 235 watts. Just before my accident, I was already down from that number, probably around 220 to 230 watts. Earlier in the summer, I felt like I was well on-track to besting that, so I truly believe I am capable of way more than I can currently produce.
However, I also recognised that I was a long way off from that previous peak performance.
One significant change in recent weeks regarding my indoor setup has been switching from my Assioma Duo pedals as the power source to using the Tacx Neo. This adjustment led me to expect my FTP figures to be down by about 8.5 percent based on previous observations.
At the moment, I’m not specifically trained for an FTP test, and I haven’t attempted anything close to a 20-minute effort in months. Given that context, the full 20-minute test probably wouldn’t have been a pleasant experience. I was also less apprehensive about the ramp test compared to the full 20-minute effort, so that’s the option I decided to go with.
Having done ramp tests before, I was not new to the experience, and I know they can become challenging very quickly. They start off manageable, but once the pain kicks in, it doesn’t let up. I anticipated things would get tough around the 10-minute mark.
With a 5-minute warm-up interval, I expected to navigate the first 10 blocks without too much difficulty. However, I was targeting the second anaerobic interval as the point where I would likely hit a wall. I was fairly accurate in my prediction, but I also wonder if my expectation influenced the outcome, as that is precisely what happened.
As I recall from my experience in Zwift, the ramp test concludes by immediately displaying your new FTP on screen. At least, that’s how I remember it. Unfortunately, MyWhoosh doesn’t offer this instant feedback; you only see your new FTP at the end of the ride. This time, there was a 10-minute enforced cooldown after the test, which I made sure to utilise fully.
Once the cooldown was over, I was presented with my new FTP figure, and to be honest, I was… well, I’m not sure if “disappointed” captures it. I recorded a FTP of 204 watts, which feels like a significant setback, especially since I had previously adjusted my in-game FTP down to 215 watts as a more realistic and achievable target. This result feels like a major backward step for me.
But here we are, and I have to believe that this figure is accurate. Whether it’s influenced by different pedals or some other setup is irrelevant at this point. This is the number I have, and I need to try doing some workouts at this FTP to determine if it is at all useful for me.
In my view, the actual number is somewhat of a vanity metric. The real value lies in the quality of the training sessions I can achieve based on that figure. I plan to tackle some 40-minute over-unders, similar to what I used to do frequently in Zwift. I know how taxing those can be, so I have a good understanding of how I should feel after those workouts.
I’ll give one a try tomorrow, which should help me better comprehend what this new number means. But right now, I have to admit I feel a bit embarrassed to share it, as it represents such a backward step. Nonetheless, if this is the reality, then that’s simply how it is.
