Threshold test and strange values.

oettam20 said:

[font=Arial]Yesterday I did a test on a ergocycle to determine my anaerobic threshold. After a warm up of 30 minutes I started at 80 watts increasing loads every 60 seconds by 20watts. So the load was 80w; 100w, 120w, ......... [/font]
[font=Arial]After 20 minutes I got to 480 watts where I failed after 10 seconds at 191 beats per minute (my max bpm).[/font]
[font=Arial]After analyzing heart rate data with 'Polar precision performance' program I found an anaerobic threshold at 167 bpm and 320 watts.
I'm 78-79 kilos and 30 years old and relatively new to cycling (I used to run marathons since 2 years ago).[/font]
[font=Arial]According to my experience my threshold should be at 176 +/-3 bpm while power could be right at 320 watts.[/font]

[font=Arial][/font]
[font=Arial]Do you think that these values could be right? considering also max power reached (480watts)[/font]

[font=Arial]Why bpm are lower than expected? Maybe steps of 60 seconds are to short?[/font]

[font=Arial]What's my FTP?[/font]

[font=Arial][/font]
[font=Arial]Thanks for any suggestion[/font]

I beleive that your FTP would be the avg power you can sustain over a 60min test.

Why don't you simply consider your FTP as being 320w as a start. If it's not the case, then you'll quickly figure that out.

How do you plan to use this data now? I mean, how are you going to use it for your training?

oettam20 said:

[font=Arial]What's my FTP?[/font]

Probably in the 340-350W ballpark on that specific ergo (~75% of final minute power from step test).

jbvcoaching said:

Probably in the 340-350W ballpark on that specific ergo (~75% of final minute power from step test).

that would be my estimate to.

However, if the OP wants to know his actual FT, then i suggest going out and riding flat out for an hour. always good training!

Ric

ric_stern/RST said:

However, if the OP wants to know his actual FT, then i suggest going out and riding flat out for an hour. always good training!
Ric

That's been my favorite so far 😄

SolarEnergy said:

I beleive that your FTP would be the avg power you can sustain over a 60min test.

Why don't you simply consider your FTP as being 320w as a start. If it's not the case, then you'll quickly figure that out.

How do you plan to use this data now? I mean, how are you going to use it for your training?

I'm waiting for an Ergomo Pro that I just ordered.
I want to start training with power in the right way, this is why I need suggestions.
Thanks

oettam20 said:

I'm waiting for an Ergomo Pro that I just ordered.
I want to start training with power in the right way, this is why I need suggestions.
Thanks

The "right" way? I'm sure there's more than one way to train 'correctly'!

setting your training zones/levels is only the first part of training 'correctly', thereafter it's better to base training on what you can actually do from previous training sessions.

Different sports scientists and coaches will have different methods of setting training zones/levels. For e.g., we set our zones based on a similar incremental test that you performed -- see http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=powerstern whereas Andy C sets his via a one hour test.

ciao,

ric

oettam20 said:

I'm waiting for an Ergomo Pro that I just ordered.
I want to start training with power in the right way, this is why I need suggestions.
Thanks

Hi,

Good thing (and good choice too I think) !

You'll see when you start training with it. Knowing your target levels is an ongoing process. If you start training while underestimating your FTP, almost everything will feel too easy. If you overestimate it, almost everything will feel to hard.

I think it's been said few times that one good way to estimate your FTP, is by the now famous 2X20min. But personally, I really enjoy going against the wind for 60 minutes as hard as I can. Why don't you go with what you like the most. After all, you probably perform better in tests you like to do. For some riders, that will be on an indoor training, for others while climbing a hill, for me, it's definitely against the wind.

If you want to train using the FTP model, you may consider buying Allen/Coggan's book of course.

Have fun, keep us posted !

As great as power is, its' never going to be accurate to within 5 watts, this is why most coach's use a range, on good days you'll be at the upped end of the range, bad days on the lower end, there's also power variations if you're ridding outside, everytime a car goes by you, the wind gust's up or down, there's a slight incline... yada yada...

I'd say sit yourself on a trainner or rollers and do 2x20min at 330w, it's a good controlled way to examine your ftp, if 330w leave's you with a bit of gas left in the tank by the end, then try 340w next time, if you're barely able to finish it at 330w and notice your HR dirfting up into the 180's then maybe try 320w next time. You could also try a blind test, put a peice of tape over your power read out and just go as hard as you can for an hour on a flat course, or rollers/trainner, trying to keep it as steady as you can.