I really like #5 being able to recover quickly. Always nice having more in the tank. Usually though, being a steady state type, I measure my cardiac drift and how much power relative to my endurance power. Usually a slow progress, but always nice when I see a sight nudge up.
I’m a steady state type too but only in the gym - especially when 60-minute pure FTP testing. When do you notice cardiac drift tends to kick in for you?
MAF test is extremely efficient. Ride for 30 min at your MAF heart rate and mesure the distance. Or you ride for 20km distance and measure the time. Repeat the same test every month regularly. Best done indoors on smart trainer of course.
Hi Cam, lately my Garmin has been has been telling me that I am exeeding my max heart rate (180bpm) on big uphill efforts, this heart rate has been set the same for the last couple of years. I have been averaging about 220+ kms per week for the last 6 months or more so I feel I am as fit or fitter as I was when it was set. Should I just up my heart rate setting to get rid of the annoying warnings on the screen or could there be an underlying problem with my percieved improved fitness, by the way I am 66 yrs old and race regulally, I have been achieving regular Strava PR's lately so assume my fittness is as good as it was when HR was set. Cheers David
Thanks for sharing David. I would reset your Garmin yes. The challenge with HR also, according to Luke, is there's so much variability from person to person, so potentially you're getting fitter. and you are in your sixties, yet your Max HR is increasing! It sounds like you're bloody fit too! Good work. Cam
Hey Cam question I hear a lot of people say different things about where you should do an ftp test. Should it be done on a climb or should it be done on the flat? Cheers
Common sense would suggest that you should do the FTP test on similar terrain to where you plan on actually training or doing intervals with those numbers. For example, if you always do your intervals up a 5% climb, then do your FTP test up a 5% climb. If you always do intervals on a flat or false flat, then do your FTP test on a flat. It doesn't matter if your FTP is higher or lower on climbs or flats, the numbers are just used for consistency in training.
Thanks a lot!!! Zwift automatacly raised me Up after a stage race to 296 Watts FTB. How exact is this number If you compare IT to a ramb or suffertest?
Thx for another great video mate! Q; Can you recommend an app that will track your fitness data, like weight, ftp, map, ac, nm over time, and show everything in easily readable graphs. Any tips would be appreciated!
You did not directly mention weight. I’m someone who has no sprint power (750 W Max) and would love to be a lightweight climber, but I’ve never been able to get under 72kg. I’ll up my training volume as much as I want, but all that happens is my W/kg goes up along with my FTP. Is this a case of being genetically a built for TT, or is there a way to hold the same wattage while losing kilos instead of adding power at the same weight?
I did mention weight closer to the end. You do open up a can of worms here,but yes there is. Normally when I am improving I am adding watts and reducing weight. That is the double edge sword you want and the benchmark climb is a great showing of this.
Hey mate , I just finished my structured 3 months training , I did my ramp up test It shows me that my FTP has increased 17 watts !! , when I train in my new zones Im finding it little hard , is that okay ?
Cam Nicholls Thanks for your reply dude , Last Question and forgive me for being noisy haha , Should I start a new structure plan after finishing my 2 months structure plan or I should wait a little bit to refresh my self and start a new plan again ? If yes do I have to stay away from the bike or still ride but on zone 1 and 2 ? Sorry again and thanks for your unlimited support.
