It really depends on where you're starting, how much time and effort you can put into training and to some extent your genetics.millzebub said:
daveryanwyoming said:
Their computer doesn't actually "measure watts," but makes an estimate based on speed and known setup procedures - so as an absolute value, you may be off. However, if you set up the KK the same way each time, I've heard from folks that the KK is consistent in its measurements when comparing to previous rides, and at the end of the day that's probably the most important thing.millzebub said:
NomadVW said:
millzebub said:
wiredued said:
NomadVW said:
Based on my own n=1 experiment last winter I raised my FTP quite a bit while dropping weight at the same time. But I also started a long way from race weight and relatively untrained after a very long layoff and just a few months of unstructured riding. Might be a lot tougher to keep the FTP climbing while losing weight if you're already race fit and within a few kilos of your best race weight.Roadie_scum said:
That's a very good question. I suspect it depends in part on how lean you are at your best race weight. Are you targeting really low body fat percentages like 7% or less or do you race at 10% or above? I've been racing right around 10% based on an impedance based body fat measurement device. I haven't done skin calipers or underwater weighing in years so I don't know how I'd measure with those devices. Anyway I've stayed healthy during my weight loss and since hitting race weight (early April) at that weight and that includes a lot of hard training and racing. I don't seem to have compromised my immune system at race weight, but you might be shooting for an even lower body fat percentage.
For me "Race Weight" is found when producing max w/kg at my best/strongest time interval(i.e. 1, 5 or 20/60min) while maintaining a healthy immune system(i.e. not getting sick). A delicate balancing act. It is very individual and usually found via experimentation and trial-n-error rather than as a certain body fat percentage. Once found keep close to the weight sweet-spot. Comfortably go up a few kgs in a recovery/winter program knowing what the target goal is and how to get there but be careful. Don't know the weight sweet-spot then keep taking it off(don't wait) at a slow/reasonable pace till you start to hone in on it.daveryanwyoming said:
daveryanwyoming said:
Hard to isolate this one factor I'd say, with the importance of sleep quality/volume and other life stresses playing their part too.Roadie_scum said:
I know for me, I started the year with an FTP right around 345. I was at an "honest" weight of around 173-175. I trained, trained and trained some more - but also knew I had to drop some weight to get competitive in racing in Japan where everything goes up hill. I dropped down to a steady 165-167 by late spring. 165 is my personal "limit." My FTP changed little to none over the April-May months. Now that I've flattened my weight loss, I've started to get a steady PE indications that FTP is going up.Roadie_scum said:
