Felt_Rider said:
Here I am wondering the same as you and can't phathom me sustaining
300 W and yet my coworker is wondering the same thing when he gets invited to some of these rides. Then again he works full time now, whereas, the rest of his team primarily (several are Cat-1's) train long hours through the week. I suppose when you have found the purpose of your genetics and have nothing to do but train and rest things go well.
I have logged some 20 minute intervals at 300W, but sustaining it for a full hour does seem pretty daunting. I plan to test outdoors in a few weeks so I will let you know. Right now, I would estimate that I am above my last test of 284, but less than 300. The incremental jump from 280 up seems much more dificult than the initial large gains I achieved after I got the PT.
I am no Cat 1 and have pretty ordinary genetics so I do think 300 W FTP for a 165 pound fit cyclist (or a comprable power to weight for a lighter rider) is achievable by weekend warriors like us with some dedicated training indoors. As we have mentioned, work, family, other cross training pursuits all can interfere with reaching that goal, but I don't think it is outside the potential of a very fit cyclist who has logged some miles in.
Now, riding and training with pros is another story. Back in the 80s, my brother was a very good runner locally and on the state level. He went to Villanova and ran with various world class Olympians including Sydney Maree, Marcus O'Sullivan. So, he trained with these guys every day. Suffice it to say that the difference between very good and elite is really significant. If you are very good, you might be able to
survive a training run with some of them where they tool around at a low 5 minute mile pace for a few miles. but you're not going to be able to train with them for even a few days. He literally spent four years being almost constantly sick and fatigued from overtraining and never really could figure out why he could just not train himself to greatness. This is a guy that could run a 4:15 mile, he just couldn't run faster and couldn't run 4:15 consistently week after week no matter how much he trained. At an elite program like 'Nova at the time, they pretty much didn't even have a seat on the team bus for you if that was your best. At some point, you have to choose your parents carefully, start out at the right time, and then training and coaching can make the whole deal work.
The same is true in cycling. In the early 90s, we used to have some of the sponsored Pros racing the Corestates/First Union/Wachovia/Commerce(US Pro Cycling Championship) ride with some of the local clubs in the days before the race in early June. Obviously, they were not going out super hard a day or so before the race. Usually, it was just a favor to a local bike shop owner/sponsor that they were even on the ride and often they had trained with their team earlier in the day. But it was crushing even trying to hang with them during a normal club ride. A no name pro could suddenly just take it up and drop a whole pack of Cat 2,3, and 4 riders and open a gap where you wouldn't even see them on a flat road with no obstructions. Its just another level. There is as much difference between them and the typical club rider as there is between you and the person that puts 20 minutes on the Lifecycle at the gym before he starts his workout. its not just that they have an FTP that is 30 to 40 % higher. But they can cruise along for hours and days at levels that would be well on the downside of the overtraining curve for any normal rec rider or racer.
Its just true in almost any activity. Play ten minutes of pick up basketball with a scrub on a D1 basketball team. Do a blocking drill with a scrub D1 football lineman. Spar a round with an average local Golden Gloves boxer. Even if you survive, that in no way compares what it would be like to compete with them in their game under real conditions. There is competent, good, very good, and then elite. And the gap between each incremental level is huge.
So that's the tricky part. Setting goals that are achievable and stretch current abilities, but not setting the bar so high that it is just discouraging. And the goals have to account for work, family, and other interests, or they are just as unrealistic as if you set your goal of riding the TdF this year.
