NM87710 said:
Not really sure what benefit there is to compare one's numbers vs. anothers or the chart except to identify some POTENTIAL ability.
Strange, but I was also wondering about the merits of a topic such as this.
Most posters with the exception of 2 or 3, have pretty impressive figures.
How many of the 1600 riders who have checked out this thread can get anywhere near said figures?
I think there are 5 posssible reactions upon reading the figures posted here.
1) So what? I'll continue doing my thing.
2) A feeling of inferiority/frustration/disbelief etc.
3) Something must be wrong with my training method.
4) Resignation/I give up.
5) Inspiration/determination to improve.
Although I place myself in the last category, I haven't been training seriously for that long, and I feel there is still room for improvement. But what about riders who have been slogging away for years, and are nowhere near those figures quoted.
I remember RD saying to me last year (when I was churning out 250W 20 minute intervals and was dissatisfied), "many riders in my club would love to have an FTP of 250Watts".
All I can say is, yes you can continue to improve, however, if you chose the wrong father, no amount of hard structured training will get you to a 300 watts plus FTP. Accept that life
is unfair and at some point you will hit the wall. I have come to realize that an FTP of 300 Watts is no mean feat.
One final illustration. A guy in the gym 6 years younger than me, has been following my training pattern for more than 6 months now and is still struggling at 165 Watts!
Enjoy cycling and improving to the best of
your ability. We can't all be Lances. Especially not at my age.
TYSON
EDIT: It just occurred to me that the "Killing me thread" although the figures are nowhere near as high as the ones posted in this thread, may give rise to the above 5 reactions. In particular young guys thinking; how come that silly old fart can do those figures, when I in my 20s can't? Ah well!
