Help from Power Gurus

paggnr

I need some help deciphering the following power numbers. I'm newish to power having had a PM since Sept last year, and am struggling to determine my FTP.

Last August I conducted a VO2max lab test, with the following results

VO2Max Peak - 57.3 @ 325W @ 186bpm
Threshold - 250W @ 158bpm
Weight - 68kg

On Sat I conducted a 20min FTP Test on my turbo trainer with the following results

Avg W = 210w @ 166bpm (so FTP @ 95% = 200w)
I thought was really pushing hard in this test.

On Sun I conducted a 2hr ride that included 2 x 20min sustained climbs (Mt Dandenong if anyone knows it)

1st climb after 20min warm up - 5km avg grade 6.6% 20min
Avg W = 280w @ 170bmp

2nd climb after 10min downhill recovery - 5.4km avg grade 5.8% 20min
Avg W = 232 @ 164bpm

Not sure what to make of these numbers. Any insight would be grateful.

Alex_Simmons/RST

Refer to my question on the BNA forum to this request.

amaferanga

This may be a daft question, but when you have good hills that are suitable for a 20min test then why do you use a turbo trainer? I wish we had lots of hills like that in the UK, but unfortunately they're few and far between.

I'm sure Alex has answered your question much more elegantly than I could, but I'd query a few things:

1) Are you using the same power measuring device on the turbo as outdoors?

2) If so what is it and are you making sure you set the zero offset regularly either manually or through automatic zeroing?

So do you believe the data is believable? If it was me I'd go do some repeat testing on Mt Dandenong and forget about the numbers from the turbo. But based on what you've said 250 - 260W would seem about right to me.

Alex_Simmons/RST

It's a Power2Max (except the VO2 test).

Turbo sessions and long climbs with non stop pedaling and changing temps are therefore likely to provide unreliable data, making it almost impossible to sensibly draw any physiological conclusions.