3 Ways To Boost Your FTP & Why You're Not Improving!

[@gtn]

Has your FTP ever stagnated? How did you manage to push through and keep improving?

[@erictravis5995]

For me, I realized my HR was low but my legs were tapping out, so I started a weight program to improve my leg strength to allow them to keep up with my cardio. That allowed me to push through the plateau.

[@Cookefan59]

You guys need to get an electric chase vehicle. Whatever you’re using is LOUD! 😂 Sounds like a lawn mower with Bronchitis.

[@dontcallmechief]

Thats Marks drivetrain making that noise. He doesnt believe in cleaning and lubing. :) jk

[@markthrelfall3577]

@@dontcallmechief oi 😂

[@MrEMann]

This! Omg so annoying

[@mlustosakm]

339w FTP, but with 120kg this not make me very fast, and its crazy to ride uphill. So FTP its not my priority, if i can maintain the FTP and loose weight will be very nice hehe

[@petersands4449]

Lol 100% my friend. I hear you 👍

[@zekevfab]

I recently discovered the importance of the aerobic threshold for long distance events, even more important than FTP / lactate threshold. I used to only focus on FTP, because it’s easy to get an estimate of it, but now I understand aerobic threshold is even more important for me as a IM70.3 athlete. Maybe you could do a video on AT too?

[@jamiefuhrman403]

Agree this is useful but FTP seems to have more standardized testing. Not sure a fitness test for AT exists? I actually think many training zone calculators estimate AT from FTP, hence it's importance.

[@zekevfab]

@@jamiefuhrman403 you are right, you need to do a test in a lab to get the aerobic threshold. But it seems you can approximate it by feel, if you can hold the effort without panting much / hold a conversation and you can hold it for 2+ hours without pain. It seems also from the litterature I read the formulas to derive the aerobic threshold from FTP are not accurate at all… Would be interesting to get GTN’s views on this too 🙂

[@jamiefuhrman403]

@@zekevfab Great points, all true.

[@EatMyPropwash]

1000FTP. Ok jk jk. I’m in the mission for 300…. As soon as I recovering from covid…

[@EspenSkaufel]

Could you please do a winter triathlon?

[@stevendaddyrue8026]

Currently 194 my goal by September is 220 keep creating awesome content thanks

[@Oldmaite]

Ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike!

[@MattSwain1]

That’s really ineffective if FTP improvement is what you want, especially if your base fitness is already quite good. Doing a lot of riding might improve your overall endurance but it’s unlikely to do much for your FTP

[@ElonMuckX]

Repeat!!!

[@Oldmaite]

@@MattSwain1 its an eddie merckx quote

[@BurnyTone]

Missed or irregular periods in women and no morning glory in men are also indicators that you are overtraining or not recovering. GTN never mention this, so here you go 🤷‍♂️

[@captainsmith8842]

Volume is key! If you want to improve FTP, ride your bike more; it really is that simple.

[@robert_mn]

Before I get a power meter, I need to get a bike that is worth more than the power meter. No point in putting one on a $250 bike lol

[@Majestic1987]

Actually, it is worth it. Besides you can keep the power meter when you buy a better bike. My bike was 500€, my Assiomas like 700, but they will still be mountee on my next bike and probably the one after that, too.

[@csaba675]

Any chance you guys can switch to an electric motorbike for filming? Thanks!!

[@peterstone8540]

I love the new kit! 👍🏻🤪

[@gtn]

Thanks - we do too!

[@erictravis5995]

Currently 285 but working to push it back up to 300W. Some tough days ahead!

[@alannkevin]

Me too buddy, I feel like my quads are not squeezing, more like they are not producing power 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@wimhelsen2211]

Lanzarote is awesome !

[@youngy76]

How comes you guys are always in Lanzarote lol thought you all live and work in Bath

[@markthrelfall3577]

We occasionally head abroad to get lots of videos filmed in a nice location, and without shivering our backsides off all day

[@jamiefuhrman403]

#gtncoachescorner How should I go about selecting a coach? I consider myself well versed on training plans but my fitness gains have stalled recently and I think a coach may be able to get me over the hump. However, I don't just want to take a leap of faith and entrust something I care so much about in the hands of a relatively unknown person. Especially considering the expense. Thanks!

[@ptocknell]

TrainingPeaks has a coach finder feature. Many of them are former professional athletes and have all the coaching credentials to back it up as well

[@jmunyard]

Great information, and awesome video.

[@TransAm2k4]

How does strength training affect the FTP increase goal?

[@ptocknell]

Targeted strength training helps a lot! I recommend the book Maximum Overload for Cyclists for exercises to improve leg strength.

[@erictravis5995]

If your HR is the limiting factor and your leg muscles seem to have enough strength to continue, strength training may not help much but if your legs are the limiting factor and you have difficulty pushes your HR to your threshold HR on the bike, then strength trg can help a lot!

[@TransAm2k4]

@@erictravis5995 interesting, i can push my hr during a ramp test to max that matches max running... so maybe not so much benefit for me

[@arunp.p.6577]

You sud try and get a quieter vehicle while filiming Or use mic with ANC or even edit audio before final cut , this will improove the viewer experience.

[@jameswestgate4896]

I’m still trying to figure out a whole lot of videos in why an electric scooter or something a little quieter isn’t being used for these vids …

[@pepkthx]

Great info, but come on guys, hire an electric scooter next time :-P

[@diegoeleazar9154]

Most people fail to rest and eat.

[@stefjanssen56]

Haha long course athletes try to improve ftp, what to do for the other 4 hours od the ride 🤔

[@markthrelfall3577]

A higher ftp is important for any distance

[@rogger55]

the answer to that would be focus then on the aerobic threshold instead...

[@jerichoholic5805]

Polarized is the key. Period.

[@rmpelnilschen130]

30/30, 30/15, 40/20 and base riding -> 50 Watts a year

[@reistje]

That seems like a beautiful place to ride!

[@gtn]

It is!

[@sebastian3358spawn]

This channel really needs an electric vehicle filming them

[@jorgewilkes]

Great Video GTN, nice to see you in Lanza ! Where would you recommend to do FTP testing, on the turbo or road?

[@jamiefuhrman403]

Turbo will give you a more accurate, uninterrupted test. No need to worry about environmental factors like traffic, weather, etc. I'd actually be curious if GTN did a video comparing the two. Mark discusses this a little before the 5:00 mark.

[@ptocknell]

I have tried to do FTP testing on the road and it is really difficult unless you can find a really long stretch of uninterrupted road or bike path. I would recommend doing it on the turbo for sure! You have to remember that the FTP calculators are all based off of average watts for those twenty minutes so any turning, stoping slowing down will negatively impact your FTP and therefore your subsequent zones will be off as well.

[@ariffau]

Just pedal faster, harder and longer. DONE 😆

[@THELEGEND-kh2un]

I'm currently 260 at 61kg working to 300

[@joaoserdoura4581]

Who s the diabetic? ;)

[@jamiefuhrman403]

Is there much benefit to a power meter if I do the bulk of my training indoors, where the trainer reads my power directly? I can then race based on feel and heart rate, not sure what incremental benefit a power meter provides during racing.

[@Laxton_Himself]

I do this too. I race relatively short course triathlon so it’s almost all out, I don’t think a power meter on my race bike would make much difference personally. A lot of the guys from my club say it’s essential for half and full ironman racing so you don’t blow up and you keep in your target zone.

[@ptocknell]

There is a lot of benefit of having a power meter. While racing on feel and heart heart can work ok for some - having a power meter can really help you dial in proper pacing on the bike. I calculate beforehand my sustained and max efforts as a percentage of FTP based on the race course length. I have seen improvement in my short and long course times when using a power meter outside.

[@johanbesar8041]

No need if you are pro cyclist that knows how to control power. But if you learn to use it you will get new experience how to control your power very eficient. Heart rate can be slow rise up but power spike happend many time can burn muscle faster. Heart rate cannot read power spike. So outdoor cycling using power meter plus heart rate help you do constant power base on your ftp or max power data before your muscle burn out. Its not easy to use, need a lot training how to control power with power meter. For race, time trial and some target training. No traget then it will be useless.

[@LR6092]

Watts alone are meaningless. What's your w/kg is the true question

[@JonReid]

Only for climbing. Watts/cda for flats

[@LR6092]

@Jon Reid they're the same thing. A good watts/kg suggests the rider is small at the same time as producing high watts. So unless he is wearing football pads his watts/Cda should also be high given his watts are allready high and he is small producing little drag

[@JonReid]

@@LR6092 nope - it depends on the position the rider is able to achieve. Certainly, being smaller helps, but to a limited extent. Look at Ganna, he gets dropped on climbs, but is the fastest man around on a flat course. He is also quite a big guy.

[@JonReid]

@@LR6092 gcn just covered this very topic today. Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn-rdqiJis53f68

[@LR6092]

@@JonReid nope