TrainerRoad, Wahoo KICKR and FTP

[E65Ross]

Ponk said:

4.2 watts per kg at FTP is strong! Not sure why you would want to put weight on with power to weight like that.

I'm only 8st 7lbs at the moment, and 5ft 5 so not a big frame at all! I'm not bad up the hills but don't think being so light helps on longer, flat rides. Before having major surgery in December I was 8st 12lbs or so, but within 10 days I dropped to 7st 8lbs and have slowly put the weight back on. I'm only around 6% body fat and 54% muscle mass (but having such little fat helps that figure!)

I was happy to get over 4W/kg at threshold

[E65Ross]

nammynake said:

4 W/kg is a decent power:weight so good effort. Power to weight (at threshold) is great for long alpine-style climbs, which may last 30-60 (or more) minutes but is less beneficial to the climbs we get in the UK (which are typically 5 minutes or so). I have a power:weight of around 4.2 W/Kg but frequently get dropped on training rides where the climbs last several minutes, simply because the guys have a better short-term power (and power:weight).

Maybe have a look at mixing shorter intervals (anaerobic and VO2max) into your training to complement threshold training.

Yes definitely, I'm going to look at doing more VO2 max and anaerobic efforts soon. I have a friend who is also a half decent cyclist.... He's a fair bit heavier than me but I've no doubt he has a higher FTP but I think my FTP:weight is higher. On long, long climbs I leave him for dead, but shorter climbs or flat routes it's far closer between us.