I’ve been involved with cycling for 40+ years. A lot of people come and go. My main riding and racing partner from years ago rides a few times per year out of guilt. He even buys new bikes every now and then with the best of intentions but doesn’t ride them.
Those fast old geezers in bike clubs are the guys that have been doing it for decades and never stopped. It’s also a self selecting gene pool. They are on the right side of the bell curve and are rewarded in cycling so they stick with it.
Another data point. I’m 60, weigh 70kg, have an FTP of 253, and have used TR off-and-on for over 6 years. I’d like to reach 4watts/kg and have been as high as 3.8, but incremental gains are proving difficult.
I’ve been racing since i was 18 (MTB, road, cx gravel) and while never hit pro hours per week or mileage i’ve never stopped or at least raced a few times per year and to my recollection never taken more than a few weeks off the bike.
I’ve hit 4WpKG in the past but in my mid 50’s its a struggle and not sure i’ll hit it there again other than with an aggressive weight loss (current about 74kg/167 (about 5’10, 270 ftp about) plan or try and hit a consistent 15hr week. Been thinking about trying structured training with TR but just tough to do it. Sad to say but it’ll probable never happen given work/fam/life obligations (though i still average 10-12 hours and race 25-30x a year)
Just saying, for all the people here that say 4wpkg is easy for people that have been doing it forever…its never that easy. It takes either good genes, careful eating habits and/or hard work.
Same here…for years FTP-ing between 270-280 now…4 years ago managed 284W for an hour, that was at 73kg. For the moment hovering around 270W for an hour at 72kg…at 47years.
Also try to hit 4w/kg once, but age is not getting in favor for this ;-).
Goal is to get to 70kg…and maybe try to hit 280W again…I do pretty ok volume (12-15h a week). But not real structured ftp or other stuff. Plan of doing a Vo2 block for the first time…maybe that can help hitting my plateau…
Can I ask, to claim 4wkg, do you actually need to do a 60min FTP test, or at least use your best 1 hour power, or is using your AIFTP or result from a ramp test, acceptable?
I just crunched.the numbers. I (55) need to shed 3kg (definitely doable) and gain 20 watts (not impossible, but challenging) to get from 3.56 to 4.01 wkg.
There is still time, you are just a kid… But seriously, I didn’t get above 4w/kg until after I turned 50 and I’m still able to get there at 55. We certainly lose potential with age, but most of us are not up against our genetic potential. For me, it was the extra time for the bike and less life stresses as I approached 50 that allowed me to add those 20+ watts to get over 4w/kg. Kids out of the house and getting through college, a little less concerned about career, etc. I retired last year and now I’m doing a bunch of volume to see how my body responds at 55+. Trying to find some limits of where the stress is too much, but I’ve been loading on 800-1000+ tss weeks and seem to be responding well. Not sure the FTP is any higher (yet), but my endurance is the best I’ve had.
Neither is the AI generated one. We need something based on actual time rather than a bunch of equations. Otherwise you are comparing apples and oranges. Pick a duration and see what people can actually hold.
Using TR for 2 years with a few months off in 2023 due to ACL surgery.
Will be 54 in June and currently at 3.95w/kg (292w)- intend to be 4w/kg by the time the BC Bike race starts (July 1st)