Crank Length, Achieving Mastery, DOMS and More – Ask a Cycling Coach 287

[Nate_Pearson]

@Matt2380

Did anyone else here Nate say that endurance work doesn’t improve FTP? That it only goes one way (high end work improves lower zones) but not the other way around.

I believe this is an incorrect statement.

There’s not a strong correlation between Z2 work to increased threshold/Vo2/anaerobic capacity in our dataset… . I’m surprised too.

There are strong relationships between other combinations: IE VO2Max → Threshold.

I think this makes sense when looking at the larger picture. You can’t Z2 your way to incredible VO2 Max power (IE only Z2 and nothing else). But you can build an excellent aerobic foundation that you can then build on by doing some VO2 max work that then increases your power at VO2 max.

@bbarrera

hmm, well right now I’ve got 3 months of endurance work that disagrees.

Can I check it out? What three-month window? You didn’t do anything over Z2 for three months? Also, were you coming from extended time off or lower fitness than usual? I’d like to see your PRs directly after your three months of Z2 and see how they stacked up to previous PRs or if you had to ramp into them.