Knowing an increase in ftp only comes after I pass the 19:30 minute mark has not kept me on the bike longer. Therefore having live ftp will not keep me on the bike longer.
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Same! 
is it true that you only gain an FTP increase after 19:30 on the bike???
Yes, that is the ābreak evenā point where you hit the power that would match your current FTP as set for the test.
It assumes you are holding smooth power and not fluctuating too much, but that is the right time in the test.
Assuming live FTP would be more motivating and help people hit a higher FTP - would that actually be a positive thing, or just cause more people to struggle with subsequent workouts as their FTP is set too high? 
I would throw a vote behind adding live FTP. For me I think that would be a motivating factor rather than a limiting one. If the test is to be to failure then I donāt see any problem with someone increasing their FTP too much, eventually your body will fail no matter how much you want to push for a higher number.
From a software engineering perspective it seems like there are two camps of people, those who find this motivating and those who donāt. So it makes sense that live FTP should be added as an option, but it should be defaulted to off. This way the test stays as-is for everyone currently, and those that know it would motivate them can enable it. To me this seems like the best way to handle it.
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Would it be possible to have a button or slider on the test screen to provide the choice? If you want it, slide it to on, if you donāt want it turn it off. I could be like workout instructions. There is an option to turn them off.
Any change like this MUST include the option to include or exclude, IMHO.
I and others prefer minimal to no data during a test. Iād like consideration for both extremes (max & min data).
I would see this as the ideal. The ramp test, 8 minute and 20 minute already have the ability to update FTP, so this seems like a relatively small change to my admittedly non-techie mind!?!
I would want the number there for sure. The pain is real. There shouldnāt be a question mark over your head while you push the limit. Need that carrot there to help the mental drive in the last few steps.
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Yes, at the very least, it should indicate if you went past your current or PR FTP. These carrots are BIG motivators. More so than any music piping thru my headset.
It would keep me on my bike longer. Right now the physical pain is my limiter, but I know my mental fortitude can overcome that and eeeek out a little more if I know how much longer I have to hang on to get past my goal.
Hi Iām new here but like to chime in with thoughts on this based on my first ramp test last nightā¦
I would be against the live ftp idea based on what happened to me last night. I stumbled on to this thread yesterday before I did the test and really wish I hadnāt. You see I had no idea at all about the 19:30 ābreak evenā point before I read the above comments but this knowledge did definitely negatively affect my mentality towards the end of the test. I was so fixated on not having an ftp reduction that as soon as 19:30 came the motivation just wasnāt there anymore - I persevered to 19:45 then stopped - I think I could have done more (there is always tonight right?!)
To add salt to the wound my FTP did end up dropping 1w based on my most recent 20min test 
I do like the ramp test though - my preferred testing method now - tempted to do it āblindā next time.
Im not keen on the idea of live FTP or atleast if its a feature have the option to switch off.
As its a test i dont want to know the answer as im doing it, i want to push until i cant then be given the answer {makes sense in my head) not liking the fact i now know the break even point is 19.30.
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I cover everything except cadence. I hide time now too, because of the break point.
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Me either. Deffo donāt want live FTP.
Iām going to have to do what mcneese.chad does and cover everything!
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This sounds like a polarizing topic.
@Pete Can would put an issue in for discussion around this? My personal preference is what everyone else here has pretty much said; option to turn it on/off. Iām not sure where weād show it but we can figure that out.
Personally Iād love it; but obviously others would not.
In general I really like to shy away from on/off options as it makes the software more complex, but I think this is a good use case.
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I really like the discussion around this one. Iāll issue something up and we can talk about it. Iām still in the blind Ramp Test is probably the right way for most users, but Iām willing to give options for everyone.
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Maybe off by default then.
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Or if easier with software, as suggested above @Nate_Pearson have 2 different versions of ramp test - exactly same but one showing live ftp and one blind. Put blind ones in plan (as default) but make it clear the alternative version is available?
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