Yea if you’ve done all your workouts for the last year…you definitely didnt just lose 10% of your ftp this last test.
The test isnt something to be afraid of. I think that might partly be a product of going so long without doing one. If I’m being honest…I’m far more afraid of a threshold workout than a ramp test! The key is coming up with a plan and sticking to it, or at least doing the same thing every time.
For me…I’m on an erg trainer. When my legs start to fail, I throw in the towel. This always manifests itself in cadence dropping that I cant stop. The power will still be there…barely. But the cadence drop to an unsustainable level is inevitable, so I just pull the plug right when it starts. Maybe I’m shortchanging myself on 2 or 3 watts…but the supreme effort to hold on for another 10 seconds just isnt worth it.
Anyway…my only real point here is to come up with your own definition of ‘failure’ on the ramp test is, and then push yourself to that point, consistently, each test. For me…I pull the plug that little bit early because I know I can get myself there regardless of my motivation on that particular day.