24th out of 457. It was a 50+ minute PR for me
6 Likes
Thanks for sharing. 2 questions:
- Do you also lift weights regularly ?
- How meticulous are you at updating your FTP, how frequent do you test?
Old
I would try to train for something different with the aim of finding love for the process. Some years I aim for ultras, others short TTâs. I like to keep it fresh and challenge the body in different ways. Good for the mental as well.
10 Likes
I was going to suggest this but was beaten to it.
Weights only in the off season and early on in Base.
I use AIFTP as itâs been accurate compared to my previous FTP tests. My FTP doesnât move much come race season (hasnât for a few years), but Iâll check in on it after each training block. I donât bother changing it if it moves a watt or two. I see most of my FTP gains during Base after my 2-4 week off season.
This year my focus was 100% on raising CTL/TSS. I didnât even know if I could handle the volume or if Iâd see any benefits. My races came pretty quick in the season and there was a period where I did 5 races in 6 weeks. So I never truly got a Build/Vo2 block like I wanted.
Next year Iâll have to get a proper Vo2 block in early and hopefully Iâll see my FTP improve. This year with 10 races already, 2 of which were 100 milers, Iâve basically raced myself into form. Which was ok, but I think I can structure my training better.
2 Likes
Take a break from structured training and coaching. Take a break from strava segments, FTP, power, etc.
Try to enjoy cycling as is, do not overcomplicate it. Setting a new PR, the highest FTP ever, and a KOM is satisfying, I know it is. But thereâs more on the sport behind this. Try to ride the same segment, but slowly and improve your technique. Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself with different goals, not only power, time, PR, FTP. Longer rides, even a backpack. DECOMPRESS
7 Likes
I totally agree with @AlexMartins here.
Itâs 100% okay and normal to take a step back to do something completely different with your bike to take the stress off and remember what brought you here in the first place. Most of us gravitate towards bicycles for some type of emotional reason, and we can really easily turn them into instruments of torture. 
You have a history of being fit, and some time away isnât going to take that away from you. Youâll bounce back quickly when you have the motivation to get back at it, but you probably wonât get there without a little rest and freedom on your bike.
You canât become your physically healthiest self without being mentally healthy first. 
3 Likes
It may be worth considering switching coaches. I had a coach for 2 years, got a little better the first then plateaued hard for the next 18 months. So I decided to switch it up. The new coach has a really different philosophy and Iâve seen some really good gains in the last 9 months. Sometimes what got you to where you are wonât get you to where you want to be. As well as the change to something new can make training different and exciting again.
2 Likes
OP,
Lots of things to consider in the big picture. I may have missed it but did you state your age? How long have you been cycling for? Any chance you can post a link to your training?
Breakthroughs are hard and frustrating to get though. Sometimes you can stagnate for years and then all of a sudden you have that race that you knew was there all along. When âstuck,â it will be hard to shift your mindset, but it is important to look at other ways to consider âimprovement.â You have max power for different time allotments, W/KG, being able to improve endurance, and skill development (such as handling, ability to ride in a pack, tactics, etc). Sometimes it helps to focus on the whole picture rather than just one data point. You as a cyclist are more than just your FTP.
And as many have mentioned, there of course is the fact that you may have just reached your potential. I had a great college running career and ran post collegiate for a few years competitively. That was 25 years ago and I will never hit, nor get close to hitting those times again. It is easier to swallow now being older but not so easy in my 30s. It was a big blow to my ego that would be running minutes off my personal best. So much so I refused to race. But then I had kids and got a running stroller and would push my kids in a 5k. The finishing time was minutes off my PR but it was âdifferentâ and so the sting of being slow didnât hit my ego as bad. Then at 45 I got a mountain bike and have had a whole new world to try to improve. (Even though I do this for fun I still donât like to get beat in races. 
)
So I guess my point is⌠first, try to change your mindset. That can be really hard so if that doesnât work find something new. If youâre a roadie try MTB or running or swimming or something else.
2 Likes
Just to echo what a lot of people have said here, I would take a step back and ask yourself why itâs important to you to continually improve? And at what point will you say, âIâve reached my fitness goalâ? I talk with a lot of people (counselor) that struggle with personal progress and meeting goals. This isnât because they arenât successful and exceptional people, but it tends to be an issue with perfectionism and not being able to accept that things wonât always go to plan and thatâs OK.
For example, I recently dedicated dedicated my summer to PRing a highly contested segment in my area. Itâs 7 miles and 7%. I currently sit #6 on the rankings and really wanted to crack top 3. After all my training, I took on the segment this past saturday and missed my best time byâŚ4 minutes haha. The weather decided to not do what was predicted and I had a slight headwind up the climb. I did PR my power output on the climb by 15w though. I was disappointed at first, but realized that the process of training for the attempt was what has benefitted me in reality. If I would have cracked top 3 it would have just been a momentary âwoohooâ before I go back to the drawing board.
Adjusting focus on performance rather than results is a challenging thing and something I still have to remind myself of regularly.
I hope youâre able to get this all sorted out soon. A lot of us experience this pain and it can be debilitating for sure.
6 Likes
I think the elephant in the room in many of these discussions is the role exercise addiction plays in our decision making.
Are we trying to do as we say: get faster, win races etc, or are we simply addicts needing our constant fix?
A more honest discussion might enable people to understand themselves better and lead to happier outcomes.
3 Likes
I donât think these things are mutually exclusive. I do think exercise addiction is a big driver for many. I know it is for me. And I think itâs a pretty common theme across many successful athletes. I enjoy racing and getting a good result, but I love training and there is certainly a level of addiction that drives/motivates my training. Like anything, an exercise addiction can reach unhealthy levels, but there are a lot worse things to be addicted to.
3 Likes