First time poster, long time reader. I have been using Trainer Road for just over 12 months now, I have made significant progress in that time. FTP up 40 watts (not a flex, just for context as it relates to my question) I have about 8 hours a week available for training, things have been going along fine until the past month where the workouts have been getting progressively more and more out of reach. In the past adaptive training prescribed workouts that were difficult but achievable however as I said now they are getting to the point where I am failing workouts and the intensity seems beyond my reach. Does there come a point where you will start progressing much slower, which I am ok with, I am just curious if it would be best for me to slowing the progressions down even if adaptive training is suggesting something harder, any thoughts or feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!
Yes things do slow down; thereās a lot of newbie gains to be made at first but after then things slow down and some folk reach a plateau. Myself whilst I was coached at first my FTP shot up in the first few years, I then started with TR and had good motivation and whilst things slowed down I hit a peak and slowly came down since and hit a plateau. My best results timewise on TTās probably came just after my FTP had started to decline when I held it steady rather than accepting 5-10w increases. Use alternates maybe and sub in a productive achievable workout if you think you need to slow down your plan.
I think you can still get a lot fitter without being directly visible in your tested FTP.
Cycling performance is more then just FTP depending on your preferred cycling discipline, although FTP is a good (best?) indicator for racing performance.
For instance, if you are more of a gran fondo rider, then your sustainability below FTP is more important. And if you are a crit racer/sprinter your power above FTP is more important.
Just keep at it consistently and with a purpose and your FTP will follow.
Are you answering the surveys accurately?
Do you feel like you should be able to handle the workouts? Are you just barely failing them, or like first set of intervals you fail? Do you feel like you are performing better than you were 1-2 months ago, or worse?
Holy Jesus, 392 watts on 8 hours per week. Maybe itās time for a coach and another 10 hours per week to train?!!! ![]()
Everybody hits a plateau along the way. At some point you may want to try to identify limiters and train your physiology accordingly. That probably requires expert help.
I appreciate everyoneās feedback, I have failed 2 workouts recently however even the ones i have been getting through have gone from challenging to me holding on by the seat of my pants. I guess thatās the problem with gamifying cycling training, there is the danger of becoming win or loss where if i donāt get that progression level bump then i think i am going backwards, when in fact even a workout that is only 90% completed is still pushing you forwards. This probably requires a mentality shift vs any training changes.
Thanks again everyone
Wait, he has a 391w FTP?
He should be giving us adviceā¦
One thing to consider⦠your donāt need to āprogressā every workout. Personally I choose one hard workout a week to really challenge myself. The others are hard but manageable. You canāt āgo to the wellā every workout.
Especially now that you have base fitness you need to train smart as much as you train hard!
Haha, i know my FTP is high which is why i didnāt want to mention it because i didnāt want the usual āwhat does he have to complain aboutā. I donāt care about the number i just want to keep getting better, i love the process and always pushing to be better.
Iāve been feeling the same way for the past 3 weeks in that Iāve plateaued and have had to dial back the instensity of a few workouts, and have failed to complete a few. Iām on the LV plan supplemented by indoor endurance zone rides between my hard days. One thing that changed for me this past month is almost zero outdoor rides, due to crap weather, (normally I would do several outdoor mtb or road rides in addition to my indoor LV plan). Iām guessing the lack of outdoor riding is impacting my progress with indoor rides. Not a big deal for me as itās early season and there will be plenty of time for outdoor rides as the weather improves and so will come improvements in my TR workouts and ftp. Or maybe Iām truly overtired and donāt realize it (started weightlifing a month ago). My Garmin watch Training Status suggests Iām āovertrainedā, tho I donāt put too much emphasis on the accuracy of the watch. Iām not too concerned and usually over time things sort themselves out.