Tom Bell about TR statement that indoor and outdoor FTP is the same

Did you do those efforts indoor?

In other shocking news, people in their 60s still believe what they did/had/wore/voted on was right/better/cheaper 40 years ago.

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Yes, indoor training isn’t a new thing. I lived in the midwest then too! :rofl:

My setup was a wheel on trainer in the garage and a CD Player boombox. :exploding_head: :scream:

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Small correction: Johnson, not Thomas.

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Claiming there is a TR cult that believes anything at all puts me at about a 9. It screams “I’m a troll”, and trolling on this forum gets me to a 9 pretty fast.

Dylan doesn’t bother me at all. The article linked doesn’t bother me either, except for the claim that TR doesn’t believe FTP fluctuates, followed by a bunch of words that come down to them recommending you use the same FTP indoors and outdoors, which is exactly what they start off by accusing TR of doing.

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Hoping this thread gives Tom Bell a good popularity boost so he can continue his podcast and newsletter. He consistently publishes good stuff.

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Subconsciously didn’t want to advertise the dude.

Was Dylan Thomas a poet? Politician? Figment of my imagination?

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“Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

Or the dying of the FTP. It’s a little unclear.

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LOL, I wondered if that was at intentional, but my OCD gets the better of me too often :stuck_out_tongue:

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Inside or Outside light?
Because my inside LTP (Light Tolerance Potential) is lower than my outside LTP :wink:

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Hm, I bet Thomas would have had very strong feelings about it being outside light. Equally intense opinions about the best fan, I’d imagine. Maybe towels, too? I don’t know, I think he had a lot of strong feelings about a lot of things.

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Here’s another case where “it depends” so it’s a waste of time arguing.

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Title does seem a little like click-bait. The article is good, but also sounds in line with what coach Chad has been saying for years. I don’t disagree with any of the data at all. Your FTP is the same, but your ability to hit those numbers will vary day to day and will vary indoors to outdoors. Heck, in that sense, you could say your FTP is different based on the weather, or what bike you’re riding, or what trainer you use. I don’t think those actually change your FTP, but may change your potential to put out your FTP. Nutrition also. I think it would be funny to see a gel manufacturer claim to increase your FTP compared to water or something. When it’s just proper nutrition allowing you to actually get the most out of your body. I really don’t think your FTP changes on the order of 50W day to day. Your ability to put out those numbers might, but there are so many factors that influence that. And to say that “your FTP is different” is incorrect.

And on a related note, I do think it’s kind of funny that you get articles like this and videos like DJ calling out TR by name. I’d take that as a compliment. Must be doing something right. They know they’ll get more hits and clicks if they call out TR. All publicity is good publicity right? Cue the responses defending and attacking TR’s training philosophy.

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They both are IMO. I love TR but have to agree the YouTube links have a big “fellow kids” vibe and are a little off putting.

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I think Tom Bell does a great job dispelling some of the numerous problems with the TR blogpost, including mistaking FTP for physiology.

But I agree, that the difference between indoor and outdoor can be narrowed down. The difference Tom Bell references based on studies sounds very large. 5-10% sounds more right if you are experienced with both outdoor and indoor riding (incl. having the right cooling, hydration etc.).

Does it warrant having two different FTPs? Personally, I am more inclined to consider threshold a range, as there are also day-to-day variations.

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Same.

Also, my highest of high end power numbers have been produced indoors (~1200W) … I’ve only once, barely, cracked 1000W outside. I’ve tried several times.

I can also produce higher power sprinting from the hoods vs. the drops. And that is DEFINITELY the only thing I have in common with Mathieu van der Poel🤘

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Yeah, the actual differences between what both are saying is pretty thin, IMO…and again, comes down to how people are defining FTP.

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That was the only thing not mentioned in the otherwise well written article. I’ve seen that mentioned in other articles. I’m the opposite, definitely easier to go deeper outside both solo and motivated by a group.

Their experience with Wahoo Le Col e-racing team, and coached athletes, puts them in a unique position to comment on theory and practice.

I always found this line in the TR article:
The short answer is no, as FTP is rooted in physiology and not affected by external factors felt a bit like the classic 'spherical cow in a vacuum '.

I particularly find prefixing a term ‘functional’ (rather than hypothetical), and then ignoring the practicalities of functionally achieving it quite amusing.

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My roomate is using his endurance bike for his indoor trainer with the stem flipped up, I’m using my road race bike with 130 -17deg. He really believes that he is going to overtake me in w/kg because of indoor when in all our fast rides outside he just sits in my wheel and I have to ask him not to pull through because hitting the brakes gives me saddle sores.

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