Hey TR Forum,
I just wanted to post about my success so far using TrainerRoad.
BLUF: Since I started using TR at the end of June, I’ve put 39 watts on my FTP from 204 to 243, a 20% increase in 4 months. I had raced for 8 years in my teens and 20’s and then took 10 years off. I am aiming to hit a 300 watt FTP and do some racing next year!
I began road racing when I was 16 (in 2007) or so and raced somewhat unsuccessfully until I was about 23 (around 2014). I had a few seasons where I had a coach and did structured training but for the most part my training was based on going out to ride, do group rides, and ride with my buddies on the weekends. After a serious crash in 2012 and burning out at the end of 2013, I decided I was done with bikes (for now).
I took up CrossFit and weightlifting and put on 20lbs and started to feel less fragile, which was great. I dabbled in riding still occasionally, but it was always daunting because of the amount of fitness I had lost from my peak season in 2013, where I trained hard and upgraded to Cat. 3. I always had it in the back of my mind I would take up cycling again seriously. I’d go to watch the big pro races locally, namely the AF Cycling Classic (I live in the D.C. area) and get a little bit of the bug back.
Last summer (2024), I decided it was time to slowly get back into cycling. In March I started riding consistently again. At the end of June, I decided I would do my first crit(s) in over 10 years and signed up for TR. I tried to cram training but ended up without enough base/fitness to hang on. Regardless, since starting with TR I’ve increased my FTP by 20% going from a 204 watt FTP to 243 watts in just about 4 months. I feel much stronger on the bike and can do some hard group rides in the area without getting dropped anymore, so I just want to say thanks, and I can’t wait to see how much I’ll continue to improve! I’m aiming for a 300w FTP over the next year.
