# Using TR for a while but not progressing.... but why?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Created:** [October 13, 2020, 9:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560 "2020-10-13T09:24:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![philipjhtaylor28](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/philipjhtaylor28/32/12890_2.png) [@philipjhtaylor28](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/philipjhtaylor28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 9:24am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/1 "2020-10-13T09:24:22Z")
I have been using TR for a few years now but have barely made any gains. If I do the ramp test staying seated to start a plan I can then follow the plan with ease. If I stand in the ramp test I can get a bit more FTP but have still never failed to finish a workout/plan. Does anyone else find that despite sticking to the plans (usually 3 rides per week and an extra outdoors at weekend) they just don’t seem to improve? Very frustrating… I was thinking that at least on Zwift I could maybe push myself harder and see if that has a better Impact. Any thoughts on this, ideas etc? ---
**Author:** ![d\_diston](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/32/10140_2.png) [@d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 9:32am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/2 "2020-10-13T09:32:58Z")
Have you seen any FTP increases or even time at FTP since starting? A bit of info on your plan/cycling history would be useful. ---
**Author:** ![philipjhtaylor28](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/philipjhtaylor28/32/12890_2.png) [@philipjhtaylor28](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/philipjhtaylor28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 9:41am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/3 "2020-10-13T09:41:25Z")
I have seen some increase, c 10% but that was really in the early days, and I am talking low FTP numbers. 55yr male at70kg. I have been on TR for c 2-3 yrs I guess ---
**Author:** ![d\_diston](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/32/10140_2.png) [@d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 9:49am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/4 "2020-10-13T09:49:42Z")
What kind of plans have you been following? How many hours per week? It could be that you simply need more time in the saddle…or more intensity… ---
**Author:** ![philipjhtaylor28](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/philipjhtaylor28/32/12890_2.png) [@philipjhtaylor28](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/philipjhtaylor28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 10:04am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/5 "2020-10-13T10:04:50Z")
I have generally rotated through Base, Build and then a Speciality doing the 3 rides per week plan, and then I often do an extra ride outdoors at weekends. So minimum 3 hours per week but could be 5-6. ---
**Author:** ![d\_diston](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/32/10140_2.png) [@d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 10:09am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/6 "2020-10-13T10:09:28Z")
Sounds as though you could have reached the maximum achievable with current hours you may see gains from adding additional hours (perhaps moving form low to med vol). OR I’d be tempted to introduce a new stimulus (i.e., 4-6 week VO2 block) to see if that get things moving. Could be your FTP is close to VO2 max and the latter needs shifting upwards, before then bringing up your FTP. ---
**Author:** ![onemanpeloton](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/onemanpeloton/32/69536_2.png) [@onemanpeloton](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/onemanpeloton)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 10:14am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/7 "2020-10-13T10:14:34Z")
Would you be interested in making your calendar public? Some specific detail could be really useful here ---
**Author:** ![philipjhtaylor28](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/philipjhtaylor28/32/12890_2.png) [@philipjhtaylor28](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/philipjhtaylor28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 10:15am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/8 "2020-10-13T10:15:05Z")
I think some sort of new stimulus is needed. It feels like I can do a test, then follow the plan with relative ease and manage all the intervals etc. What is a 4-6 week VO2 block, is there one on TR? ---
**Author:** ![d\_diston](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/32/10140_2.png) [@d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 10:20am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/9 "2020-10-13T10:20:44Z")
> [@Short intense period before starting base? Chad's short FTP boost plan](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/short-intense-period-before-starting-base-chads-short-ftp-boost-plan/6875): > > Some time ago, @chad was experimenting with a few weeks of intense workouts to get a boost on his FTP before going into the base/build/specialty bit. While he mentioned it worked for him, I have not seen anything on the plan option. I am thinking of doing such a thing – 3-6 weeks of perhaps high intensity to get my FTP boosted. THEN go into base/build/specialty. Doing so now will let me do a run-focused period later this winter. I can do SS work and run hard – but I cannot do high intensity… Gendarme; Stanislaus -4; Freel +1, ; Bashful; Baird +2; Mills; Dade +1; Spencer. Could do each twice working through the progression. on a day on/day off basis (depending on you ability to recover). ---
**Author:** ![philipjhtaylor28](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/philipjhtaylor28/32/12890_2.png) [@philipjhtaylor28](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/philipjhtaylor28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 10:25am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/10 "2020-10-13T10:25:28Z")
Maybe but I guess it depends what info it gives etc. Do you know how I do that? ---
**Author:** ![onemanpeloton](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/onemanpeloton/32/69536_2.png) [@onemanpeloton](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/onemanpeloton)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 10:39am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/11 "2020-10-13T10:39:51Z")
It just shows us what you see, i.e your calendar and training history etc. You can do it by (on Trainer Road in your browser) going to Account, and then selecting Public. ---
**Author:** ![philipjhtaylor28](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/philipjhtaylor28/32/12890_2.png) [@philipjhtaylor28](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/philipjhtaylor28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:15am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/12 "2020-10-13T11:15:34Z")
Thanks, interesting link there. I think this sounds like the sort of shock to the system I might need! I think I will try that on a Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday before ride with mates on Sunday for 4 weeks. Ouch, just realised today is Tuesday! ---
**Author:** ![d\_diston](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/32/10140_2.png) [@d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:16am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/13 "2020-10-13T11:16:44Z")
Final question, has you power measuring method changed at all over the course of your TR history? ---
**Author:** ![d\_diston](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/32/10140_2.png) [@d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:17am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/14 "2020-10-13T11:17:27Z")
> [@philipjhtaylor28](#): > > Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday Just keep an eye on recovery, that’s a fairly heavy load. Could always do Tue/Thurs for the sessions and then easy riding around these. ---
**Author:** ![philipjhtaylor28](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/philipjhtaylor28/32/12890_2.png) [@philipjhtaylor28](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/philipjhtaylor28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:19am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/15 "2020-10-13T11:19:12Z")
I have done that. The calendar goes very quiet from April/May onwards as I started to ride more outside but I guess it reveals more before then > ![](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/onemanpeloton/45/12689_2.png "onemanpeloton") | [onemanpeloton](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/onemanpeloton) > October 13 | > > - | - | It just shows us what you see, i.e your calendar and training history etc. You can do it by (on Trainer Road in your browser) going to Account, and then selecting Public. ---
**Author:** ![DwayneB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/dwayneb/32/43662_2.png) [@DwayneB](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/DwayneB)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:19am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/16 "2020-10-13T11:19:57Z")
> [@d\_diston](#): > > Sounds as though you could have reached the maximum achievable with current hours you may see gains from adding additional hours (perhaps moving form low to med vol). This was my first thought, too. 3 hours per week would be a maintenance plan for me to try to avoid losing fitness, but I don’t think it would be enough to progress (but I could be wrong). On the other hand, if I never failed a workout and didn’t have problems completing the plans, I’d regularly tweak the FTP manually to increase it, and see how things go that way. ---
**Author:** ![philipjhtaylor28](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/philipjhtaylor28/32/12890_2.png) [@philipjhtaylor28](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/philipjhtaylor28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:44am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/17 "2020-10-13T11:44:21Z")
No. All done via a watt bike atom > ![](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/d_diston/45/10140_2.png "d\_diston") | [d\_diston](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/d_diston) > October 13 | > > - | - | Final question, has you power measuring method changed at all over the course of your TR history? ---
**Author:** ![mattonabike](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mattonabike/32/12893_2.png) [@mattonabike](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/mattonabike)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 11:52am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/18 "2020-10-13T11:52:10Z")
If you have _never_ failed a workout I dont think you are going deep enough in the ramp test. That is resulting in all your training being too easy and limiting progress. The hardest workouts in the hardest weeks should be **just** doable, not easily finished. If you dont ever have a day where sleep/life/food/sickness made you fail a workout then your workouts are way to easy. If you really cant get yourself to go quite a lot deeper in the ramp test, I would go ahead and push your ftp up manually till you start failing some workouts then back it off 5% and see if you dont start making progress again with stuff hard enough. ---
**Author:** ![trpnhntr](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/trpnhntr/32/93473_2.png) [@trpnhntr](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/trpnhntr)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 12:06pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/19 "2020-10-13T12:06:15Z")
> [@philipjhtaylor28](#): > > Does anyone else find that despite sticking to the plans (usually 3 rides per week and an extra outdoors at weekend) they just don’t seem to improve? Thanks for making your profile public, helps understand the data! The short answer to your question is that you’re lacking consistency and plan adherence. I didn’t go back and look at your entire history, only 2020. But starting in January of this year you missed or failed workouts at a pace of several a month January: 1 week of training February: 4 weeks of training, 5 workouts skipped/not completed March: 4 weeks of training, good compliance but not on an official plan as near as I can tell April: 4 weeks of riding, mostly all outside without a PM so hard to tell compliance with structure May short power build - 3 weeks of 2 TR workouts a week, 1 week of 0. Again hard to tell compliance on the outdoor stuff June short power build - similar to May, averaged around 1.5 or 2 TR workouts, rest was outside or skipped It basically continued like that for the rest of the season. It isn’t that you have to ride indoors and do the trainer workouts, but more that I can’t tell if you’re attempting to complete the workouts outside or not. This two week block was a fairly typical one ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/original/3X/e/a/eaefaccf6d2db361a5a1a5102712a4aba2c236cf.png) You might be complying with the structure on those outdoor rides, but its really hard to tell This probably reads as a pretty harsh post, I don’t mean it as such. It’s really fine to not adhere to a plan - but to me it doesn’t look like you’re really having good consistency or adherence to the plans, so its hard to blame the structure for your lack of progress ---
**Author:** ![philipjhtaylor28](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/philipjhtaylor28/32/12890_2.png) [@philipjhtaylor28](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/philipjhtaylor28)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560/20 "2020-10-13T12:30:35Z")
Not harsh at all. This year has been very different as I have ridden far more outside and my finding TR progress static. If you could see previous months/ years (for some reason I don’t seem to be able to via iPad) then you would see far more consistency. While accepting your observation I am still pretty confident that should I do a test and start a build plan from now the issue would be the same. [Next page](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/using-tr-for-a-while-but-not-progressing-but-why/44560.md?page=2)