Hey @hoge 
While your HR may consistently be capping off at 172, it is not a reliable metric to assume that you’ve gone all in on that test for the day as it is affected by outside factors such as fatigue, sleep, temperature, stress, etc… so you may still have quite a bit of power to throw down until failure regardless of your HR.
It is also very unlikely to be able to test your true FTP in 3 minutes when the effort is meant to represent the power you can sustain for an hour. This is why different testing protocols use approximations derived from calculated efforts since going as hard as you can for 60 minutes is extremely difficult and fatiguing.
If you’re not keen on doing the Ramp Test, I’d have to agree with the general consensus to find a different type of FTP testing that works for you or keep using AI FTP Detection. As Eddie discussed with you on the “I Still Use Ramp Tests” thread, now that you’re on a training plan after some time off, your AI FTP Detection should be increasing more consistently.
As you complete your workouts, we recommend answering the Post-Workout Surveys honestly and not playing with the answers, as this prevents Adaptive Training from doing its thing as it’s being manipulated instead of working for you.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to use Workout Alternates if the day’s workout seems a bit too much . From your convo with Eddie, it sounds like you’ll be adding unstructured riding, so placing extra care on recovery will be essential to go at the speed of fun and get some long-term sustainable results.