Need Help - FTP Regression: what do I change?

[lxrchtt]

@russell.r.sage

Something wasn’t right about that first test at 281 and I think you knew it as you manually adjusted your FTP down to 265 right away. So we might just say, that is the relevant starting point, not 281, but it’s perhaps high as well, since you arbitrarily picked it and your next test didn’t live up to it.

I agree with you that the Ramp Test might overestimate my real FTP.

It’s just that I did all those tests in the same conditions: TrainerRoad app, same bike, same trainer, same everything except temperature (I didn’t record it). So, if it overestimated in January, it’s still overestimating it this week. I am more concerned with the downward trend than the actual absolute number.

I did adjust the setting to 265 a few days after the test because the workouts were too hard (except for Sweet Spot and Threshold).

It’s possible that I went through a vicious circle:

1. Ramp Test FTP too high at first
2. Fitness deteriorates during training cycle
3. Ramp Test FTP lower (but still too high compared to actual FTP)
4. Then repeat 2/3… burying myself.

@russell.r.sage

Start with some sweet-spot base at perhaps mid-volume.

It seems like the mid-volume plans offer more variety as well.
As suggested by @kitenski:

FTP Regression: Any Idea on what I can do/change?

Just flicked through your career, you appear to be doing all your work under your FTP from May until the past 2 weeks, where you then did some work over FTP but then dialled it back with Mills and Fang Mountain, and then again this week with Mills and Avalanche Spire. Are you modifying the plans to avoid the over Threshold work? I think that is the main issue here. You need to be working over your current threshold to grow it, dialing it back under threshold will lead to what you are seeing. I…