Originally Posted by
mr_pedro
I am a little puzzled with your original post. For my last commute to work I averaged 20 mph for 1:15 hr on a very flat route with a little bit of wind. My power meter measured an average of 250W, and I think my FTP is somewhere in the 280-300 range. If you are also doing 20 mph 1 hour solo rides, I estimate your FTP to be at least in that same range, unless your 1 hour ride was on an indoor track, flat with no wind and no need to ever slow down.
I weigh 180 lbs, but for you with 158 lbs, a FTP of 280W puts you at 3.9 W/kg, which puts you way way past beginner level. It should be enough to compete in the Cat 3 races and you should not have any trouble keeping up with all but the people racing in the Cat 1-3. Do you know if the person you are trying to beat is indeed racing at these levels?
My 20mph solos come at a big effort on a flat route with a only a couple 4% 20sec hills and little wind. The person I mentioned raced at 23.8mph for 55mi recently (talking about beating him was more of a joke than anything).
I am a beginner to cycling, but was a highly competitive runner a few years ago competing for a major university. I was in that ambiguous category below professional but well above even dedicated recreational runners. The aerobic base seems to have carried over somewhat, the muscular endurance has not.