Originally Posted by
Darth Steele
there are too many factors
1. How long is overall ride
2. How much effort have you put in so far, have you been drafting all day or pulling.
3. How long is the climb and how far are you from the ride end.
4. How hydrated are you? have you been eating.
5. Were you out drinking last night
6. It is a slow group ride or fast. If fast you may be required to dip into the red to keep pace.
I love my power and train by it, but I actually don't know my FTP. It is my contention that it is not really that helpful. First thing it is hard to find an uninterrupted road to do an FTP. Second, unless you are doing a TT it is hard to empty the tank.
For me, knowing how long I can hold 300w, 400w and 500w is more important. As this allows me to close gaps and track people down.
also, I am learning that your position on the bike is as important as watts.
crude example:
350 watts on the hood into a stiff head wind for 20 minutes
vs
300 watts in the drops into a stiff head wind for 20 minutes
1) most everything in training with power flows from FTP. if your not testing it, and basing training from there, you're just scratching the surface of training with power. Read Training and Racing with power by Coggan and Allen.
2) the suggestion that position on the bike is more important than watts ( in the context of climbing, and this a thread about climbing) is absurd. Sustained climbing is almost entirely about w/kg.