Originally Posted by
Voodoo76
My license says I am, although performance wise not really close. I can't give a direct comparison. I've only been training with power the last 3 years or so and never really thought about it all that much.
I'll try a rough estimate, HR Z2 for me has been similar to Power Z2. At 35 I did a lot of Z2, roughly 42x16 or 15 on the flats, so somewhere around 20-21 mph (210-220W roughly). That would put my FTP back then at best 290W & at 150 lbs just a tick over 4 W/kg. Nothing earth shattering, about what you would expect for a field fodder 2.
240W FTP is the best I've tested recently so down 16% in raw watts. Most of what I've read says around .5% per year so I'm tracking pretty close to that, although it has not felt like a steady decline. My current Z2 target is 160-180.
Instead of giving you a respectable for the numbers, I would say fantastic.
I suggest that with the numbers you provided, you could go on a periodized program starting with strength and adaption throwing in some races and build those numbers up, IMO, it is the goal that you set for yourself that matters and then believing in yourself and the goal. Take age out of the equation.
The problem I have with studies that quote a .5% degradation per year in performance is setting bar in the wrong direction.