I recently realized that I want to go professional and many of my friends who are already in the game suggested my to get a computer and measure metrics. I have been doing my own research and wanted some help in understanding the importance of measuring my Functional Threshold Power and how to improve it?

If anyone can please help me with some tips or even a plan it would be a great favour.

- An aspiring champ

This book would answer a bunch of your questions: Ask a Pro: Deep Thoughts and Unreliable Advice from America's Foremost Cycling Sage by Phil Gaimon

Also, just work your way to Cat 1 (if you're in the USA), win a few high profile races, and get signed onto a professional team for the big bucks, pretty easy if you ask me, no need for any metrics, power meters, etc.

I suggest also posting this on the Training & Nutrition (https://www.bikeforums.net/training-nutrition/) and Road Cycling (https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/) pages.

Also ... are there any cycling clubs in your area? I know where I am, there are quite a few races within several hundred miles, which means there are quite a few teams, which means there are quite a few places I could ask for advice.

Another good idea is to go online, find a local race, and just sign up. You will finish wherever you finish ... but you will spend the day surrounded by people who do what you want to do, and can get lots of leads for more info.

Good luck to you!

I agree with [MENTION=423651]Maelochs[/MENTION] that you should post on training and nutrition.

Just a fair warning, you are going to get a whole lot of conflicting advice from people who may get progressively nastier to each other, so things may not be a whole lot clearer to you after you see all the responses. Just ignore all the fighting, and consider everything as suggestions that may or may not work for you. No one is as expert as they think they are.

Your accurate description makes us sound like horrible monsters ....

Nahh, just we believe those things we believe, and everyone else is wrong.

Basic problem of the human condition.