I'm getting stronger.....
 

I just did my first threshold test since January 2nd. I wasn't real sure how much I have been improving so I must say that I am very, very happy with the improved numbers the tests show.

January's 20 minute threshold - 283 watts, 159 bpm average, 6.88 miles
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/61634417 - lap 2 is the test

Today's 20 minute threshold - 318 watts, 159 bpm average, 7.76 miles
http://app.strava.com/rides/1113364 - lap 3 is the test

Anywho, my power to weight ratio still sucks but at least I am improving.

:beer:

I've never seen such consistent heart rate over 10 minutes. Impressive :)

:thumb:

Congrats.
Those are pretty good numbers. If you p/w "still sucks", what's your weight?

I am around 210 pounds, down from 260. I would like to get down to 170 - 180 by next year so I can attempt to get back into racing.

Keep at it! Nice to see you are taking your consistent dose of HTFU! :beer:

Congrats, those are pretty amazing power gains for 8 months. I feel like my progress is much much slower.

What training plan do you use? I'm doing Time Crunched training plan.

I did three months with my former coach but then decided to not train for a year and to just ride. Since I just got back on the bike last July I didn't want to risk burnout by getting too serious too fast. I am just enjoying riding for the time being.

I hear you. I can only do 4-8 weeks of the TCC before I get bored and go back to just riding around less structured. I do the TCC every once in a while because I really am limited on time, but still want to work up to a 300w FTP (which it looks like you've just about nailed now). I've got a long way to go.

I bet it'll be interesting for you to see how your power is affected as more weight comes off, especially towards the end of your weight loss (congrats on that too).

I'm slowly losing weight as well. I noticed my power is diminishing along with. LC, what's your plan during the off-season to retain your fitness? I'm wondering with swimming is viable, since I hate running.

I will be spending countless hours on the trainer once again this winter and riding in the snow / rain on the weekends hating life.

Congratulations. It is always nice to see improvement and 12% improvement is excellent.

This thread though shows how you always have to use power to weight ratio when comparing power numbers to yourself. For example:

283 watts for someone 210 lbs = 215 watts for someone 160 lbs (to go the same speed)

318 watts for someone 210 lbs = 242 watts for someone 160 lbs

Here is a tip. Last winter I did the 2 month CTS Progressive Power DVD series on my Kurt Kinetic Trainer. They say that the average improvement is 12%. I hit exactly 12% last winter. It is a great power based series - you just hold the power outputs that they tell you for the two 1 hour workouts per week.

http://trainright.com/media/

I ride a trainer while I watch tv. It's not that bad until wifey comes into the room and puts on some reality show.

I wrote some software (in my sig) to use when I'm on the trainer, and it helps tons. I enter in my workouts before I start and it tells me exactly what I should be doing. Sometimes I have it in a Picture-In-Picture window on my TV so I can watch tv and see all the stats still.

This thread is useless without average speed numbers.

Click the Garmin links to find out :)
I'm so tempted to buy the e800pb at PBK ($488 if I remember correctly) but it's rather useless at my current state.

Though this is only really true with hills no? Weight isn't as much of a factor on the flats. There is a local race that is completely flat with a ton of wind, the heavier guys seem to have an easier time with this race.

Congrats on the huge improvement, very impressive. 318w is a huge number if you can get your weight down.

Since the test was 20 minutes just multiply the above mileages by 3 to get mph.