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Pacing for Longer Rides

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Pacing for Longer Rides

Old 06-30-20, 09:03 PM
  #101  
atwl77
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I don't think Garmin's FTP estimate is as simple as a "best 20-minute" approximation, with the best case I can present is when doing The Sufferfest's Half Monty ramp test. Outside of the ramp itself, I was never anywhere near or above threshold and yet it came up with a relatively close (within single-digit) estimation of The Sufferfest's result. And there have been long rides where I mainly did Z2 or Z3 pacing, with not enough cumulative efforts at or over threshold to go over 20 minutes, yet at the end of the ride it would still give out a relatively close (again, single-digit close) estimation.
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Old 06-30-20, 09:06 PM
  #102  
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Originally Posted by surak
It seems that you misunderstand me when I say the Garmin FTP estimate is arbitrary. I have no issue with the theory of usingbest 20 min power to approximate FTP. But I wouldn't give someone a Garmin and tell them it has a feature that can estimate their FTP if they JRA without any ride protocol. That estimate is completely dependent on them riding under the right conditions to produce their best 20 min power, which is by definition arbitrary (seriously, look it up). And for anyone who doesn't have an idea of how to pace a 20 min full on effort (serious time trialists and hill climb specialists fit this description, not), it's either worthless or worse.
somebody who is worried about their 20 minute power numbers already knows it is going to take more than just riding around. However, in a race like a time trial a rider can go deep and not realize it changed their Ftp. I was doing some work at the velodrome and when I downloaded the data, I was surprised to find my 5 minute and 10 minute power bumped to my highest all year. At the time, it felt hard but not impossible. The next day my legs were so stiff I could hardly walk.
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Old 06-30-20, 09:12 PM
  #103  
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Originally Posted by atwl77
I don't think Garmin's FTP estimate is as simple as a "best 20-minute" approximation, with the best case I can present is when doing The Sufferfest's Half Monty ramp test. Outside of the ramp itself, I was never anywhere near or above threshold and yet it came up with a relatively close (within single-digit) estimation of The Sufferfest's result. And there have been long rides where I mainly did Z2 or Z3 pacing, with not enough cumulative efforts at or over threshold to go over 20 minutes, yet at the end of the ride it would still give out a relatively close (again, single-digit close) estimation.
Your correct, it does a little more.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?fa...Ry4LgvA6bORZC9
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Old 06-30-20, 09:18 PM
  #104  
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Originally Posted by colnago62
Your correct, it does a little more.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?fa...Ry4LgvA6bORZC9
Their wording seems odd and doesn't match my experience. For reference, this is what they're saying:

A new FTP estimate will only be generated outside of a guided FTP test if the following conditions are met:
  • FTP Auto Calculation is enabled (refer to your Owner's Manual)
  • Activity must include heart rate data from either a built-in optical heart rate sensor or from a chest strap
  • 95% of the average power for a 20-minute interval within the ride must be greater than the current FTP setting
  • The average power for that interval of time must be greater than the previous 20-minute power record.
...but the bolded parts of that seem to suggest it will only report a new FTP estimate, if it was higher than the last (unless I'm reading it wrong?)

But from experience, the FTP estimates I get can go up or down by a few points depending on how good (or not good) I have been feeling that day, which (again, unless I am reading it wrong), shouldn't be possible under those highlighted conditions?

Last edited by atwl77; 06-30-20 at 09:20 PM. Reason: typo
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