Best route for testing FTP?
08-08-21, 07:05 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Best route for testing FTP?
Hey all,
I recently acquired a power meter and am really looking forward to improving with it. My first goal is to find out what my FTP is by doing a 20 minute effort and taking 5% off. Do you have any suggestions around the San Mateo area that is suitable for this type of test? I would imagine an accurate estimate would require a solid 20 minutes of riding w/ minimal traffic lights and stop signs. Thanks in advance!
I recently acquired a power meter and am really looking forward to improving with it. My first goal is to find out what my FTP is by doing a 20 minute effort and taking 5% off. Do you have any suggestions around the San Mateo area that is suitable for this type of test? I would imagine an accurate estimate would require a solid 20 minutes of riding w/ minimal traffic lights and stop signs. Thanks in advance!
08-09-21, 07:41 AM
#2
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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Canada Road has a 6 mile stretch with no stop signs or stop lights. It might be hard to maintain full power down the hill by the Water Temple, though, heading south. If you start at the bottom of that hill, go to the top of Canada after Edgewood, turn around and ride back, you could go all the way to 92 and it would be maybe 8 miles, which should be enough. Rolling, but nowhere where you'll run out of gears either way.
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08-09-21, 09:24 AM
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
Canada Road has a 6 mile stretch with no stop signs or stop lights. It might be hard to maintain full power down the hill by the Water Temple, though, heading south. If you start at the bottom of that hill, go to the top of Canada after Edgewood, turn around and ride back, you could go all the way to 92 and it would be maybe 8 miles, which should be enough. Rolling, but nowhere where you'll run out of gears either way.
08-09-21, 09:49 AM
#5
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08-10-21, 08:19 AM
#6
RacingBear
08-10-21, 11:37 PM
#7
Full Member
I'm not sure what duration you need for FTP...
A nice long minimal-interruption, but not too hard, segement is from Alamenda de las Pulgas and Edgewood, up Edgewood, right on Canada, Canada over the Ralston bike bridge. Maybe that won't work because of the 2 minutes of downhill?
Alpine road is not very interrupted, from AdlP to the vehicle gate, going from gentle up-slope into actual climb.
But OLH is definitely the most-typical benchmark. It's 20 to 50 minutes of effort.
Young thin guy: "So, you rode OLH last weekend?"
Me: 'Yup. <friendrider> wanted to test himself and I was game."
YTG: "How long did it take you?"
Me: "Same day!"
A nice long minimal-interruption, but not too hard, segement is from Alamenda de las Pulgas and Edgewood, up Edgewood, right on Canada, Canada over the Ralston bike bridge. Maybe that won't work because of the 2 minutes of downhill?
Alpine road is not very interrupted, from AdlP to the vehicle gate, going from gentle up-slope into actual climb.
But OLH is definitely the most-typical benchmark. It's 20 to 50 minutes of effort.
Young thin guy: "So, you rode OLH last weekend?"
Me: 'Yup. <friendrider> wanted to test himself and I was game."
YTG: "How long did it take you?"
Me: "Same day!"
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08-11-21, 09:34 AM
#8
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
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If you do OLH, though, take it really slow the first time, so you get a feeling for how long it is. The first time I tried, many years ago before GPS bike computers, I gave up 1/2 mile from the from the top, which I didn't know till I went up it later with friends, and realized how close I'd gotten. You'll also get a feeling for how hard you can go and still make it to the top without stopping.
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