This was my first FTP and thank you for all the encouragement!

I did the next class in the challenge, which was a 30 minute endurance class where we sat in zones 2/3 the whole time. It felt so much easier than a normal Peloton class but I THINK that is on purpose?

Its like, I thought I might have not gone hard enough in the FTP and then I take the first endurance class which feels weirdly easy! But I usually take like a Kendall/Jen S 45 minute class and a Cody HIIT on an easy day. So it feels like that is the whole point.

I am going to take all your advice and trust the program and just do it for a month and see where I am at the end

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:two things jump out,

1. Peloton does not have an accurate power meter- not even close. If knowing your power on a peloton is that important, get some assioma or Garmin vector pedals.

2 Peloton trains for cardio health and fitness and is not a very focused plan. If you really care about FTP, get either a training peaks plan or just use trainer road

Peloton is known for not being accurate at reading power. Cyclist racing the tour de france don't put out 716 watts for 45 minutes.
There is an article on velonews raving about a olympic rower that shocked everyone when his 20 minute power being 480 watts. He has professional cycling teams interested in him

The bike + is actually suppose to be very accurate. I have seen people doing comparisons to the bike plus with the power meters they are using on their outdoor bikes and the numbers are matching.

The Power Zone classes at Peloton are excellent. You can take PZE, PZ, and Max classes very easily. Lots of different lengths, ranginging from 20 minutes to 90 minute classes. The big issue is that there is no specific regular running program so you need to patch one together on your own. Some people enjoy the Power Zone Pack challenges because there is a plan and the TSS increases each week. It has it's pros and cons. I have stopped doing them because it is too Matt focused and I am sick of taking 4-6 Matt rides a week and I don't appreciate the lack of transparency with the Matt/Angie connection. But the challenges do put together a solid training plan with 3-5 45-60 minute long PZ rides.

PP that should be 6 weeks ago, not months, for my latest FTP. whoops

My original FTP, a year ago, was 117. I was 48 and had been a couch potato. My last FTP, taken 6 months ago, was 196. I am really happy with that improvement. My power to weight ration has gone from a 1.47 to a 2.65, which I am thrilled with.

The reality is that your FTP is your FTP. It gauges were you are on your fitness journey and lets you set zones that should challenge you and help you to grow. Don't worry about anyone else's numbers, just focus on yours.

Is this your first FTP test? If so, then really don't worry about it because it's really hard to do the first one as you don't really know where to start and what to aim for. If you ride with those zones for a few weeks, you'll get a feel for whether they seem right (according to the explanations the instructors give about how hard they are supposed to feel), and then take another test which you will find makes more sense - if you think the zones are way too easy, then start the test in zone 5 and try and push it up higher than that towards the end.

Dont compare numbers OP. The bikes are all different.

Just do you and keep improving.

Your numbers are great but would you feel bad if you got on a different bike and they were lower- because that can happen or the opposite.

Work on improving your numbers. Those are the only ones that are standardized.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:two things jump out,

1. Peloton does not have an accurate power meter- not even close. If knowing your power on a peloton is that important, get some assioma or Garmin vector pedals.

2 Peloton trains for cardio health and fitness and is not a very focused plan. If you really care about FTP, get either a training peaks plan or just use trainer road

Peloton is known for not being accurate at reading power. Cyclist racing the tour de france don't put out 716 watts for 45 minutes.
There is an article on velonews raving about a olympic rower that shocked everyone when his 20 minute power being 480 watts. He has professional cycling teams interested in him

that's why you put on vectors if you really care, of course people that really care about indoor riding to improve as a cyclist (as opposed to getting exercise) probably don't have a peloton

I haven't done the FTP, no idea why. I've had the bike for 2 years.

I' 51. I don't do 20 minute rides, but my 45PR is 538. I ride outside quite a bit.

This is why I know the bike is not really accurate, after about a year, the tension changed. I had Peloton come out and recalibrate. Before they did it, they said the calibration was perfect. Of course when he recalibrated it, it was closer to when I bought the bike. The change was not in my imagination and my numbers definitely changed because it got harder.

Anonymous wrote:two things jump out,

1. Peloton does not have an accurate power meter- not even close. If knowing your power on a peloton is that important, get some assioma or Garmin vector pedals.

2 Peloton trains for cardio health and fitness and is not a very focused plan. If you really care about FTP, get either a training peaks plan or just use trainer road

Peloton is known for not being accurate at reading power. Cyclist racing the tour de france don't put out 716 watts for 45 minutes.
There is an article on velonews raving about a olympic rower that shocked everyone when his 20 minute power being 480 watts. He has professional cycling teams interested in him

OP, there's too much variability between bikes to worry about this issue. I've ridden maybe half a dozen different ones between ours at home, ones at hotels and in stores, and they REALLY differ. Focus on improving your FTP (if you want to), but don't worry what others do.

Also, I know Wilpers loves to obsess about the power to weight ratio thing, but that's another so what. CDE is open about the fact that she competes against women with "bigger" numbers on the bike and still beats them in person. I love competing IRL and have done it at reasonably high levels, but on the Peloton? Nah.

two things jump out,

1. Peloton does not have an accurate power meter- not even close. If knowing your power on a peloton is that important, get some assioma or Garmin vector pedals.

2 Peloton trains for cardio health and fitness and is not a very focused plan. If you really care about FTP, get either a training peaks plan or just use trainer road

OP, everyone's bike is different. There is a huge variation in calibration. And the rider's size is a factor -- heavier people tend to have more muscle mass and get higher numbers. Average watts per kilogram of bodyweight is a better measure in terms of leveling the playing field.

That said, I've had the Peloton for two years and ride almost daily. I am 45 and weigh 125. My current FTP is 201. My 20-minute PR is 258 and my 45-min PR is 542.

OP I think those are great numbers! I ride with quite a few women in that age range in my work peloton group and you are getting better numbers than they are.

Power zone training can really up your performance quickly. If you get motivated by competing against yourself and you are interested in seeing your numbers go up I recommend it.

I’ve had my bike for a few years now and go through cycles of using it every day and going weeks without getting on at all. My PR numbers are basically “dead on the floor when I’m done” classes. I’m not hitting these regularly.

I’m 39/F, my 45 min PR is 716, my 20 min PR is 335. I believe my FTP is around 270 but haven’t retaken it in a while.

I wouldn’t worry if you think you didn’t give it all in the FTP test - it’s a learning tool. Take some classes with your new zones, see if they feel challenging, and if they do not you can try again or up the number yourself to try out a higher FTP. The resistance knob is yours to use however you like. No one is keeping tabs. Good luck and enjoy!

You might get more responses on the Peleton FaceBook page.

I know this is very much specific to individuals and comparison isn't that helpful but I really feel like I wish I had a better idea of where I'm starting? I feel like I am not sure I gave as much as I could in the test. Would anyone mind sharing maybe like, M/F, how long you've been cycling, 20 minute PR, 45 minute PR and FTP result?

I am a woman, 35, had my peloton since late October. When I got it I could run a 5k in 42ish minutes (without stopping to walk) and hold a plank for a minute so not nothing but hardly in tip top shape. My 20 minute PR (which I got during the FTP) is 199 and my 45 minute PR is 426. My FTP is 168.

I think reading about what is 'typical' has made me feel like this is super crappy. I'm sure that there are plenty of people who were once where I am or who wish they were where I am so I'm trying to frame it a little more positively in my head.

I feel like based on 'the internet' I want to shoot for something like 200. How long does progress here take? I'm not so much in a rush as want to be realistic with my expectations and therefore not frustrated by my pace.

I do about 4-5 classes a week generally, averaging 30 minutes but incorporating 20/30/45 minute rides, sometimes adding strength before/after.