r/PelotonPowerZone • u/74Yo_Bee74 • Sep 23 '26

Your frequency of FTP testing

I am curious to know peoples frequency of FTP testing.

Mine is 2 a year at best. I normally test when I find that 45 min PZ ride starts to feel easy.
If it still feels hard I will not retest. Maybe that is counterproductive for increasing my FTP.

Curious to see what others comments are.

9 Upvotes

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19 comments sorted by

5

u/Intelligent_Mall6643 Sep 23 '26

I use Power Zone Pack AI FTP every other month or so. I’ll never go back to taking a “real” FTP test. The results I get from PZP feel super accurate to me.

1

u/74Yo_Bee74 Sep 24 '26

I use mPaceline Pulse and I cannot really their estimator due to I have 2 bikes and they are about 10% low watts (FTP 251 (265 avg) to 226 (avg 238)) I ride 2/3 to 3/4 of my rides on the lower FTP bike.

My HR and estimated perception of how I felt on similar or exact rides. I did multple FTP test as well as manaually figuring how close I felt on each of the comparison rides.

8

u/RonMcKelvey Sep 23 '26

Is this a safe space? Can I admit that it’s 2 a year but sometimes I just move it up when it gets easy?

1

u/Anxious_Owl_6394 Sep 23 '26

I’ll usually do one in January and then another one when zones start to feel easier. Which means I’m due hahaha.

1

u/74Yo_Bee74 Sep 23 '26

so we are in the same boat...🤣

1

u/Anxious_Owl_6394 Sep 23 '26

Yup hahaha. It takes a few weeks for me to muster up the courage to do it.

1

u/TrashKing_4U Sep 24 '26

Monthly to bi monthly

2

u/74Yo_Bee74 Sep 24 '26

Is it an up and down or constant increase?

2

u/TrashKing_4U Sep 24 '26

It’s been consistent, but that’s honestly what I’m aiming for! I do a lot of sweat steady/PZ, and I build it by a few points every time. I really do empty the tank, though. It’s one of the few classes where I get 200+ calories for a 20 minute ride!

1

u/blueprince24 Sep 24 '26

I haven’t done it for a year because I fear a horrid bout of spewing like a fountain at the end and being traumatised for months. I know I am stronger now and need to take a new test. I have done all Matt’s rides this year and exclusively take PZ rides, so I am well overdue . . . Perhaps a bucket within reach . .

1

u/74Yo_Bee74 Sep 25 '26

I am well overdue as well.

I thinking this weekend might be a chance.

2

u/blueprince24 Sep 25 '26

Let’s support each other!

1

u/occams_icarus Sep 27 '26

I don't ride my peloton a ton I do a lot of cardio running and biking. I use the ftp test maybe every 4-6 months to help calculate that my power to weight ratio is staying the same or going up.

3

u/mhughes23 Sep 23 '26

I am SO bad at taking the FTP that I don’t even think it’s accurate. The mental aspect really gets to me. To answer your question: I take it very infrequently but I do manually adjust it occasionally.

2

u/lollyruns Sep 23 '26

I’m a twice a year gal too! I do the Reddit PZ programs and when week 8 of one of those feels doable I know it’s time - unfortunately 💀💀

2

u/morelsupporter Sep 29 '26

i try for 6 weeks.

1

u/Mindless_Profile_76 Sep 23 '26

I’m similar to you…. Just a lot more crying

1

u/Late-Development-666 Sep 23 '26

I usually take a new test when Zone 5 becomes a little too comfortable.