Ladies Power, HR & Zones

[david emery]

Can any of the Paragonettes help with some sample data:

What is your / what is a standard ballpark example power & HR (zone 2) when you first started cycling? I'm assuming you were not previously an XC Skier or marathon runner, but just the occasional run or fun ride.

(By Z2 - I mean all day power , or the Lower Lactate threshold - not FTP)

PM me if you dont want to share data with the forum.

Appreciate result may vary and the answer is to test, but the other half isn't about to do a 20min FTP test anytime soon and wants to use my PM in the meantime

thanks in advance

[Kathryn Elizabeth Innes]

Trouble is when people first start cycling they are unlikely to put themselves through the pain of an FTP or lactate threshold test. I wander if you might be better if she rides on HR and just note the power that is achieved and then use the data you get from several sessions on the PM to extrapolate back.

[robinjones]

My other half has been using my Kickr to do some interval training and she hasn't done an FTP test as of yet. She initially set her FTP at 170 (a complete guess) but found this was too low. I think she went to 210 and she thought that was about right. She has medium fitness and does some running, crosstraining and cycling on a regular basis. She is 6ft tall though so perhaps this has some impact on what her power output might be.

[david emery]

Thanks Kathryn. That's what I'm doing now effectively.

However, if you don't know your max HR is and dont want to test that either, it doesn't get you any further forward. I'm almost certain she's riding at z1 pace and is a lot fitter than she thinks she is. Going uphill quite comfortably proves it!

[david emery]

Jan 9, 2017 12:02:15 GMT robinjones said:

My other half has been using my Kickr to do some interval training and she hasn't done an FTP test as of yet. She initially set her FTP at 170 (a complete guess) but found this was too low. I think she went to 210 and she thought that was about right. She has medium fitness and does some running, crosstraining and cycling on a regular basis. She is 6ft tall though so perhaps this has some impact on what her power output might be.

That's kind of where I want to get too. Just wanted an idea of womens FTP generally. My numbers dont help in the slightest!

[Kathryn Elizabeth Innes]

I think it will vary a lot between individuals (I bet there is just as big a variation between different men); mine varies between about 206w (on turbo, in winter), to 235w (on road, summer). It does vary an awful lot on your size and build... I'm quite tall and 'well built' whereas a TT friend of mine of a much smaller build has an FTP of a good 40w less, but achieves similar course speeds. So you'd need to get women of similar built to even get in the ballpark.

[Sara Barman]

Heh in at the deep end huh, straight into power...!