DopeyBadger
Imagathoner
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2015
- Messages
- 10,345
Hmmm, perhaps time to reconsider that WDW Marathon Weekend 2019, yes?



Still nope....

But at least we've got Chicago!
I definitely agree. FTP and %FTP are the basis for nearly all cycling training plans. It's the one objective number that doesn't change and is not dependent on location, speed, HR, or cadence.
That's not a bad idea. As long as the frame fits you, you should be able to adjust the saddle and bars to make sure you're comfortable. If you ever move to buying a new bike, getting a professional fit is the first step in the process. They help you determine your ideal saddle height and fore/aft location, stem height, etc. Once you know all that, you can choose a frame which will meet those parameters. In your case, getting a free bike, I think you'll be fine with some rough measurements to ensure you're not sitting too tall, leaning too far forward, or too hunched over.
You got it. Watts are watts are watts. They have no correlation to speed whatsoever. As you noted, you can generate the same watts at 50rpm or 110rpm. The effort might be different because the muscles involved are different at those extremes, but for a training load, they're all watts.
Perfect! I appreciate all the help as I move into another discipline that I've got zero experience in.