Has anyone tried any of Zwifts FTP building courses? I've now ticked off most of the routes - other than the real nasty ones - so I figured it's time to get some of the plans working. Has anyone tried the 4 week one and have any success?
Basically realise it's time to boost my rookie, puny, numbers up!
I've dabbled in a few workplans over the last few years and they do work, but my biggest excuses for not usually doing all the plans workouts were things like...
Nice/hot weather, making turbo workouts even more super seatfests and a big draw to ride outdoors
Too tired after work in my physical job (postie) to do "x" workout by day "y" of week, but recently Zwift made plans more flexible might might help that next time I try a plan
Sometimes it's simply more motivating and fun to do a Zwift race instead
I've been doing frequent short 5-15min races, with the odd 15-25min and the very rare sub 60min since Jan. Things like the Mon-Fri 1215 Electric Spirit 1lap races, all categories start together and simply use it like a social workout (the As and some stronger lower cat riders blast out of the gates). Sometimes in recent weeks I'll do back to back short races like on Thursdays, the 1200 Micro TT "Sea To Tree" and then the 1215 Electric Spirit.
They've improved my short term power numbers no end and now the weather is picking up outdoors, I'm riding outside more and so far every segment I've attempted full-on has either beaten my old best or come a very close second besides one attempt (which in fairness was against my best 65secs power to date which I've not come close to ever since that effort in Apr '20)... This shouldn't in theory be happening at 48, having started to ride for fitness five years ago!
There are an increasing number of "category enforcement" races these days, which prevent stronger riders from invading the lower categories, spoiling their races and de-motivating riders in D and C especially.
https://zwifthacks.com/app/events/?key=621b895261613 filte5rs out all these races.