I know this has been mentioned before but I can’t determine what’s going on. Is it possible for the estimated FTP to be used automatically for load calculations per activity? Load is a key metric I use for monitoring weekly training and it’d be nice if it were based on an up to date FTP without needing to remember to modify in the activity.
In general I find the various FTP numbers (e.g. in settings / activities) and their precedence / influence a little confusing / non-transparent. Is there a way to surface more information here?
If you mean the eFTP detected in each days activity, then you can’t use that. You must calculate load from your actual performance condition. If you would use the eFTP detected in a base endurance activity, then the load based on that is way too high.
The FTP number is described more then enough. Use the hyperlinks within the platform for more info.
The activity’s FTP is the one that was active at the date of the activity.
The activity’s eFTP is what was detected from the effort performed. If the activity contains an all out effort of at least the min duration specified in settings, then it is an estimate of your current FTP. If you do a low intensity activity, the eFTP is by no means representative for your current FTP and should absolutely not be used as a reference for Load calculation.
If you’re talking the actual eFTP number from a period in which there was a significant effort, then you can use that to update your FTP.
You are talking about an ‘up to date FTP’, but what do you mean exactly? FTP is not a number that changes on daily bases. You train for a number of weeks/months, to raise your FTP, then you do a new test (or you do an all out effort during a race/ride). If all goes well, your FTP became higher, meaning that a former effort of x Watts, now becomes easier, and thus creates less load.
What I’m referring to is whatever stable / moving average estimate of FTP is the “model value”, if such a thing is calculated. For example:
Estimated FTP for this activity on its own is 238 W (from 5m at 294 W). This is less than the model value of 350 W so the model value has been kept.
If model value above is something I’ve set in settings (and thus not dynamically updated), then taking the 42 or 84 day estimated FTP from the power curve to calculate load would seem superior. This value appears in the Power Profile on the Power tab.
No, the model value is what has been detected in the past from high efforts and then a decay factor is applied. The decay factor slowly reduces eFTP untill a new effort is detected higher then the model value.
Easiest way to visualize this, is by plotting it on the Fitness tab.
You can use it, but it’s not automatically transferred to the FTP setting.
It has been asked before, but there seems to be 2 camps, wanting/not wanting it.
At this moment you get a notification of a higher value detected, and it is your decision if you want to set it as a new FTP or not.
Once set, it will be used for future activities. If you want it to count for the activity in which it was detected, you have to adjust in the activity summary.
I think having the ability to toggle this on and off would be very valuable. I’d prefer to use whatever the model estimates (and which is kept up to date) than have to remember to change / let my ego get in the way.
Because a model can be more or less correct than a set value. If you don’t do max efforts for some time, your eFTP value won’t be correct, so the load might be (completely) wrong.
Though if you want that, you can create your own model and script, to overwrite the load value. Read for example that thread for more information
You can also easily make the model values your current settings for the sport on the /settings page. Just click the estimate and then the update button:
@R2Tom Thanks yeah - of course. I understand and am happy with that trade-off. Cool that you can write your own script - will definitely take a look at this!
@david - thanks for noting re. updating FTP. Is that kept live then i.e. will it always use the model value as it changes vs. me having to keep remembering to update (this is the key thing I’m asking for, really).
I have a python script that will go through your historical activities and apply the eFTP from that moment to the activity to calculate the load. I’d be happy to share it
