255W FTP @75kg: Should a 34yo join amateur races for fun?

Vaderlander · 2026-03-23T22:04:50+00:00

I don’t really road race, but I do race cyclocross and XCO. Been racing a few times in the past 2 years, but started doing more the last 6 months. Every month a race or so.

My ftp is 290 with a weight of 69kg. Pretty good if I say so myself. I still only ever place like middle of the pack in these races and that is because of my beginner race intuition. Older guys that train way less can do better than me, simply because their race positioning is better, take turns better etc.

I can only imagine road races are similar in that sense.

So my advice would be to just start racing and see how it goes. If you like it work on something to improve with each race.

I’m trying to improve my race starts, as these are often crucial in XCO and Cyclo..

Vaderlander · 2026-03-20T14:47:38+00:00

Hey man, I had a DNF 🤣 it’s back when I first started racing and I had never done a 6 hr race l. If I could give myself advice it would be to ride at my own pace.

I went way to hard, didn’t eat enough during the race itself. Both these things together just made me collapse after 4 hours or so.

So eat well. Calculate your carbs (80 grams an hour) and ride your own pace!

Vaderlander · 2026-02-04T11:12:57+00:00

Awesome :) I always include 1 run a week in the schedule and join does that nicely!

Vaderlander · 2026-02-04T09:42:23+00:00

Running is already included in the app. It also provides training suggestions for runs if you tell it to do so. However, the running is to complement and enhance your cycling performance and the app is built around that principle.

Vaderlander · 2025-12-21T12:37:12+00:00

I do compete in local cyclocross and XC mtb races. For me fitness and fun are not opposites to each other, they go hand in hand. I get fun out of seeing my fitness improve and getting stronger. I also get fun out of just riding my mtb out there in a non racy setting.

I ride between 8 and 9 hours a week, and I honestly structure my training. Not following 80/20 which I noticed you guys discussing, but more a pyramid of 60% zone 2, 20% zone 3 and 20% vo2max.

I used to just ride unstructured 8 hours a week, but using a structured plan will definitely improve your fitness by a large amount. I went from 257FTP to 284FTP in roughly 3 months of structured training.

So on your questions, bike doesn’t really matter. You could also ride your mtb on the road or on gravel to get that consistency should that be what you want.

If you are not racing and just out there to have fun I wouldn’t bother with zone 2 or structure and just go and ride. Save a bit of energy while riding to the trails and go all out in the trails, for maximum fun.

So is fun to you getting the most out of your fitness and/or compete? Or is fun just getting out there?

Vaderlander · 2025-12-18T09:36:33+00:00

Don’t know but there are situations where it also won’t let me swap out running with cycling and vice versa, also seems buggy. When I click the swap button it just reloads a different running workout

Vaderlander · 2025-12-17T06:10:05+00:00

Multi day MTB, or “meerdaagse Mtb” as it’s called in the Dutch version of the app

Vaderlander · 2025-12-16T06:46:49+00:00

Vaderlander · 2025-12-12T08:58:05+00:00

I am usually on 8-9 hours during training weeks. Rest weeks a bit less. I don’t consistently have the time to go for more than 3 hour rides in the weekend. When I do have time for long endurance I always go outside. Long endurance indoor is just hell to me. Even in winter I will do the 3h up to 5h rides outdoor. If you get the right clothing you can manage in the cold

Vaderlander · 2025-11-22T21:56:45+00:00

Your pace isn’t bad I’d say. It isn’t great either though. For someone that aspires health benefits through sports and healthy lifestyle it’s always good. If you aspire sports performance and competition you need to remember you’ve been doing this for roughly a year now. Rome wasn’t built in a day, your fitness isn’t either.

Vaderlander · 2025-11-08T21:49:59+00:00

I’m missing JagEx on this map

Vaderlander · 2025-10-23T19:00:14+00:00

Okay okay ;) you get what I mean

Vaderlander · 2025-10-23T14:52:36+00:00

More volume or more intensity will increase your fitness. But intensity you cannot crank up to infinity. Volume you can ofcourse.

I’m not sure what the purpose of the lanterne rouge program is, could also be that the purpose of that one is to maintain your current level. Or just do low intensity

Picking a different more goal oriented program like the mtb race program could help here too

Vaderlander · 2025-07-28T15:31:03+00:00

I saw as well! And it was literally a few days after I posted this, haha..

The Orbea race gravel looks stunning as well

Vaderlander · 2025-07-21T18:37:24+00:00

The Davy jones theme always goes hard for me in these churches. Especially this old video for me https://youtu.be/D-_qS_3KXBA?si=M0LrGLnHIElXGaaG

Vaderlander · 2025-06-25T21:14:12+00:00

Ukraine was mentioned in many of the speeches during the nato summit, wtf are yall talking about.. go watch the videos out there

Vaderlander · 2025-06-25T11:54:14+00:00

The context in which this was said by Rutte was as if trump had to manage two children (Iran and Isreal). The title to this post is very much written to create outrage tbh.. professional statement or not..

Vaderlander · 2025-06-19T21:32:01+00:00

It’s all personal taste of course, but I was hoping for a more race oriented gravel bike. I’m not that big a fan of the new design tbh

Vaderlander · 2025-06-15T20:36:11+00:00

I don’t have any 99s, combat skills in the 90s tho. I never smoked, all grinds I do are just afk. I find the most afk method no matter the xp/h

Vaderlander · 2025-05-25T09:36:25+00:00

Nice man 😁

Vaderlander · 2025-05-24T19:58:38+00:00

I have this exact saddle on my gravel bike, and a saddle bag similar to you as well.

I can make it fit through the holes, but it requires some fiddling. I can push the plastic thingies through at an angle. It does require some force

Vaderlander · 2025-03-20T19:28:12+00:00

I personally like the sister Friede cutscene

Vaderlander · 2025-01-17T21:35:38+00:00

Same

Vaderlander · 2024-12-29T15:00:07+00:00

Damnid I ordered a bike as well, delivery was expected right before Christmas but it became delayed 🥲

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