Functional Threshold Power: My FTP is fairly good according to my watch. My V02 max sux, though. I dont bike. Anyone know what FTP is exactly?

mjsol over 5 years ago

My FTP is fairly good according to my watch. My V02 max sux, though. I dont bike. Anyone know what FTP is exactly?

I struggle V02 Max as well as load, because the watch still seems to require me to run outside a lot. I am a gym rat.

But the FTP is good. I just dont know what it means. Any help is appreciated.

0 nmyeti over 5 years ago

Did you ride on a bike with a power meter? Without that, i don't know how you got an FTP value.

0 Dr Phil over 5 years ago

Where are you getting your Functional Threshold Power (FTP) from?

0 mjsol over 5 years ago in reply to Dr Phil

It's under performance stats in Garmin Connect. And I've never used a power meter.

0 drkglb over 5 years ago

You need GPS (accurate distance) data in order to give you VO2max values. That's why the watch is asking for outdoor run activities (trail runs also do not get registered for VO2max calculation).
Don't know much about FTP, I don't use it.

0 JacekZet over 5 years ago in reply to nmyeti

You can simply enter FTP value it in your watch (user profile/power zones) or also in Garmin Connect.

As you mentioned and according to Garmin's explanations FTP is connected only with bike riding, but you need a power meter.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago

Here is a link that explains some of Garmin's cycling metrics, including FTP: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/performance-data/cycling/#functional-threshold-power

And in case it's useful, here is their link on running metrics (it hasn't yet been updated to include some of the latest Firstbeat features but it's still good information): https://www.garmin.com/en-US/performance-data/running/

The FTP value is likely a default since the only way to actually measure it is with a power meter and it's only applicable to cycling. As for Vo2 max, Garmin is focused mainly on running and cycling for Vo2 max calculations so if you don't do either of those sports you might not see much change there.

0 R_Tellis over 5 years ago

I actually ended up with an FTP number on my 735 without ever connecting to a power meter or entering it manually. I have no idea where it came from but one day it was just there and a new, identical, value was added each Wednesday.

0 MyActivelife over 5 years ago

I suddenly Noticed today that I had an ftp measurement in Garmin connect, but didn't know why. Think maybe that, a datafield I installed called ePower, had something to do with this value? Or coincidence? I never used a power meter for cycling, that I'm sure of ;-)