I've just returned from a "recovery" week (aka eating pastries in Lisbon) and done my first test since early Jan: 246, up from 242 four months ago.
It appears upward progress is now glacial, and might soon peter out, at the low level of volume I'm prepared/able to do. Training over these past 4 months has gone very well: not been sick, followed the plan, swapping out for some longer outdoor rides when the sun shines, and TSS has been gently but steadily rising.
So, despite the very small FTP increase, I'm content with this, as it could be a lot worse, eg. injured, sick. For sure, I'd like to be making rapid improvements as I was one year ago, but that's not the reality, so no point in me crying over it, it's just the way it is!
I've started the Climbing Road Race plan, but increasing numbers of w/o's will hopefully get swapped for outdoor rides over the coming weeks. The goal is to hit 250 FTP by end of June, then ideally(!) reach towards 260 in September. The latter is probably a big ask, but one step at a time...
The slow but steady progress continues...
Tested at 253 (~3.6 w/kg), up from 246 in May, after a big increase in volume; much of the riding (the volume increase) was outside, which has been fun, but lacks the structure and some of the intensity that can be so effective in making FTP improvements.
I'm very happy with this progression. No real injuries or sickness this year, and I've been able to follow a plan relatively uninterrupted, so I've been lucky and hence absolutely no complaints from me.
Next scheduled test is for early Oct, and
if I'm still able to follow the plan until then, doing some HIT type stuff, I
could be within reach of 260 which has been my (pointless
) "ambition" for this year.