Your functional threshold power (FTP) is a benchmark against which most bike training sessions are set. Knowing the FTP enables an athlete to train at the right level for their current ability. The FTP is the average number of watts that a cyclist can sustain for one hour and it provides a good indication of rider fitness. Attaining an FTP score requires a test. There are different methods, but the most accessible is a ramp test. In this test an athlete will complete a short warm-up and will then ride with regular increasing power output until the point of exhaustion — when the rider is no longer able to sustain the required power to continue the test. A Ramp Test will feel very easy to start with and then after a certain point will quickly become increasingly challenging. It takes a lot of mental focus to push to the point of absolute failure and get the best results from a test of this nature.