Can You Increase FTP After 50? A Proven Plan to Ride Stronger With Less Training Time

May 01, 2026 7:31 am

Most cyclists over 50 assume their best riding days are behind them.

I hear it all the time:


“Am I too old to improve my FTP?”


And honestly, I get why people think that. Recovery isn’t as quick as it used to be. Life is busier. You’ve got work, family, and a lot less time to train than you did years ago.


So it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking your fitness has peaked.


But in my experience, that’s just not true.


I’ve actually got stronger as I’ve got older. My FTP still fluctuates throughout the year, because that’s normal, but I’ve seen consistent improvements of 20 to 30 watts in a 12-week period.


And I’ve coached plenty of cyclists in their 50s and 60s who’ve improved even more.


So no, it’s not too late.


But you do need to train differently.


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Have a great weekend


Neil


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