Neverpedia
Power
Threshold
Intensity at or around FTP/LTHR — the boundary between sustainable and unsustainable effort.
Threshold refers to the intensity at or near FTP (for power) and LTHR (for heart rate). It is the boundary above which lactate accumulates faster than your body can clear it.
How it is measured
- Power: 95–105% of FTP.
- Heart rate: At or just above LTHR.
- Feel: Hard, controlled, sustainable for 20–60 minutes if pacing is right.
Why it matters
Threshold work raises your sustainable power and shifts your lactate curve to the right. Typical sessions: 2x20, 3x15, or 4x10 minutes at threshold, with 5 minutes of recovery between intervals.
Common misconceptions
- Threshold is not the same as VO2 max. Threshold is sustainable; VO2 max is not.
- A 5-minute interval is not threshold work — it is too short and too hard.
- Doing threshold work three times a week will eventually break most athletes. Two is the practical ceiling.
Related concepts
FTP, LTHR, Sweet Spot.