Welcome to Athlete Success Stories, a series highlighting the incredible journeys of athletes from all walks of life who have achieved success with TrainerRoad. Each volume showcases inspiring athletes who share their experiences—from their initial challenges through training, to how TrainerRoad helped them reach their cycling goals and surpass expectations.
How Cyclists Around the World Are Getting Stronger with TrainerRoad
Athletes from all walks of life and every corner of the globe use TrainerRoad to become stronger, fitter, and more confident cyclists. Whether they’re recovering from serious setbacks, managing demanding schedules, or working toward elite competition, these stories highlight the power of dedication, consistency, and the right training platform.
From New Cyclist to 272 FTP in Under a Year
“Just started cycling less than 12 months ago. I’ve only used trainer roads for my training. Started at 195 FTP and with trainer road progression I’m sitting at 272. Just want to say thanks to Jonathan and the team since I see you’re active here.” –—Ryan McDonough, ZwiftxTrainerRoad Club
Ryan’s story shows how TrainerRoad’s structured training progression can produce dramatic gains in fitness—even for athletes new to the sport.
Best Shape of Their Life on Limited Time
“Been using TR for about a year to help me get good bike rides in with very limited time. I started with a few rides a week then decided to do a program for a century ride earlier this year. The adaptive training in 3 months got me in some of the best bike shape of my life (38 yrs old)… My FTP has gone from 180 to 232 in just 8 months and I feel great on the bike and off. I’ve also found their customer service to be super responsive when I’ve had questions. Their podcasts are also very informative and motivating. My only regret is not trying TrainerRoad soon!”—BW129
TrainerRoad’s Adaptive Training automatically adjusts workouts to your fitness and schedule, allowing you to train effectively with limited time.
Fitness and Resilience
“The blue blocks have been my companion through all manner of ups and downs in life over the last 12 years. When other parts of living have been complicating and compromising, TR has helped encourage and motivate me to new heights of fitness and resilience. This would sound like a commercial if it weren’t also true: in 2012, long before AI ftp detection, I did my my first 20 min ftp test and landed at 212. I was 41 at the time. Last week, for kicks, I retested the 20 min FTP test and came up at 314. I’m 53 now and in the best shape of my life. The blue blocks and all the people who make TR possible are how I’ve been able to achieve this improvement. TR, praise.”—Revnathan
From Heart Attack to Faster Than Ever
“I am an adult-onset cyclist… I started mountain biking after a doctor gave me a very stark warning. I lost a lot of weight initially and started TrainerRoad, but after a lifetime of not taking care of myself I still ended up with a heart attack at 50 (100% blockage of my RCA, lucky to be here)… Even though I was fortunate to reach a hospital and be treated very quickly I lost a lot of cardiovascular strength.As I went through cardiac rehab, I included TrainerRoad into the recovery plan (OK’d by my doctor).My FTP after the heart attack was 170 (1.72 Watt/kg) and after steadily building back up my current FTP is 250 (2.6 Watt/kg). I am stronger now than I was before the heart attack. The simple prescription of “Do this today” works for me, the fact that it adjusts if life happens to my schedule is awesome.In October I took an amazing trip to Bentonville, completing several days of riding in a row with friends, it was more enjoyable as a result of the added fitness. I am entering events (racing is probably the wrong word for what I am doing, participating is more like it). Even though I will never be competitive, feeling stronger on the bike makes being out on the trails so much more fun.”—Justafatguy
TrainerRoad’s structure and flexibility helps athletes stay on track—even with health challenges and big goals.
From Paralysis to Podiums
“Dropped from 269lbs at the start of 2017 to around 190lbs now. Cycling is the reason. Signing up to TR in September 2019. It was the catalyst to continue my fitness improvement/fat loss journey and not fall back into bad habits, especially during the wet/cold UK winter which seems to last forever and puts me off cycling outdoors.Cycling has been transformational for my physical and mental health.TR has played a huge part in achieving those improvements. Plenty of ups and downs along the way. Being knocked off my bike in a hit-and-run in 2020 with post incident complications and paralysis for 6 months was the low point. Restarting indoor training in January 2021 with an FTP of 224 was very daunting (now at 310). Gaining my crit racing upgrade from Cat-4 to Cat-3 in September 2022 was a high point and I attribute the improvements to using TR. My short power was much higher 2 years ago than it is now, with the TR workouts allowing me to focus on that aspect. Changing tack to longer efforts of sustained power and TTE has been interesting and revelatory over the last couple of years. Smashing my target time at the Dragon Grand Fondo (135 miles 11k feet of climbing) this summer was another personal success on the back of this change in focus, again the long winter base on TR and the early-year structured build was behind that in my view. Loving the new features (AI ftp / masters plans) which have helped me continue to improve even though I’m closing in on my 52nd birthday :)”—Dsirrom
Masters Plans and AI FTP Detection help time-crunched athletes get stronger and smarter with their training, even years after injury or setbacks.
Fast Results
“It helped me increase my FTP by 40w in 4 months. What else do I need to say?” —Tim Dwyer
Racing Toward Big Goals with a Busy Family Life
“I’ve been a cyclist and TrainerRoad user for almost 5 years now. I’ve had multiple children during that time, and TR has helped me build and maintain a surprising amount of fitness given the demands of this phase of life. 5 years in, I just hit my all time high FTP (254) and feel like I am on a trajectory to 4w/kg if I stay consistent. I find AI FTP detection keeps me motivated to stick to the plan rather than just perform on test day.In my second year of cycling, I was finishing DFL in every cyclocross race I did. This year, I had two 4ths and a 3rd! I feel confident that TR will support me in some of my long term goals like Lotoja, Park City P2P, and Leadville.It’s amazing how far the product has come in the last 5 years and I am super happy with my journey with TrainerRoad.” —Jackwiser
AI FTP Detection allows Jackwiser to stay focused on training instead of testing, helping him make consistent progress toward ambitious race goals.
Power, Endurance, and Peace of Mind
“I started road cycling in 2013 at the age of 31 and started using TR in 2017 when I got a smart trainer in anticipation of not being able to get out on the road much with the birth of my second child. I think my first FTP test in 2017 had me around 315W, but that was using the power meter on my Wahoo Kickr Snap so I’m not sure how much I can trust that number (I started using a real power meter on my bike and powermatch a few months into starting TR). Anyway, my current AI FTP is 374 for a W/Kg of 4.32.TR has really enhanced the durability of my fitness and enabled me to put in long days in the saddle (I’m more of a “diesel-engine” type)…Beyond what TR has helped me do on the road, TR has been crucial for maintaining my mental health through some difficult career patches such as getting laid off and the general ups and downs of working for a biotech startup. It grounds me into focusing on something I can control amid when it feels like there are many things that are outside of my control.
” —John_Barclay
From Cat 5 to Podiums—and More Family Time
“I’m 45 years old and have been using TR consistently since 2017…My initial FTP with TR was around 190. It currently floats during peak between 300-304 (4.8 W/Kg). I’ve also lost about 40 pounds, which helps. TR has taken me from a cat 5 to a cat 1 (pending approval) in about 6 seasons leading up to most recently, a 6th place finish at nationals last week!In terms of how TR has been meaningful to me, the biggest things are seeing the results and being able to spend more time with my family. I have two kids (6.5 and 2.5) and I do shift work for a living, so I already have a little guilt from working the occasional evenings, nights, and weekends. The efficiency of doing most of my training indoors is truly a gift of time that I do my best to take advantage of. I’m just not in a place where I can go do 4+ hour weekend rides. Yet, thanks to TR, my performance is doing more than OK.TR is the only indoor platform I use. I started with low volume and have gradually increased to 8-10 hours a week most weeks. To be honest, I probably should ride outside more but TR makes it so easy to get the work done. A few tips: 1. trust the process. consistency is key and TR makes consistency so easy. 2. enjoy the little victories. Find little goals to keep things moving/interesting. I was thrilled when my Z2 power was higher than my Z2 HR. Doing the first 2 hours workout. Doing the first workout that burned 900 cal/hr. Just find little things to celebrate along the way. 3. take advantage of all the things TR offers, including this forum. I’ve learned so much from the people here and find it to be one of the best communities in my corner of the internet.Future goals… Get to 5 W/kg and podium nationals. The pan-am race is in my neck of the woods the next 2 years, and I’d love to get a top 10 there.Thank you to everyone at TR and everyone on this forum. Any success I have had is because of all of you. Keep pedaling and happy holiday season!” —Justin
TrainerRoad’s comprehensive features understand where your fitness is and helps you reach your goals for athletes of all levels, availability, and experience.
From Struggling to Sprint Duathlon Podiums
“I’ve been a TrainerRoad user for about 1.5 years now, and I’m really grateful for TR and the indoor cycling community. I started my journey struggling to complete 30 minutes on Zwift, weighing 101.4 kg with an FTP of 219 W. Today, I’m at 74 kg, with a 312 W FTP, and I even achieved a 4th place finish in the 30–39 age group at a Sprint Duathlon.” —Crayonz051
TrainerRoad helps endurance athletes of all types reach their goals.
6-Month Transformation
“August 2024 – AI FTP 213 watts, 210 lbs (95kg), 2.24 w/kgFebruary 2025 – AI FTP 249 watts, 180 lbs (81 kg), 3.07 w/kg” —Texastoast
From CrossFit to Serious Cyclist
“Im a 34 y/o male, I started cycling as a way to boost my endurance capacity in the service of performing better in crossfit. I began at a deficit since I’ve always had asthma. But within a few mountain bike rides I found that I preferred the bike. But I was SO SLOW. To put into context how slow i was, Aug 2021 My FTP was 119… Sept 23(2024) I decided to commit to Trainer Road and saw my FTP jump from 239 to 255 in a month or so. This motivated me to stick to TrainerRoad. Three months later, I was at 282 FTP.The point is this: I went from 239 to 286 FTP in less than a year with TrainerRoad.” —Mpierce1
TrainerRoad helps athletes of all backgrounds make big gains on the bike.
How Fast Can You Get?
These athletes come from different backgrounds, experience levels, and life circumstances—but they all share one thing: consistent progress with TrainerRoad. Whether your goal is to finish your first group ride, reach a personal best FTP, or stand on the podium, TrainerRoad gives you the tools and structure to get there.
With adaptive recommendations, AI FTP detection, intuitive workout scheduling, and a global community of support, you’ll always know the next best step to becoming a faster, stronger, and more confident athlete.
Ready to Write Your Own Story?
These stories showcase how TrainerRoad helps athletes at every level realize their cycling potential. We love celebrating your progress, so join our community and share your own TrainerRoad success story here on the forum.
Additional Athlete Success Stories
Adaptive Training
Get the right workout, every time
with training that adapts to you.
Check Out TrainerRoad
