What is your watt/kg ratio?
- Thread starter plank
- Start date
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amaferanga
Veteran
- Location
- Bolton
I've just bought a power meter and haven't yet got round to doing any testing (I've had a stinking cold since the day before it arrived 
) so I don't have any figures.
You might find this spreadsheet on Power profiling interesting.
) so I don't have any figures.You might find this spreadsheet on Power profiling interesting.
gaz
Cycle Camera TV
- Location
- South Croydon
anyway to work it out without a power meter?
amaferanga
Veteran
- Location
- Bolton
gaz said:
Not really.
amaferanga
Veteran
- Location
- Bolton
SimonC said:
That's FTP. Power profiling involves testing for your W/kg over 5s, 1min, 5min and an hour.
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
gaz said:
If you go to a gym, some of the machines in there will measure power(the ones in my gym have a power option if you press a button marked perosnal trainer a number of times to get to it) but I guess its brand specific, the machines in my gym are made by "Life Fitness", also I dont know how it reflects vs riding on a real bike.
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
plank said:
Could be right, dont know, guess it depends on the equation used and the variables considered. I dont know how a normal power meter works, so cant say I know the difference between the possible ways a gym machine could potentially measure power and a power meters way. At a guess, a bike attached power meter works on some sort of equation too (again though I dont know how they work
)amaferanga
Veteran
- Location
- Bolton
Rob3rt said:Could be right, dont know, guess it depends on the equation used and the variables considered. I dont know how a normal power meter works, so cant say I know the difference between the possible ways a gym machine could potentially measure power and a power meters way. At a guess, a bike attached power meter works on some sort of equation too (again though I dont know how they work)
Power meters like the PowerTap use strain gauges to measure torque which is then converted into a measure of power.
Gym bikes and most turbo trainers that measure power don't actually measure power (or even torque), but use a formula to infer the power from the speed. I have a turbo trainer that claims to give reliable power readings, but in fact it varies by >25% (for a given speed) depending on the ambient temperature and how long/hard I've been riding for.
Bill Gates
Guest
- Location
- West Sussex
So how can knowing your sustainable power for one hour, 5 minutes or whatever time period help you with your training? It will always improve with training but then that's inevitable. If you are working to a training plan then unless you are peaking for a race, you will always be below what is achievable as you will be recovering from previous training.
Right now I'm way below peak fitness because of the bad weather. I don't need a power reading to tell me that, just as I don't need one to know when I'm at my best. It's a tool that pro's will use with their coaches because it's available and they can. What good it does a run of the mill club rider I don't know. I've seen those that recommend them can usually supply them as well (at a price).
Comparing your power readings is like comparing your average speeds. It produces a competition to see if you can beat the previous best. If you train like that you are an idiot.
The only reading that matters is your performance in a race. I.e Where you finish.
Right now I'm way below peak fitness because of the bad weather. I don't need a power reading to tell me that, just as I don't need one to know when I'm at my best. It's a tool that pro's will use with their coaches because it's available and they can. What good it does a run of the mill club rider I don't know. I've seen those that recommend them can usually supply them as well (at a price).
Comparing your power readings is like comparing your average speeds. It produces a competition to see if you can beat the previous best. If you train like that you are an idiot.
The only reading that matters is your performance in a race. I.e Where you finish.
amaferanga said:I've just bought a power meter and haven't yet got round to doing any testing (I've had a stinking cold since the day before it arrived
You might find this spreadsheet on Power profiling interesting.
ditto this one:
http://cozybeehive.blogspot.com/2008/02/power-to-weight-ratio.html
