The Wattage Thread

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Probably better to have a thread about this stuff rather than clogging up existing ones!

I know SKR and I use power, anyone else?

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I have to admit to not using it to its full potential yet mainly as I've not had the time to do the tests, my data has just come from rides.

But I plan to be quite defined with it over winter to use it for pacing TT's and monitoring improvement.

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Yes, its not a million miles away when there is no drafting involved, or tailwind.

Hard to know though, its on a case by case basis, some people make a lot of power and are very light, others make bugger all and are heavy, not one hard and fast rule for all.

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Another 10 mile today, again on road bike, but with clip ons, managed more power than last time, but due to a crap wind on the way out it wasn't a fast day

336 watts for 22.06 (although I think I did a 22.03 personally, got held up at the turn, so I think I probably would have gone sub 22 which was today's goal, oh well.

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Did a flat hour loop the other day, managed 340 watts. Bit weird really, certainly highlights how difficult it is on some courses (like the 10 mile TT one above) to get the power down at all times!

I've got this http://app.strava.com/rides/20080525#360743997 TT on Sunday - so will be interesting to see what I can do on such a rolling course. Although lots of it is uphill. The last 800 yards of hill is used as a hillcimb, so your time is taken and they will see who is fastest up there!

I've got a roadrace about 3 hours later, so its sure to be a hard day on the bike, but power is improving still!

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Eddie and I did a race yesterday and I would say we both did similar amounts of work.

The race lasted 2 hrs 15 and average power was 275 watts, normalized was 300 for the duration of the race. Certainly the hardest I've worked in any kind of road race!

Interestingly we got in a break with an ex national 10,25,50 time trial champ, we were away for 12 miles and average power for this was 315 watts, right at the end of this road race!

So really interesting how the spread is in these races, I was barely every sat in yesterday, but I've done 2/3 cat races where you can get round on less than 200 watts average!

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The other side of power was needed yesterday. It's a great pacer, I managed to do a 25 mi tt at 340 average which is the best I've done for that duration.

This really makes me question my 20 min best which is similar! And I've never managed 340 for a ten either?!

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Which is why in a road race the only figure worth looking at is np. Even a hard race has a lot of non pedalling and drafting.

It's ok, I think on fresher legs I can do 350+ but find it hard to make my self suffer. Max hr is 197 and avg 184 for the hour so reckon I could have pushed a bit more.

Got a speed concept coming soon (trek tt bike) so will be able to have a good blast. Just not sure why I haven't managed to do more than 335 for a 10. In theory 355-375 should be possible but will work on that.

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It's easy enough solo but with others it drifts apart.

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superkartracer said:

It's not easy it's very hard

How do you keep the power on 100% though tight bends and steep downhills? it's very tricky to match the avg and NP solo or not, piss easy on drag strip tho..

Edited by superkartracer on Sunday 23 September 20:30

Well you tend to do more uphill than on the flat. Makes up for it. Mine are usually within 10w too if solo.

The goals next year are sub 20 and 51 25 I think, ambitious, but I think for my weight in pretty aero and the power is there.

Won't be easy when trying to make 1st cat on the road, but they are not bad training for each other as long as you get in a few breaks like we did the other week.

And he's trying to be funny I think haha.

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superkartracer said:

Who Mr power?

Eddie uses power too, just not on his racebike, but I like to have it for all events, especially TT's.

Really looking forward to riding a few more TT's next year. Also a big fan of the sporting ones! We do a sporting 14 in Feb or March around the hilly lanes of Surrey.

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Oddly set some new power pb's for 20 and 30 secs. Who says its the season to sit on your arse eh? ;-)

Have entered the dark realm of FTP increase for next season, I reckon if I am going to step up, then I need more power to play with, the Kurt is getting a solid workout!

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Lots

Wiggins did 475w for a 10 mile tt not too long ago. Froome did 400w for an hour at the vuelta.

Fabian did 630 for 4 mins in a prologue.

He also averaged 280w for the duration of the paris roubaix nearly 7 hours of racing...And no doubt did a silly amount for the bit where he was solo.


Their numbers depress me.

Edited by okgo on Sunday 28th October 20:50

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superkartracer said:

Well they are the best on the planet! why depressed? if you can output 350 watts for an hour you'll be in the top 10 club riders in the UK...

Don't compare yourself to pro's and even more so the best Pro's on the planet.

What makes it even more stunning tho is they output that power in the TT position, i take it you've not do a test on a TT bike in the full tuck yet?

Edited by superkartracer on Sunday 28th October 21:02

My FTP is probably 350 now tbh.

I haven't on the tt bike, but my position on the road bike with clip Ons is very aggressive and I'm very aero for my size, as said on another thread I don't think the position hinders me too much.

My goal is 380 for a ten, I think that is doable.

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Get Karter said:

What sort of numbers do cyclists put out at peak of a sprint?

There's a lot of data out there for Griepel, seems to range from 1500-1850 peak.

The numbers are only really made Impressive due to the fact they're at the end of 5 hours racing and probably 5 mins on the rivet. I say that because I know a few people including myself capable of hitting 1500, but only after a lot less riding!

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Anyway, we will see.

I'll post up here when I've done some more tests etc. I have mixed goals so if one fails can always switch to the other!

Remember to enlighten us SKR with your own improvements!

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Well the aim is always to lose weight. But it's got quite difficult. I have an odd build, more like a track sprinter really. Should imagine 75-77 is best I can hope for. But yes up the power is the aim. Figure it should happen if I stick to tried and tested measures as thus far has just been me aimlessly riding about

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Interesting stuff.

It's interesting to see various peoples sprint when racing. Sadly most of it is down to timing and position rather than outright power which is why I have managed to throw away so many chances at a win.

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We will see. I like eating

Also not sure how simple the maths are, I ride with a guy with a lab tested vo2 of 73, he's slower than me, and can only do 340 or so for 20 mins. And you can find a few big blokes who can get the power out but can't translate that into a properly fast time.

There are no hard and fast rules I don't think, so much of it is drag etc, and some people seem to defy that, a particular bloke with same first name as me seems to go very fast for a big guy for same watts as me, so it can be done, you can defy the figures both ways.

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AyBee said:

What are you all using to measure your power? Hubs or cranks? If this is discussed elsewhere, would be grateful for a link

Crank, Qaurq - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...