The Wattage Thread

Author
Discussion

okgo

Original Poster:

39,209 posts

204 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
quotequote all
Probably better to have a thread about this stuff rather than clogging up existing ones!

I know SKR and I use power, anyone else?


nickd01

627 posts

221 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
quotequote all
Yep, being with a PowerTap and WKO+ for years now. Best tool for a "time crunched cyclist" and for the turbo.

okgo

Original Poster:

39,209 posts

204 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
quotequote all
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.

Rouleur

7,131 posts

195 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
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What's the difference between Strava guestimated figures and real ones? Any examples of 5-minute outputs from the two sources?

samwilliams

836 posts

262 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
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Rouleur said:
What's the difference between Strava guestimated figures and real ones? Any examples of 5-minute outputs from the two sources?
It depends a lot on conditions. According to Strava, my peak 5-minute output is 630W, and 10-minute is 550W. If only that were true! It just happened to be that I was being assisted by a marvellous tailwind at the time.

Had I been going in the opposite direction, I would probably have been working my arse off for an equally inaccurate low figure from Strava.

okgo

Original Poster:

39,209 posts

204 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
quotequote all
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.

superkartracer

8,959 posts

228 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
quotequote all
Good move OKGO

I've a powertap and Wattbike and looking for anyone on here that runs a tap and cranks, have some questions

Cheers

andySC

1,230 posts

164 months

Wednesday 15th August 2012
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I used a Wattbike last winter (hired it for 12 weeks) I found it very useful. I used it consistently & did 3 sessions a week. The numbers were good & I had high hopes for this season...unfortunately having nothing but bad luck since May has broken my will to pin a number on for the time being.

On the road the majority of the rides I do are with mates or in groups so power data would end up being a curiosity & nothing more. I did the BC ramp test last week & was happy enough with the results.

A mate of mine who is a good domestic pro summed me up on Tuesday... "Andy, you're one of the best riders I know but you're st at racing!".... fair comment tbh.

TKF

6,232 posts

241 months

Thursday 16th August 2012
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Getting a power meter would be like hiring an accountant to tell me how skint I am.

okgo

Original Poster:

39,209 posts

204 months

Saturday 18th August 2012
quotequote all
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 frown

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.

racerbob

270 posts

186 months

Saturday 18th August 2012
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TKF said:
Getting a power meter would be like hiring an accountant to tell me how skint I am.
lol, like it !!!

okgo

Original Poster:

39,209 posts

204 months

Wednesday 29th August 2012
quotequote all
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!

okgo

Original Poster:

39,209 posts

204 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
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!

IroningMan

10,285 posts

252 months

Monday 17th September 2012
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In theory my turbo is good - consistent - enough to use to calculate power, but I need to upgrade the bike computer to something that works on ANT+.

An appeal has gone out to the Birthday Fairies, so we'll see.

Rocksteadyeddie

7,971 posts

233 months

Monday 17th September 2012
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Yes, he is a , wink

Was a tough race and as we discussed the variance between being on the front/in a break is exacerbated by the wind. I'd be surprised if those in the bunch averaged 200 watts. It's like two different races to the one we rode. Yesterday was harder than all the E123s I've ridden - except when I mistakenly got into the break!

Jimbo.

4,022 posts

195 months

Monday 17th September 2012
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On the subject of POWWAAHHHHHHH...or at least the metering thereof:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/stages-cycli...

Interesting!

yellowjack

17,238 posts

172 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
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Jimbo. said:
On the subject of POWWAAHHHHHHH...or at least the metering thereof:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/stages-cycli...

Interesting!
bikeradar said:
"And once installed (with no holes or structural changes required, mind you), it's barely noticeable with virtually zero effect on a bike's aesthetics."
This will just not do! How will other cyclists know to bow down to your more powerful wattage (?wallet?) if the damned powermeter isn't obvious on the bike? This will never sell!

Rocksteadyeddie

7,971 posts

233 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
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hehe

okgo

Original Poster:

39,209 posts

204 months

Sunday 23rd September 2012
quotequote all
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?!

superkartracer

8,959 posts

228 months

Sunday 23rd September 2012
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Does seem odd, as you did the hard race and avg was 275, but for the hour you did 65 watts more?, if FTP is 340 then two hours should be around 320 +

340 ftp is cracking btw.