Avg power for those with power meters? (Page 3)

gadzooks - 2011-04-06 10:33 AM

If I generate less power than you and beat you with a faster time....all things equal.... I win... hands down.  The fastest riders and the guys that win are not always the ones that generate the MOST watts.  That's not what racing is all about.

If my original suggested that you NEED lower watts then I would say that it was interpreted wrong.  I agree with what you are saying and I also agree that the fastest time wins. 

GoFaster -

Fred - you know I disagree with you a bit on this one.  Absolutely, you get the most benefit from knowing your watts and watts/kg to see your own progression, and build your workouts appropriately.  But whenever you want to pull out the yardstick and compare with someone else, knowing the numbers helps.

i.e.  If I race against someone else and we're using the same brand PM, we'll see some power number differences, but all things being equal the numbers shouldn't be too far off (assuming we've both calibrated).  Now if he rides at 22mph and I ride at 20mph, and we end the race with similar watts/kg numbers then this tells me something.  His position, bike, wheels, helmet, whatever is making him more aero and he's clearly benefiting from doing something that I'm not.  I can take that info and look to get more aero and concentrate on watts/CDA (sound familiar).

Second point - look at Coggans comparisons.  You get a good sense of where you may be in terms of power against similarily ranked racers (cyclists).  It's very general, but still a good measure.

http://home.trainingpeaks.com/media/69406/powerprofiling_v4.xls

My 2 cents.

GoFaster -

Fred - you know I disagree with you a bit on this one.  Absolutely, you get the most benefit from knowing your watts and watts/kg to see your own progression, and build your workouts appropriately.  But whenever you want to pull out the yardstick and compare with someone else, knowing the numbers helps.

i.e.  If I race against someone else and we're using the same brand PM, we'll see some power number differences, but all things being equal the numbers shouldn't be too far off (assuming we've both calibrated).  Now if he rides at 22mph and I ride at 20mph, and we end the race with similar watts/kg numbers then this tells me something.  His position, bike, wheels, helmet, whatever is making him more aero and he's clearly benefiting from doing something that I'm not.  I can take that info and look to get more aero and concentrate on watts/CDA (sound familiar).

Second point - look at Coggans comparisons.  You get a good sense of where you may be in terms of power against similarily ranked racers (cyclists).  It's very general, but still a good measure.

http://home.trainingpeaks.com/media/69406/powerprofiling_v4.xls

My 2 cents.

GoFaster - 2011-04-06 3:53 PM

Isn't it interesting, though, that the highest reading Coggan has measured in a cyclist rates as a ~Cat 2.  Can that be right?  No cat 1s or semi-pro/pros in New Jersey?

sand101 - 2011-04-06 11:36 PM

Huh?  Where did you get the cat2 thing from?  Coggan has put out power data on world class cyclists.

dredwards - 2011-04-07 6:35 AM

 

Oh, never mind.  I just saw the post to the "flamme rouge" site and assume that must be what you are referencing.  The Flamme Rouge site is not Andrew Coggan, they just used his w/kg chart.  Also, they are referring to "Jersey" as in the channel island, not "New Jersey" in the US

Fred Doucette - 2011-04-06 5:53 PM

ETA: The differences could also be due to other things ASIDE from aerodynamics.

Care to guess at them?