36
votes
What applications exist for bicycle power, besides propulsion?
Bicycles are simply a method of generating rotational mechanical movement from biological sources.
That rotational energy can be used for anything where a motor would be used.
The items below have all ...
- 111k
25
votes
Accepted
What is a power meter and why do I need one?
Since you say you're looking to become a triathlete soon it's far too early to be thinking of advanced training aids like power meters.
The first few things to do (not necessarily in this order) are
...
- 17.1k
17
votes
Is it possible to burn only ~850 cal. on 1.5h / 20 km fast bike ride?
Since the other answers and comments were discussing only your bike trip, I will tackle on your hike values and show why they are probably incorrect.
First of all your activity wasn't a hike, but a ...
- 171
16
votes
What is the drag / power lost to a safety flag?
If the pole is a flexible one, you can do the following:
Choose a windless day
Ride past a second person at a known speed
Let the second person take a picture while you pass
Repeat immediately in the ...
15
votes
Accepted
Understanding e-bike power/torque
Very quick answer - the torque numbers that are quoted are maximum torque values which do not correspond to maximum power.
Power = torque × rotational speed, so, at slow speeds the motor unit can ...
15
votes
What applications exist for bicycle power, besides propulsion?
Foot operated sewing machines were very common before electric machines appeared. Unlike hand operated machines they allow using both hands for cloth adjustment, and other energy sources like rotating ...
- 6,257
13
votes
Accepted
How to convert calories to watts on Strava rides?
Turning my comment into an answer:
Watts in a bicycling context are usually measured (or estimated) as mechanical power at the wheel (or crank). Calories burned are the (estimated) total input energy. ...
- 24.5k
12
votes
Is it possible to burn only ~850 cal. on 1.5h / 20 km fast bike ride?
The bicycling calories sound about right (maybe a bit too high, but assuming a relatively bad bicycle and higher moving speed between breaks it could work). I think it’s your walking calories which ...
- 24.5k
12
votes
Is there publicly available data on riders' critical and maximum power?
Getting data on professional riders is harder now than it used to be: in the past, teams and riders would sometimes post their data on Strava or in WKO format. I suspect, but do not know, that this ...
- 13.7k
11
votes
What use does a Heart Rate Monitor have if you have a Powermeter?
You can tell when you are knackered.
Power indicates your actual output. With a baseline of previous power and HR data, you can establish a model for what you should be able to do. When your ...
- 9,898
11
votes
Accepted
What use does a Heart Rate Monitor have if you have a Powermeter?
There is only one occasion I would consider use of HRM has priority over a power meter (or indeed no monitor at all and simply using perceived exertion), i.e. your doctor or cardiologist has ...
- 2,375
10
votes
How much faster can my commute be if I use a power meter?
With that many interruptions your own performance is unlikely to make much difference to your commute times. Sprinting for the lights, when safe, is much more likely to help. If it's mostly stop signs ...
- 51.2k
9
votes
Is the real world experience of riding a light bike understated by physics-based calculators?
The physics model of cycling power and speed has been validated in the real world. Two examples are this and this. The model embedded in Analyticcyling.com's online calculator is based on these two ...
- 13.7k
9
votes
Accepted
What is the difference between a speedometer and a power meter in terms of performance measurement?
Can't I just measure my speed and compare it against my last run and see if I've done better?
Yes, but it's only directly comparable if the wind (and surface, and traffic ... but particularly wind) ...
- 2,976
9
votes
Garmin watch as a power meter
There may be some confusion with terminology here. A power meter measures power, usually by measuring the strain in some drivetrain component (i.e. how much it flexes when pedaling). You need to ...
- 24.1k
9
votes
What are (a) the source of and (b) the justification (e.g. experimental) for the concept of "normalized power" used in physical endurance training?
My understanding is that high-intensity efforts are disproportionately taxing, and NP is a way of reflecting that. That is, if you went for one ride where you maintained a steady 75% FTP output, and ...
- 27k
8
votes
What is a power meter and why do I need one?
They do help with training and racing but they are also very expensive. As you say you are a beginner I imagine increases in fitness/strength (and therefore speed) are going to come fast anyway, even ...
- 565
8
votes
Power Output at different Air Densities
The following chart can be found in an interesting article on Training Peaks blog.
From this you should be able to adjust your power level occordingly.
- 17.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Power Output at different Air Densities
Just coming back to this question as there are a few considerations.
The OP only mentioned (barometric) air pressure and not necessarily altitude. I'll start with barometric pressure only and come ...
- 2,375
8
votes
Accepted
Most effective > 200 mile ride training
I did a ride of this length solo in March this year. I designed a route to suit me (not flat, not steep), and intended to be quick (I was aiming for under 21 hours). At 400km it was a tough day, but I ...
- 51.2k
8
votes
What are (a) the source of and (b) the justification (e.g. experimental) for the concept of "normalized power" used in physical endurance training?
Focusing more on the empirical part of the question, consider the link that R. Chung gave in his first comment to Adam Rice's answer. That's the introductory chapter to Andrew Coggan's book, training ...
- 24.1k
8
votes
How to convert calories to watts on Strava rides?
Minor detail for the general audience: the ride in question lacks actual power meter measurements. It's pretty likely that the cyclist in question wanted to keep her power meter data off Strava, as ...
- 24.1k
8
votes
Accepted
Giant power meter left/right balance
Typically, we don't need to pay too much attention to left/right balance because it's not clear that 50/50 is the optimal balance to aim for. Many of us have a slight imbalance. The advice isn't ...
- 24.1k
8
votes
What applications exist for bicycle power, besides propulsion?
Bike-powered smoothie makers are a thing you can rent or buy. They're most often seen at events promoting science/engineering careers to kids, or sustainable travel.
Bike-powered electrical ...
- 51.2k
7
votes
Calorie Burn Meter Bicycle
Generally, you attach a bike computer or a power meter to a bicycle to collect statistics, and/or some sensors to yourself.
A bike computer measures the revolutions per minute of a wheel, typically ...
- 45.8k
7
votes
Accepted
Power to weight, FTP and Terrain Profile
On flat terrain raw power is what is more important than Power to weight ratio.
On rolling terrain P/W is important, but the larger rider still has the advantage.
On mountainous terrain P/W is the ...
- 17.8k
7
votes
what power did alex dowsett put out during his hour record?
We cannot know exactly unless Dowsett's team releases it, but we can make a reasonable estimate. The most important unknown is Dowsett's drag area, or CdA, so below I have calculated the power needed ...
- 13.7k
7
votes
What use does a Heart Rate Monitor have if you have a Powermeter?
A heart rate monitor (HRM) measures cardiovascular system effort, while power measures muscular system effort. When averaged over long periods of time the two are typically highly correlated, they ...
- 30.1k
7
votes
Low power while maintaining high cadence
64 watts is well within the margin of error of 60w target.
Don't be afraid of going to your lowest gear on the trainer.
You should be working up to your target cadence, if you can't hold 90 without ...
- 1,313
7
votes
Accepted
What's the difference between power meter and bike computer?
A 'bike computer' is a generic term for everything from a simple wheel sensor giving distance and speed, to an all singing all dancing computer that measure cadence, speed, altitude, heart rate, ...
- 44.7k
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