@ohiopublic, watts in cycling is a measure of power output. You can measure absolute watts or calculate watts per kg of body wright which is even a more useful measure of performance. Wattage is often used to structure training programs for cyclists based on % of Functional Threshold Power (FTP) which is the wattage level you can maintain for 1 hour. This is very frequently calculated using a 20 minute FTP test protocol in which, in general terms, you use 95% of the wattage you can maintain for 20 minutes after a very structured warm up.
Wattage is superior to heart rate training for performance cyclists because you are measuring the actual work you are able to produce. Heart rate training is a surrogate for measuring the % of VO2 Max you are training at but there are so many variables that can influence heart rate on any given day that your measured heart rate may not reflect the actual work loads you are achieving. For this reason, performance cyclists prefer structured wattage training over structured heart rate training.
In the world of outdoor cycling, there are many systems designed to measure wattage. They use strain gauges and similar devices located in rear hubs, pedals, or crank arms. In the world of indoor cycling, there are “spin” bikes that also use strain gauges to measure watts. Cycleops indoor cycles and the Star Trac Ion Blade are 2 examples. Then there are bikes that calculate watts rather than actually measure watts. The Keiser M3 and Schwinn AC Performance Plus are 2 examples. The former use brake pad resistance (although they could also use magnetic resistance which is more costly technology) and the latter use magnetic resistance. The latter apply a proprietary algorithm to calculate wattage based on the position of the magnet basket over the flywheel (which creates the resistance) and the rpms of the flywheel. For a variety of reasons, calculated wattage has accuracy challenges but even more important for a group cycling class can reflect inconsistencies from bike to bike based on things like cable stretch of the resistance cables and other calibration factors from bike to bike.
Wattage is not of much practical use in running because there is no ready and convenient means of measuring resistive force against which a runner is working. For this reason, pace and time over distance are better measures of performance and have greater utilitarian value for structuring a training program. Here’s a link to a discussion board about wattage as applied to running. Has some interesting info and links to additional sites. http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=5067899&page=1
Thank you everyone for your good wishes about my daughter’s engagement dinner. Our in laws to be are just lovely people who are also so much fun. The next year until the wedding, as well as the years to come, will be filled with a lot of joy and adventure for our extended families.
Michael, that’s so nice to read - I’ve been reading some other threads about inlaw relationships and yours just gives me hope!
Work has exploded, of course - it’s almost a holiday - so my house is a disaster and nothing is done. Won’t quite be the Norman Rockwell scene I always imagine, but I have the food! Mr. Sabaray is off this week so I’m leaving him with a list of “to dos”. We will see how that goes!
We really are fortunate, sabaray. Our daughter and their son have been together for 8 years and during that time an independent relationship has evolved between us and his parents. His father has commented to our daughter that outside of the kids relationship, the 4 of us have developed our own friendship. When my wife and I got married, the relationship between her parents and mine was a major point of stress, so we’ve seen the dark side of inlaw relationships up close lol.
Ran 5.1 miles yesterday. Off to the gym in a few minutes for cardio + weights. 26 degrees here this morning, but sunny. Should be close to 60 on Thanksgiving.
Unlike in your house, Michael, ours is not a happy place re: D’s engagement. I should amend that to say everyone except H is very definitely happy/excited/pleased. I won’t bore you all with the depressing details, but H is totally hung up on religion, and convinced D is descending into the pits of he _ _ since her fiancé was not raised going to church. He is wonderful, caring, responsible person, and the 2 of them are good together – but H can’t seem to see any of that. I’m hoping H comes around. Sigh…
The in-law thing can be a real nightmare. Happy for Michael and his family. CBB- I hope your husband softens. It’s important to let our young adults find their own path with respect to religion.
3.2 miles this morning- 31 but no wind. I also have a polar fleece jacket (well, I have several) that is perfect for that temperature. My polarfleece items seem very windproof.
My birthday’s coming up & I need new running pants. Lululemon Inspire II crops - any comments?
These are my favorites as far as what I can learn online. Two waist pockets, back zip pocket, mesh behind the knees. Very highly rated. Here in SoCal, I need to stay cool way more often than I need to stay warm. So these seem to fit the bill, but I figured I’d check with the experts before I take the plunge!
greenbutton- moment of levity here. My eyes are not working well right now (need to have some corrective surgery) and I thought you did 45 minutes of LAP dancing! Thanks for sharing! :">
I’ve been gone all day. WHERE IS THIS THREAD GOING!!!
Today was “take care of business day” - oil change, a couple of work errands, gas for the car 2 hour + drive to get freshman D and 2 hour + back! I made her stop at this beautiful hilly park near her university for a quickie walk to get my thighs moving!!!
MK - what do you think a good “watt goal” might be for me? It is kind of hard for me to create an optimal spinning or cycling workout for me? Normally my cardio (HR) gives before my legs when running. I’ll hit my max HR usually at 6:30 mile pace or below at can stay there for 3 miles before stopping or slowing down. Cycling is completely opposite. My legs give out way before cardio (or Max HR) when spinning/cycling. I rarely get above 160 HR on the bike. I can can average 22-23 mph on a general flat surface with a couple minor hills for 25 minute on the bike path. For some reason I can’t find that similar level (or wattage) on the Keiser M3 bikes for a 20-25 minute interval. Seems like I’ve got the level too low or too high? Unfortunately with a stationary bike I don’t have another person to gauge my progress like I do with running or cycling.Keep thinking I want to sneak a peek at the monitor as I occasionally do on the treadmill! Any thoughts on watts I should average for a 20-25 minute interval? Hour interval?
BunsenBurner-the beer trail run sounds very fun but I’ll have to do it on a future trip. Too many things already planned and we head home on Friday. That’s so I can get back on a plane to China on Monday. Arrgghh!
Ohio, wattage targets are extremely individualized and must be structured based on your FTP. If I were to randomly suggest a wattage goal for you, I would be shooting darts with my eyes shut :). There are field tests that can be done to determine FTP as well structured 8 minute and 20 minute FTP tests that can be done indoors under more controlled conditions. Allen Hunter and Andy Cogan, who are the grand deans of wattage training, have jointly written “Training and Racing with a Power Meter” which is a great resource. Joe Friel has also authored several excellent books on wattage training. These sources will provide a detailed understanding of the protocols for determining FTP and for structuring training programs around wattage.
In order to do wattage testing and training, you will obviously need a means of reliably measuring wattage. A PowerTap hub or wheel or Garmin Vector pedals are 2 good ways to do it on the bike. Cycleops Powersync or Powerbeam rear wheel trainers are great for indoor wattage training using your bike mounted to these units. Then there’s the Wahoo rear wheel trainers which I think are phenomenal. There are also dedicated spinning bikes that measure actual wattage such as the Star Track Blade Ion and the Cycleops series of bikes. Then there are spinning bikes like the Keiser M3 that provide calculated wattage. The difficulty with calculated wattage is that the read outs may not be consistent from bike to bike and may be not be accurate. Can still be a useful tool though to do relative measures of training loads.
I love the Keiser bikes because of their ride ergonomics. If you are going to use them for wattage training, keep in mind that there can be a lot of variances between different bikes because of the long cable run from the resistance lever to the magnet basket. As I mentioned before, calculated wattage is based on applying an algorithm to the position of the basket relative to the flywheel and cadence. As the resistance cable stretches, the computer on the bike needs to be recalibrated. This is the biggest reason that there are variances from bike to bike and that the wattage readout is better suited to relative wattage training rather than actual wattage.
No major exercise for me today. I woke up at 4 am with a feeling that something had gone wrong… The train carrying Mr. got stuck due to some (apparently planned!) construction… He missed his flight by a few minutes. The airline would not deal with the ticket - sent him to corporate Amex. Calling Amex Travel… good luck. After being on hold for 20 min, he realized that he was wasting his corporate international calling plan and would probably have to spend another day away from home, so he just bought a ticket for the last flight of the day. Watching that flight on the flight tracker was quite an adventure. The path looked like it was hijacked! What a day, and is still not over. The second leg of Mr.'s travel continues as we speak… Will collect him at the airport soon. Tomorrow calls for another trip to Seatac - to collect little kiddo. Then we can relax and feast.
C3Baker, no worries. Some other time! Your schedule sounds pretty tight. Enjoy your visit, have a great Thanksgiving, and safe travels!
BB, the travel debacle with your husband must have had him (and you) climbing the walls!
Love the Dumbbells. Wonder if they could make me a run from 2.5 lbs to 60 lbs in 2.5 lb increments?
Tomorrow calls for another trip to Seatac - to collect little kiddo. Then we can relax and feast.