Cycling power: how many watts does an average person pull?

merlin2375 - 2009-04-15 1:39 PM I don't have a power meter but sometimes I'll ride the stationary at the gym due to my schedule. I don't trust the distance or speed so I generally look at the watts for a relative measure of my performance.

JorgeM - 2009-04-15 1:58 PM How much power a person can generate depends on many things such as fitness, genetics (height, weight), gender, age, bike fit, power meter, etc. The only way to compare how closer or not you are vs another rider is by comparing your power to weight ratio. That is taking your best average power for a given duration (i.e. 60 min) and divided by your weight in Kilograms. That way you can compare how much power you generate per Kg and how much power I for instance can generate x Kg.

To give you an idea, currently my 60 min power (estimated using Monod's critical power model) is around 256watts, and I weight 140 pounds, that puts me @ 4.03- w/Kg.

Once you figure out your power for 'x' duarion and get your w/Kg ratio you could use the attached table on the link to see how do you stack the power #s produced by some of the best cyclists at each durationm although the power readings you might get on those machines might not be accurate:

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

merlin2375 - 2009-04-15 2:30 PM

ETA:
Without buying a power tap is there a way to get a maximum power output reading? Do performance testing places offer a quick max test for a reasonable price?

JohnnyKay - 2009-04-15 3:04 PM

I'm sure you could find a place to do that, but I'm not sure what you would get from it.

merlin2375 - 2009-04-15 3:09 PM Yeah it certainly wouldn't be a training tool but more of a point-in-time measure then I figure I could ride for a few months come back and do it again. Of course I am thinking this should cost around $30.

I'm just not ready to jump into a power tap quite yet (expennnsive!)

JohnnyKay - 2009-04-15 2:18 PM

Do a time trial in training.  Repeat in the future.  Easier, cheaper, better.

smilford - 2009-04-15 2:18 PM Everyone at slowtwitch can do 350 for an hour.

newbz - 2009-04-15 2:14 PM yes larger people are going to put out more watts at te same effort level, or go slower ont he same watts as someone smaller. i am right now sitting on 260 for hour long power, right around 300 for 20 min power weight is at 150 right now.

jeng - 2009-04-15 2:31 PM

Here's another datapoint for you, though I'm not sure how much it will help.

My threshold power is 231 watts and my weight is 55.5kg, so 4.16W/kg.

This website is good:

http://www.analyticcycling.com/

JorgeM - 2009-04-15 12:32 PM NICE! what level/cat do you race up there?

JorgeM - 2009-04-15 12:58 PM ...The only way to compare how closer or not you are vs another rider is by comparing your power to weight ratio. That is taking your best average power for a given duration (i.e. 60 min) and divided by your weight in Kilograms. That way you can compare how much power you generate per Kg and how much power I for instance can generate x Kg.

To give you an idea, currently my 60 min power (estimated using Monod's critical power model) is around 256watts, and I weight 140 pounds, that puts me @ 4.03- w/Kg....
 

merlin2375 - 2009-04-15 3:33 PM Thanks again for all the info!

Do most of you guys that have power taps
a) build the wheel yourself around the hub
b) do you race that wheel or use the power tap only in training
c) find that it maintains it's accuracy over the years

ETA:
d) how come saris is pretty much the only company to make power meters. I started to look at the iBike thing but reviews are pretty mixed. I still can't figure out exactly how it gets power.