General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Power Improvement vs. Speed Improvement Rss Feed  
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2010-08-12 1:15 PM

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Elite
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Subject: Power Improvement vs. Speed Improvement
So I recall reading an article quite a while ago, that stated to increase your speed by 10%, you need to increase your watts by 30%.  From a recent race for me:

201 watts = 33kmph

All things being equal (bike, position, weight, etc.), would I need to ride at the following wattage to get this speed?

261 watts = 36kmph

I'm just looking to confirm if this is accurate.  If it is, I have a lot of work to do considering the 201 watts was around 92% FTP.  I figure I would need to increase my FTP from around 217 to 282, which seems quite monumental.



2010-08-12 1:25 PM
in reply to: #3040075

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Master
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Subject: RE: Power Improvement vs. Speed Improvement
Watts/kg, not just watts.

I have no idea how the math works or how much power is needed... just wanted to point out there are other variables.

For me, I know I made wattage increases this year, but most of my speed increase came from kg loss
2010-08-12 1:41 PM
in reply to: #3040075

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Power Improvement vs. Speed Improvement
ETA: removed my calcs as I noted a problem...

Actually those ratios are pretty close.  I was assuming time would be constant but of course it's not (unless the course gets longer).  So you do have to put out a higher Wattage but its for less time (as you are going faster)

I found this as well:

http://bikecalculator.com/wattsMetric.html

You can mess with the variables in the first column (weight for example) to match your recorded results.  Then use the same variables in the second column and change the speed.  This will change the wattage.


Edited by TriRSquared 2010-08-12 1:58 PM
2010-08-12 1:56 PM
in reply to: #3040103

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Power Improvement vs. Speed Improvement
JoshKaptur - 2010-08-12 2:25 PM Watts/kg, not just watts.

I have no idea how the math works or how much power is needed... just wanted to point out there are other variables.

For me, I know I made wattage increases this year, but most of my speed increase came from kg loss


Yea, like I mentioned, all other things being equal.  I'm already a lightweight, so I'm trying to focus this purely on pure power increase to speed increase.
2010-08-12 1:59 PM
in reply to: #3040075

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Subject: RE: Power Improvement vs. Speed Improvement
I'm in a similar ballpark.  I started training with power in early June, and my initial FTP test was about 235.  Getting closer to 300 seems quite daunting...but if it were easy...everyone could do it.  Focust on smaller, intermediate goals.  My next goal is 250 by next spring.

Just like running...most people don't go from a 52 minute 10k'er to a 40 mintue 10k'er in one season.  I wouldn't expect to go from a 1:08ish 40k TTer to a 1 hour 40k TTer in one season either.
2010-08-12 2:01 PM
in reply to: #3040103

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Not a Coach
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Subject: RE: Power Improvement vs. Speed Improvement
JoshKaptur - 2010-08-12 2:25 PM Watts/kg, not just watts.

I have no idea how the math works or how much power is needed... just wanted to point out there are other variables.

For me, I know I made wattage increases this year, but most of my speed increase came from kg loss


Actually, it's mostly watts/CdA (i.e., how much drag you create).  This does tend to correlate at least somewhat with power/weight.


2010-08-12 3:57 PM
in reply to: #3040075

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Master
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Subject: RE: Power Improvement vs. Speed Improvement
GoFaster - 2010-08-12 2:15 PM

So I recall reading an article quite a while ago, that stated to increase your speed by 10%, you need to increase your watts by 30%.  From a recent race for me:

201 watts = 33kmph

All things being equal (bike, position, weight, etc.), would I need to ride at the following wattage to get this speed?

261 watts = 36kmph

I'm just looking to confirm if this is accurate.  If it is, I have a lot of work to do considering the 201 watts was around 92% FTP.  I figure I would need to increase my FTP from around 217 to 282, which seems quite monumental.



This is the ratio I have heard as well and my training rides over the past two years seem to support this.
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