Power output - Watts ?

[IanSmithCSE]

Good afternoon,

Rider size definitely comes into it as well, those numbers Ian has put up make sense for a lighter rider, bit I know it's a fair bit more for me.

I agree, but sometimes a starting point is helpful.

I have been riding to work on Vitorria Randonneur tyres recently, they are wonderful at not getting punctures and not wearing out, but they are slow, they really are.

Or so I believed

I actually did some playing around and despite feeling that they were slow, it is likely that they were 0.5 or 1/2 half a mile an hour slower than normal.

But they felt a lot slower

Bye

Ian

 

[dylanparry]

Good afternoon,

I am quite happy to make a fool of myself in public so here goes;

The numbers are so generic that a power meter will say, wow that guy is so wrong his is a prat so ignore him, but if you want a starting point and get that it is only a back of a fag packet number and understand that the question is unanswerable!

�

BikeType (Position)	Power Required	kcal/Hour	kcal/Mile
Power And Energy Required To Cycle @ 12MPH
RoadBike_Racer (Tops)	61 watts	209	17
RoadBike_Racer (Hoods)	53 watts	181	15
RoadBike_Racer (Drops)	51 watts	176	15
RoadBike_Racer (TriBars)	49 watts	170	14
RoadBike_Tourer (Tops)	87 watts	300	25
RoadBike_Tourer (Hoods)	79 watts	272	23
RoadBike_Tourer (Drops)	77 watts	267	22
RoadBike_Tourer (TriBars)	76 watts	261	22
Hybrid (Tops)	94 watts	323	27
MountainBike (Tops)	124 watts	428	36

�

BikeType (Position)	Power Required	kcal/Hour	kcal/Mile
Power And Energy Required To Cycle @ 14MPH
RoadBike_Racer (Tops)	88 watts	302	22
RoadBike_Racer (Hoods)	75 watts	257	18
RoadBike_Racer (Drops)	72 watts	248	18
RoadBike_Racer (TriBars)	70 watts	240	17
RoadBike_Tourer (Tops)	119 watts	408	29
RoadBike_Tourer (Hoods)	106 watts	363	26
RoadBike_Tourer (Drops)	103 watts	354	25
RoadBike_Tourer (TriBars)	100 watts	346	25
Hybrid (Tops)	126 watts	434	31
MountainBike (Tops)	162 watts	557	40

�

BikeType (Position)	Power Required	kcal/Hour	kcal/Mile
Power And Energy Required To Cycle @ 16MPH
RoadBike_Racer (Tops)	122 watts	421	26
RoadBike_Racer (Hoods)	103 watts	354	22
RoadBike_Racer (Drops)	99 watts	341	21
RoadBike_Racer (TriBars)	95 watts	328	20
RoadBike_Tourer (Tops)	157 watts	542	34
RoadBike_Tourer (Hoods)	138 watts	475	30
RoadBike_Tourer (Drops)	134 watts	462	29
RoadBike_Tourer (TriBars)	131 watts	449	28
Hybrid (Tops)	166 watts	572	36
MountainBike (Tops)	207 watts	712	44

�

BikeType (Position)	Power Required	kcal/Hour	kcal/Mile
Power And Energy Required To Cycle @ 18MPH
RoadBike_Racer (Tops)	166 watts	570	32
RoadBike_Racer (Hoods)	138 watts	475	26
RoadBike_Racer (Drops)	132 watts	456	25
RoadBike_Racer (TriBars)	127 watts	438	24
RoadBike_Tourer (Tops)	205 watts	706	39
RoadBike_Tourer (Hoods)	178 watts	612	34
RoadBike_Tourer (Drops)	172 watts	592	33
RoadBike_Tourer (TriBars)	167 watts	574	32
Hybrid (Tops)	215 watts	740	41
MountainBike (Tops)	261 watts	898	50

�

BikeType (Position)	Power Required	kcal/Hour	kcal/Mile
Power And Energy Required To Cycle @ 20MPH
RoadBike_Racer (Tops)	219 watts	753	38
RoadBike_Racer (Hoods)	181 watts	623	31
RoadBike_Racer (Drops)	173 watts	597	30
RoadBike_Racer (TriBars)	166 watts	572	29
RoadBike_Tourer (Tops)	263 watts	905	45
RoadBike_Tourer (Hoods)	225 watts	775	39
RoadBike_Tourer (Drops)	218 watts	749	37
RoadBike_Tourer (TriBars)	210 watts	724	36
Hybrid (Tops)	274 watts	943	47
MountainBike (Tops)	325 watts	1117	56

�

BikeType (Position)	Power Required	kcal/Hour	kcal/Mile
Power And Energy Required To Cycle @ 22MPH
RoadBike_Racer (Tops)	283 watts	975	44
RoadBike_Racer (Hoods)	233 watts	802	36
RoadBike_Racer (Drops)	223 watts	766	35
RoadBike_Racer (TriBars)	213 watts	734	33
RoadBike_Tourer (Tops)	332 watts	1142	52
RoadBike_Tourer (Hoods)	281 watts	968	44
RoadBike_Tourer (Drops)	271 watts	933	42
RoadBike_Tourer (TriBars)	262 watts	900	41
Hybrid (Tops)	344 watts	1183	54
MountainBike (Tops)	400 watts	1375	63

�

BikeType (Position)	Power Required	kcal/Hour	kcal/Mile
Power And Energy Required To Cycle @ 25MPH
RoadBike_Racer (Tops)	403 watts	1386	55
RoadBike_Racer (Hoods)	329 watts	1132	45
RoadBike_Racer (Drops)	314 watts	1081	43
RoadBike_Racer (TriBars)	300 watts	1032	41
RoadBike_Tourer (Tops)	458 watts	1576	63
RoadBike_Tourer (Hoods)	384 watts	1322	53
RoadBike_Tourer (Drops)	369 watts	1270	51
RoadBike_Tourer (TriBars)	355 watts	1222	49
Hybrid (Tops)	472 watts	1623	65
MountainBike (Tops)	535 watts	1841	74

�

BikeType (Position)	Power Required	kcal/Hour	kcal/Mile
Power And Energy Required To Cycle @ 30MPH
RoadBike_Racer (Tops)	673 watts	2315	77
RoadBike_Racer (Hoods)	545 watts	1876	63
RoadBike_Racer (Drops)	519 watts	1787	60
RoadBike_Racer (TriBars)	495 watts	1704	57
RoadBike_Tourer (Tops)	739 watts	2543	85
RoadBike_Tourer (Hoods)	611 watts	2104	70
RoadBike_Tourer (Drops)	585 watts	2015	67
RoadBike_Tourer (TriBars)	561 watts	1931	64
Hybrid (Tops)	755 watts	2599	87
MountainBike (Tops)	831 watts	2861	95

Bye

Ian

Never seen this before. Very interesting. Thank you for that

 

[dylanparry]

Rider size definitely comes into it as well, those numbers Ian has put up make sense for a lighter rider, bit I know it's a fair bit more for me.

Yes this is another factor which is working “against” me, if I want to put it in that terms. I currently weigh 13stone 7 pounds.

But I am just on a new exercise regime and enjoying bike riding and trying to get into it more, I know I’m never going to be pushing some elite level, or even a stand-out high level locally.

 

[dylanparry]

Good afternoon,


I agree, but sometimes a starting point is helpful.

I have been riding to work on Vitorria Randonneur tyres recently, they are wonderful at not getting punctures and not wearing out, but they are slow, they really are.

Or so I believed

I actually did some playing around and despite feeling that they were slow, it is likely that they were 0.5 or 1/2 half a mile an hour slower than normal.

But they felt a lot slower

Bye

Ian

I guess your bike set-up is THE deciding factor as far as how quick you are, the statistics you see and how easy or heavy the ride feels, which is an obvious statement to make I know.

There seems to be all sorts of elements that come into it though beyond just buying an expensive bike. I was reading about certain gear equipment which some bikers find much better than others etc.

Maybe I should hire a road bike and try it out for a week to see if I really get bitten by the biking bug.

I have thought about buying a bike, perhaps a Boardman? Any good? Not sure how much I would need to spend to get a really decent one though. Another thing, I’m not used to drop handlebars at all, I have always used a straight bar handlebar.

 

[freiston]

There are a lot of variables that will cost you watts of power - especially rolling resistance, air resistance (especially at airspeeds over 15 mph) and incline. Weight will factor when going uphill or accelerating too. So if you could consistently and constantly put out 200W, your progress and speed would depend on those other factors - it would not be constant or consistent. There are other factors that will affect your ability to put out those watts too - state of the engine aside, I'm thinking of riding position and gearing.

I've never had much curiosity as to my power output except for when I read that my previous tyres rolling resistance were measured at about 32 watts per tyre optimal pressure and over 50W each at the low end of the pressure range (@IanSmithCSE - Vittoria Randonneurs). I'm running folding Randonneur Pro MkII now - much better.

When you say "track bike", I think of this sort of bike:

Before you start thinking about what make of new bike, think about what you want to use it for and where/when (no luggage, loaded up for camping, tarmac, towpaths, wet/dry, summer/winter etc.) you want to ride it - then find out what sort of bike you need to do that.

 

[Dogtrousers]

What I would do is find a Strava uphill segment between 5 - 20 mins. Then periodically go up it as hard as you can. Then compare your times for previous efforts. It’ll give you a good indication of how your top end is improving.

Its a good plan, but these days I think you have to be a premium Strava subscriber to do that. Us plebs can just see the top 10., not analyse our own history.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Its a good plan, but these days I think you have to be a premium Strava subscriber to do that. Us plebs can just see the top 10., not analyse our own history.
View attachment 643634

You can see how you are doing in the app for free, but not in the browser

 

[Dogtrousers]

You can see how you are doing in the app for free, but not in the browser

Ah OK. I don't have the app.

 

[vickster]

Yes this is another factor which is working “against” me, if I want to put it in that terms. I currently weigh 13stone 7 pounds.

Lightweight

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Ah OK. I don't have the app.

Or use Strava from your other post

 

[Dogtrousers]

Or use Strava from your other post

I do use Strava, but not often. Mainly to keep in touch with a handful of other people. I log on occasionally to "like" their rides. I upload one or two interesting rides a year to let people know I'm still riding.
Oh, and I used it when I did the Festive 500, obviously.

 

[dylanparry]

There are a lot of variables that will cost you watts of power - especially rolling resistance, air resistance (especially at airspeeds over 15 mph) and incline. Weight will factor when going uphill or accelerating too. So if you could consistently and constantly put out 200W, your progress and speed would depend on those other factors - it would not be constant or consistent. There are other factors that will affect your ability to put out those watts too - state of the engine aside, I'm thinking of riding position and gearing.

I've never had much curiosity as to my power output except for when I read that my previous tyres rolling resistance were measured at about 32 watts per tyre optimal pressure and over 50W each at the low end of the pressure range (@IanSmithCSE - Vittoria Randonneurs). I'm running folding Randonneur Pro MkII now - much better.

When you say "track bike", I think of this sort of bike:
View attachment 643617
Before you start thinking about what make of new bike, think about what you want to use it for and where/when (no luggage, loaded up for camping, tarmac, towpaths, wet/dry, summer/winter etc.) you want to ride it - then find out what sort of bike you need to do that.

Ah, yes I see.

I guess I should have said dirt-track mountain bike. lol

Your gear is far more advanced than my Halfords dirt-track bike that's for sure. lol

 

[dylanparry]

Its a good plan, but these days I think you have to be a premium Strava subscriber to do that. Us plebs can just see the top 10., not analyse our own history.
View attachment 643634

Yes, I can see some data/statistics on my rides but can also see that there is more data to delve into if I was a paying customer.

 

[dylanparry]

I do use Strava, but not often. Mainly to keep in touch with a handful of other people. I log on occasionally to "like" their rides. I upload one or two interesting rides a year to let people know I'm still riding.
Oh, and I used it when I did the Festive 500, obviously.

It's a good tool to push yourself along with motivation and to see the mileage you make. Gives something to aim for, especially for a novice like me. lol

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Ah, yes I see.

I guess I should have said dirt-track mountain bike. lol

Your gear is far more advanced than my Halfords dirt-track bike that's for sure. lol

They are just called mountain bikes. Not need to prefix it with anything.