If you have a power meter and an upcoming race then read on.
If you’re in good form and want to nail a PB on your favourite local course (and have a power meter) then read on.
I’ve not looked in detail at bestbikesplit.com but the headlines look impressive. I had a little play last night and put in my FTP and a power profile over a local course I created. It could equally be a course created by someone else eg a stage of The Tour or the bike leg of your upcoming tri-qaualifier.
Presumably taking into account grade/gradient it plots your ideal power profile over the course. It takes into account LOTS of factors including the weight of you/bike and the weather temp/wind.
My recent 20 minute grind around my local course was analysed and bestbikesplit.com told me that, in fact, I should be able to do it in 18 minutes based on my FTP. and my recent best was 17:50, so that’s pretty good I reckon.
Of particular benefit to me is to know what power levels to limit myself to up the hills. It’s a bit naïve to say ‘oh for a 60 minute course you just do your FTP power by capping your uphill effort and trying a lot harder going down hill to get the power up’. It’s just not that easy…especially the downhill bits. Well I find it hard anyway.
Last Updated on 30 January 2016 by the5krunner
tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors.
