Imtb Posted November 23, 2007 Posted November 23, 2007 20 minute TT on a hill. Two riders who are identical an all aspects (I know that isn't possible but just surmise). One has an MTB with knobblies and that other has a road bike. Obviously the speed will be different but how does the power output differ. When they download the results what sort of average power difference is there going to be and how can the guy on the MTB compare his results to the norm...or can't he. I would guess that most stats for power are done on a road or time trial bike so can one compare apples with pears? mmm I hope this makes sense!! I guess the bottom line is, if I only ride an MTB, can I look at stats for power done on a road bike?
BikeMax Posted November 23, 2007 Posted November 23, 2007 20 minute TT on a hill. Two riders who are identical an all aspects (I know that isn't possible but just surmise). One has an MTB with knobblies and that other has a road bike. Obviously the speed will be different but how does the power output differ. When they download the results what sort of average power difference is there going to be and how can the guy on the MTB compare his results to the norm...or can't he. I would guess that most stats for power are done on a road or time trial bike so can one compare apples with pears? mmm I hope this makes sense!! I guess the bottom line is' date=' if I only ride an MTB, can I look at stats for power done on a road bike?[/quote'] The difference, as you say, will be in the speed of the bikes - so you can't compare that. In power terms you can certainly compare - the machine you are riding or the gradient you are riding on should not make any significant difference to the power you can put out. Your cardiovascular system does not know you are riding on knobblies...
Imtb Posted November 23, 2007 Author Posted November 23, 2007 Thanks Peter - so the weight of a bike and the tyres on the road don't have much impact on power output
Turboman Posted November 23, 2007 Posted November 23, 2007 Pears, apples , oranges... power power mountain road it's all the same and relevant
Imtb Posted November 23, 2007 Author Posted November 23, 2007 Surley there would be an impact on the cardiovascular system if you were carrying alot more weight?
BikeMax Posted November 23, 2007 Posted November 23, 2007 Thanks Peter - so the weight of a bike and the tyres on the road don't have much impact on power output Weight and tyres will have an impact - but the impact is not on your ability to put out power but instead on the speed that the power will generate. Just like a bigger, heavier rider will need more power to ride at a given speed than a lighter rider (could be same rider weight but on a heavier bike or bike with knobblies..)
Imtb Posted November 23, 2007 Author Posted November 23, 2007 Training on a heavier bike - would that have positive spin offs as far as power is concerned
BikeMax Posted November 23, 2007 Posted November 23, 2007 Training on a heavier bike - would that have positive spin offs as far as power is concerned Well..maybe, but not for the reasons you are thinking (I don't think..) Your ability to put out a certain power is constrained by your cardiovascular system and not by your weight or your bike or your tyres etc etc If you ride a heavier bike, or you ride up a hill, or you ride into a headwind, or you attach a sail to your bike or any of the other things that might slow you down, then all that happens is that you ride slower for the same power output. Riding a heavier bike, or putting a weighted pack on your back will make you ride slower for the same output. In theory if you ride the lighter bike faster you will achieve the same benefits. The only reason that guys will ride the heavier bike in training is that they "may" find it easier to increase intenity this way rather than riding faster on the lighter bike. Hope that makes sense to you ?
rad006 Posted November 23, 2007 Posted November 23, 2007 Well here is an example for you...Wheelers did a hilclimb in the suikerbos reserve 39(or more) people competed on their road bikes. I did it on my mtb and came 9th....friggen good result dont u think?I think i was 2mins off the winning time
Imtb Posted November 23, 2007 Author Posted November 23, 2007 Hope that makes sense to you ? Thanks Peter, that makes sense - I learn't something today
Imtb Posted November 23, 2007 Author Posted November 23, 2007 One more thing - wouldn't riding a heavier bike make your legs stronger - like doing weights and increasing the load. That takes the cardiovascular system out of the equation
BikeMax Posted November 23, 2007 Posted November 23, 2007 One more thing - wouldn't riding a heavier bike make your legs stronger - like doing weights and increasing the load. That takes the cardiovascular system out of the equation Leg strength is not a "limiter" in endurance cycling so increasing it will not benefit performance. Plenty of research on this - try this for starters.. http://home.earthlink.net/~acoggan/misc/id4.html
Imtb Posted November 23, 2007 Author Posted November 23, 2007 Leg strength is not a "limiter" in endurance cycling so increasing it will not benefit performance. So does strenth have no impact on power - I must be sounding like a real beginner...but I am when it comes to power. Working on power with weights are we increasing power but not strength. Is it more to do with increasing lactic threshold rather than strength?...will have a look at the article when I get a chance. Trying to do my VAT but this is much more interesting!!Imtb2007-11-23 05:04:33
Turboman Posted November 23, 2007 Posted November 23, 2007 So doing strength and weights training in the off season is a pointless excercise...
Imtb Posted November 23, 2007 Author Posted November 23, 2007 So doing strength and weights training in the off season is a pointless excercise... Sounds like it
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