I think my power/weight ratio puts me around 5.3 watts per KG which would not be competitive with top professionals. It might be competitive among top amateur's and bottom tier professionals though.
Think you would be competitive with professionals? Have you ever won a community crit or even taken a single prime during a crit?
I am an experienced (ex)Cat2 cyclist with many years of knowledge of power training. I already posted the answer earlier in this thread.
But lets just pretend for a moment you are actually pushing 425 actual (non peloton) watts for 30 mins (which I highly doubt). This doesn't necessarily translate to a successful racing career. You could probably rise the ranks in time trialing pretty quickly with those numbers, but most actual bike racing (road racing, crit racing, etc...) doesn't directly reward sustained power output. You need to be able to withstand surges (accelerations up hills, out of corners, chasing moves, etc...). Furthermore, bike races aren't 30 minutes -- most are at least 90 minutes (crits) and road races are often 3 hours or more, so you need to be able to withstand a LOT of surges. This isn't just fitness, it is being able to read the race and be in position, and have a team to work with.
All that is purely theoretical (and a waste of words) since you aren't likely putting out the power you think you are. Look at most of the people at the top of Peloton leaderboards -- they are putting out pro numbers on paper but they aren't pros, they are just weirdos on miscalibrated bikes (most of whom are pedaling at like 50-60 rpms).
What is your cadence when you are pushing those watts?
That power reading certainly could be wrong, but are those power numbers really that great for someone who's 80kg?
On Zwift, those would be solid A league numbers, but in real life those guys are Cat 1-2 I thought. So good but not pro.
Honestly thats where I think I realistically am at. Im thinking of getting power pedals or something like that to get the peloton to work with Zwift.
99% of my Peloton rides involve me pushing myself as hard as I can, typically for a 30 minute class to try to maximize output. If I have the time I will do 45 or 60 minute classes.
My max heart rate is somewhere in the range of 185-190 and Ill spend most of the class in 165-170.
This is just the way I like to ride. Even if I intend on taking a class easy, my competitive nature takes over and I end up in this style of ride. I think it inadvertently was an excellent way to train and in the last couple of months, Ive seen a major improvement in all my output.
For reference I plugged the OP's claimed weight and power numbers into the Bike Calculator website. At 80 kg on a 7kg bike with tubular tires he'd make 28.5 mph on the drops and 31 mph in an aero position. And that formula is based on 20 yr old bike geometry and normal wheels. With newer aero bikes and deep dish wheels he'd be 1-2 mph faster.
At my best, I managed 26 mph for a 30k bike leg in a triathlon on a TT bike with an aero helmet, and 808 Zipp wheels. I'd guess I was was putting out around 260-280 W @ 70 kg for 3.8-4.0 w/ kg. That was good for top 10% males in a heavily contested triathlon in Boulder CO, with some World Tour pros who smoked the field with 29-30 mph bike splits.
To hold 425 W for 30 mins without real bike training just isn't happening.
I am an experienced (ex)Cat2 cyclist with many years of knowledge of power training. I already posted the answer earlier in this thread.
But lets just pretend for a moment you are actually pushing 425 actual (non peloton) watts for 30 mins (which I highly doubt). This doesn't necessarily translate to a successful racing career. You could probably rise the ranks in time trialing pretty quickly with those numbers, but most actual bike racing (road racing, crit racing, etc...) doesn't directly reward sustained power output. You need to be able to withstand surges (accelerations up hills, out of corners, chasing moves, etc...). Furthermore, bike races aren't 30 minutes -- most are at least 90 minutes (crits) and road races are often 3 hours or more, so you need to be able to withstand a LOT of surges. This isn't just fitness, it is being able to read the race and be in position, and have a team to work with.
All that is purely theoretical (and a waste of words) since you aren't likely putting out the power you think you are. Look at most of the people at the top of Peloton leaderboards -- they are putting out pro numbers on paper but they aren't pros, they are just weirdos on miscalibrated bikes (most of whom are pedaling at like 50-60 rpms).
What is your cadence when you are pushing those watts?
This is a great answer. I follow a guy on Strava and YouTube who started cycling to lose weight and discovered a lot of natural talent (including 1500w sprint). In one year he made it from beginner to Cat 1, but he is still learning all of the stuff you mentioned. Watts per kg is only one part of success. He had to learn how to stay in the draft, tactics, how to position for a field sprint, how to corner, etc. It takes way more than one year even if you have a great engine.
I am an experienced (ex)Cat2 cyclist with many years of knowledge of power training. I already posted the answer earlier in this thread.
But lets just pretend for a moment you are actually pushing 425 actual (non peloton) watts for 30 mins (which I highly doubt). This doesn't necessarily translate to a successful racing career. You could probably rise the ranks in time trialing pretty quickly with those numbers, but most actual bike racing (road racing, crit racing, etc...) doesn't directly reward sustained power output. You need to be able to withstand surges (accelerations up hills, out of corners, chasing moves, etc...). Furthermore, bike races aren't 30 minutes -- most are at least 90 minutes (crits) and road races are often 3 hours or more, so you need to be able to withstand a LOT of surges. This isn't just fitness, it is being able to read the race and be in position, and have a team to work with.
All that is purely theoretical (and a waste of words) since you aren't likely putting out the power you think you are. Look at most of the people at the top of Peloton leaderboards -- they are putting out pro numbers on paper but they aren't pros, they are just weirdos on miscalibrated bikes (most of whom are pedaling at like 50-60 rpms).
What is your cadence when you are pushing those watts?
I am wondering if I could buy some power meter pedals to install on the peloton, use for a couple of sessions and then return them. That would at least give me an idea of how accurate the Pelotons power readings are. I need to find some place that sells power meter pedals with a decent return policy.
I ride my wifes peloton and am able to sustain 425 watts average for 30 minutes. Im 6 ft 4 and weigh 180 lbs. Before you say my bike is miscalibrated, my wife, who is a fit late 20 year old former runner gets numbers that are typical for someone her size and skill level.
Does this make me a good cyclist? Ive never actually been on a road bike to see what my potential is but am getting so good at the Peloton I am thinking of starting.
For a little more context, I am a former runner in late 20s. Havent done a lot of endurance sport training over the past 5-10 years until the Peloton which I have been riding for about 2 years.
I can dump 425 pounds in 30 minutes as measured on the peloton HIIT potty. Do I have sufficient talent to make it to the Tour de Cacca?
I am wondering if I could buy some power meter pedals to install on the peloton, use for a couple of sessions and then return them. That would at least give me an idea of how accurate the Pelotons power readings are. I need to find some place that sells power meter pedals with a decent return policy.
I have now decided this is the way to go. Im going to order a power meter pedal, try it on a ride or two and then return it. This will at least give me an understanding as to how accurate my Peloton is. Thank you LetsRun community for your insightful and pleasant commentary on the subject.
See if you can rent or borrow equipment at your local bike shop. Perhaps inquire about some local cycling groups while at the shop. Hell, with your "numbers" a local shop may even be interested in sponsoring you. Alternatively, search the web for used equipment. Just make sure you get properly fitted. A ton of people spend big money on equipment that they end up trying to resell it for cheap when they realize they don't have the time and energy to devote to cycling.
I am an experienced (ex)Cat2 cyclist with many years of knowledge of power training. I already posted the answer earlier in this thread.
But lets just pretend for a moment you are actually pushing 425 actual (non peloton) watts for 30 mins (which I highly doubt). This doesn't necessarily translate to a successful racing career. You could probably rise the ranks in time trialing pretty quickly with those numbers, but most actual bike racing (road racing, crit racing, etc...) doesn't directly reward sustained power output. You need to be able to withstand surges (accelerations up hills, out of corners, chasing moves, etc...). Furthermore, bike races aren't 30 minutes -- most are at least 90 minutes (crits) and road races are often 3 hours or more, so you need to be able to withstand a LOT of surges. This isn't just fitness, it is being able to read the race and be in position, and have a team to work with.
All that is purely theoretical (and a waste of words) since you aren't likely putting out the power you think you are. Look at most of the people at the top of Peloton leaderboards -- they are putting out pro numbers on paper but they aren't pros, they are just weirdos on miscalibrated bikes (most of whom are pedaling at like 50-60 rpms).
What is your cadence when you are pushing those watts?
I am wondering if I could buy some power meter pedals to install on the peloton, use for a couple of sessions and then return them. That would at least give me an idea of how accurate the Pelotons power readings are. I need to find some place that sells power meter pedals with a decent return policy.
I’d get zwift and a smart trainer. if you have a road bike you can stick it on there and see where you are at. they recently had a sale of a kickr + 1 year subscription for around 700. im thinking peloton is accurate in the middle of the curve but not so much on the higher and lower ends of weight and power.
If you are in any major city or area with a good bike racing scene, a lot of the high end bike stores or training facilities will have fit bikes with properly calibrated, high end powermeters installed. Something like a Kickr, Tacx or Wattbike will have a much more accurate power reading than a Peloton.
There's a reason why a Peloton bike costs less than a powermeter...
You still haven't answered my question (third time I'm asking) for your cadence at that power. I have a suspicion it is very low, which seems like a "trick" with peloton's power algorithm...
I have now decided this is the way to go. Im going to order a power meter pedal, try it on a ride or two and then return it. This will at least give me an understanding as to how accurate my Peloton is. Thank you LetsRun community for your insightful and pleasant commentary on the subject.
Please realize that power numbers mean almost nothing without context. Many people only get about 90%or less of their upright power when they ride in a tucked/aero position which is really what matters.
If you want to see how good a cyclist you are you have to, you know, ride a real bike on a real road against other real cyclists. You can buy a decent used bike for just a little bit more than the best power meters. I'd do that instead.
You're not going to be ause you are a troll but if you did you might learn some things.
You still haven't answered my question (third time I'm asking) for your cadence at that power. I have a suspicion it is very low, which seems like a "trick" with peloton's power algorithm...
You are not wrong which is a little concerning as to the legitimacy of my numbers. My cadence is 60 on the 30 minute PR. I haven't really tried to increase my cadence so far but if I continue down the cycling path I will.
Im going to get power meter pedals and test the authenticity of my output so dont worry about it, Ill have an answer soon enough.
I have now decided this is the way to go. Im going to order a power meter pedal, try it on a ride or two and then return it. This will at least give me an understanding as to how accurate my Peloton is. Thank you LetsRun community for your insightful and pleasant commentary on the subject.
Please realize that power numbers mean almost nothing without context. Many people only get about 90%or less of their upright power when they ride in a tucked/aero position which is really what matters.
If you want to see how good a cyclist you are you have to, you know, ride a real bike on a real road against other real cyclists. You can buy a decent used bike for just a little bit more than the best power meters. I'd do that instead.
You're not going to be ause you are a troll but if you did you might learn some things.
I dont want to invest that much time or energy into cycling as of yet. Im really busy with my life which includes two children under the age of 2, a demanding job and not a lot of free time. I do Peloton because I can turn it on and workout to near exhaustion within an hour. I could see myself in 5-10 years developing this into a more serious hobby as time constraints ease up.
I understand that there is skill involved with cycling. I understand that I am not a professional level cyclist or anything like that. I am simply curious if my output is legitimate. If it is, it seems like I have a natural ability for one of the most important element of cycling, power/weight ratio.
You still haven't answered my question (third time I'm asking) for your cadence at that power. I have a suspicion it is very low, which seems like a "trick" with peloton's power algorithm...
You are not wrong which is a little concerning as to the legitimacy of my numbers. My cadence is 60 on the 30 minute PR. I haven't really tried to increase my cadence so far but if I continue down the cycling path I will.
Im going to get power meter pedals and test the authenticity of my output so dont worry about it, Ill have an answer soon enough.
Ooohhhh this will be the issue. Try to max out with lower resistance at 90 rpm and see what you get.