Gino introduces the Power Pedals research study
My last blog post was ended with this statement: “This blog represents the first in a series that will be exploring power and how we can make it more accessible, more understandable, more reliable, and more straight forward to teach with.”
To live up to those lofty goals, as an outdoor coach, an indoor instructor, and in general a man dedicated to getting the science right, the only place I can start from is one of credibility and truth. In other words, however I am going to try and lead someone to apply power and ultimately teach with it, it must be done with reliable and repeatable techniques. This is my only hope of also producing reliable and repeatable results in both indoor cycling instructors as well as our students.
The variability of how the same power levels feel on different bikes (specifically the Keiser m3 that we have used predominantly for the last 5 years) is something that has actually prevented us from doing lots of more engaging and/or fun training in groups. I don”™t want to push someone to work hard only to have the fact that they chose a “hard bike” today instead of the easy one be what determines their ultimate success in any competitive or group activity.
I knew that until there was a way to objectively verify what power I was pushing on the m3 I could not know what the truth was, and so I waited for an way to implement this objective measurement. It finally was made possible when the Garmin Vector power pedals were released. This video is the initial launch of this research study.
Video Agenda
After an initial introduction as to why I took on this huge research project, I show the details as to how the Vector Power Pedals were fit on each bike and the nitty gritty steps on calibrating these pedals before I could begin testing the bike. This calibration method had to be done for each bike, and repeated each time I repeated the test.
This video also is the first in a series of video blogs that will allow you to take this journey with me as I discover what is possible and what is not in the pursuit of establishing real power levels of the Keiser m3.
Watch the first video blog.
Indoor Cycling Power Accuracy Research from Cycling Fusion on Vimeo.
Originally posted 2014-01-14 04:25:50.
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This could be of real value to many of our readers and listeners. Over 50% of the respondents to the Power Survey are riding M3s.
I’m curious to see what you ultimately come up with. If you’re “handicapping” bikes based on a comparison to Vector Pedals power measurement, how often will you re-assess? I think part of the issue with IC bikes and power is the bikes drifting out of calibration, and depending on how power is measured/estimated, differences that can evolve with mechanical wear and tear over time. So if you “handicap” particular bikes, will you need to re-evaluate how they compare to Vector readings on a regular basis to make sure that handicap is still valid? I guess there’s also the question of whether any differences you see are linear (i.e., if you see a 5 watt difference when Garmin reads 90 watts, will the difference at 150, 200, or 300 watts still be 5 watts, or will you see a larger differential at higher output?)
Good luck with your research! I’m very interested in seeing the outcome.
Very knowledgeable questions – and your suspicions are right on – but I don’t want to steal my own thunder LOL – I have to keep you in suspence or it just won’t be any fun. Another post coming tomorrow 🙂
Thanks for taking this on Gene!
As I watched, I was dreading the progress bar nearing the end.. wait! I want more!
“To Be Continued…”
ready for the first sequel,
alan