Northern California - Low Key Power Calculator - an epiphany

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Beaker
08-08-09, 08:08 PM
I found myself browsing the LKHC website today and clicked out their power calculator link, which I know has been mentioned here before. I started playing with some numbers and was quite startled to see that I was able to accurately predict my personal best times up the following climbs to within a few seconds with the following power estimates

Diablo, southgate - 227W
OLH - 230W
San Bruno Mtn - 230W
Lomas Cantadas - 230W
Sierra Rd - 219W (n=1)

I was quite shocked - it looks as though I'm pretty good at making climbs at a steady 230W (3.3 W/kg)or so. I certainly didn't give it my all on Sierra yesterday, since I was planning Welch. FWIW, the calculator only gives me a 178W up Welch, but to be honest, putting in a fast time was the last thing on my mind.

Now what to do about getting sustained power above 230W - that's another question.


http://www.drdmserver1.com/timspage/PowerCalc.html

ericm979
08-08-09, 10:02 PM
I'd have to make 33% more power to win my age group in the Diablo challenge. How demoralizing.

I like how you can see what your time would be on famous european climbs.
Ygduf
08-08-09, 10:05 PM
my time vs. weight => 275 / 81 = 3.395w/kg

To get better, you have to do intervals. That's always the advice on the road forums. Get a powertap and do intervals.

Have fun with that! :P

rydaddy
08-08-09, 10:12 PM
Based on the KOM ride last month, it says I put out about 320 watts (3.7watts/kg).

Assuming power remains the same, I need to drop 15 pounds in order to break an hour. Damn, that requires discipline :notamused:
kyle16
08-09-09, 09:41 AM
The low key power calculator is good. I have been using it quite a bit. According to the KOM up Diablo, I was getting about 255 sustained watts for the climb and 2.6 watts / kg. Just for fun, keeping my same wattage, I will have to lose close to 90 lbs to get under an hour. My thought is that I would start to get anorexic at about 160 or so. Maybe a better thing to get stronger. :thumb: