Originally Posted by
TrojanHorse
LOL. a calibrated power meter is accurate to < 1-2% or so, which is plenty accurate for what cyclists are doing.
A strava guesstimate is accurate to within 100% or so. Doesn't know wind, doesn't know downhill, doesn't know if you're pedaling, doesn't know if you're in a paceline... about the only time it's passably accurate is if you're going up an extended, reasonably steep hill. Other than that, it's reliably wrong.
because your typical ride isnt a 10 minute tucked-train downhill bomb with a 40mph wind , but a loop that exposes the rider to a variety of slopes and wind vectors, i introduce you to the wonderful concept of averaging
its "guesstimate" is closer than anything you can muster from your head. i.e., it knows atleast more than you do.