Originally Posted by
Sixty Fiver
There is a big difference between 20 mph, 25 mph, and 30 mph...
Some wattage figures... using my weight, road bike weight and stats, aero position... and assuming I am on flat ground with no wind for the sake of comparison.
For me to cruise at 20 mph / 33 kmh I need to sustain an output of 145 watts and can do this all day.
For me to ride at 25 mph / 40 kmh I need to maintain an output of 261 watts.
To ride at 30 mph I need to put out 432 watts.
When I climb that short 12% grade on the way to work at 20 mph I am laying down just over 1000 watts of power.
To sprint at 38 mph / 60 kmh I also need to put out nearly 900 watts.
Professional riders are amazing.
Well said...pro riders are in another strastosphere as is the case when comparing an amateur in almost any sport to that of a pro. What is perhaps even more surprising is how badly pros suck at alternative athletic endeavors...many times talent is very specific to a particular sport...sometimes even specialties within a sport...long distance swimming and running versus short race sprints etc. The greatest basketball player of all time with unfathomable hand to eye coordination and power has a hard time breaking 80 at golf even though he plays every day....now that is surprising but true.