I never really pay attention to my watts stuff but today just looking around at strava, I clicked on the performance button on the elvation graph. The max wattage spiked out at 727 watts!

I saw it on my 8 mile climb on teh 4th of July ride on GMR and also on my best time on teh segment labeled as "final climb to the shed".

max spiked at 727 but the power says 243, I guess the 243 is the average watts for that section.

Have any of you others viewed your max output/spike, whatever?

243 doesn't seem like much but the 727 just might explain the broken frames. It only takes a second



727 watts on the final section segment

https://app.strava.com/rides/12493269#214746663


727 on the 8 mile climb

https://app.strava.com/rides/12493269#214746871




What's really funny is that my buddy did the climb with me, his time 2 seconds better than mine but he weighs 90 lbs less than me but his power on the same ride, same day shows spikes at 1100 watts!

Just saw on ChrisM2097 strava link from his thread, he was in the 800+ club, Better watch your frames dude.

Yep, I've seen the same sort of numbers. Spikes over 750 any time I slow and than bring my cadence back up while climbing. I'm not sure what their algorythm looks like, but. Really?

I've had a few climbs where I maintained a steady cadence, HR and speed for almost the entire climb. And yet, the power graph shows it jumping all over the place.

I have no idea whether their power info is at all accurate or not.

This mornings ride, 1,000+ watt spike: https://app.strava.com/rides/12680153
Best 5 minute effort, 900+watt spike: https://app.strava.com/rides/10461363#142627768

I certainly see erroreous power readings when a descent suddenly turns upwards with tons of inertia carrying you up the hill. But, some of them are occuring on climbs that I know I did at a reasonably consistant effort.

With regard to breaking frames. I have as well. But, keep in mind, track sprinters are regularly putting out 2,000+ and fairly competitive local racers may be putting out 750+(real watts) on a regular basis, for extended periods.

Oh, now, this is bizzaar.

I did nothing but change the graphing parameter from "time" to "distance" and the number, location(realative to terrain) and amplitude of the spikes completely changed.

https://app.strava.com/rides/12680153

Go figure.

Strava's power estimates are not going to be accurate unless you have a power meter. The best they can do is calculate based on your weight, speed, and elevation gain; if you've ever paid attention to how garmin's report elevation gain you'll notice that it tends to stay steady even if you're climbing, then jump up all at once. That will give the impression that you magically climbed a much steeper hill than you really did, and thus exerted more watts at max power.

That being said, 750 isn't out of the range of realism. Pro sprinters can top 1200 watts on carbon frames with no problems.

Yeah, I routinely see spikes of 1200w+ on Strava, I really want a power meter to know what I'm really putting out.

https://app.strava.com/rides/12106375#207747637

I have heard several times that Strava is not accurate. Check out the 41 section! It is compared to the calorie burns on a tredmill. Highly over estimated. Think about it!

I have a power meter and have seen spikes when I stand and sprint across an intersection.

Would have to go look at all my files to see if there was ever an 800 but it doesn't sound impossible

Here are a couple sprint segments from my strava records.
The first one is from a mountain bike ride.
I did an avg speed of 15mph up a 7% avg grade for a 1/4 mile.
This was a complete balls out effort, and actually hurt me for the rest of the ride.
Strava says avg power of 619w with spikes up to almost 1100.
To move my 300lbs up a 7% grade at 15mph avg, it wouldn't surprise me if that was somewhere in the ballpark of correct.
If you look at the elevation chart, that segment hits 17-20% most of the way.

https://app.strava.com/rides/2544248#43169628


This next one is a sprint segment on my road bike.
It is right at the crest of a long climb starting at 190' elevation to 2200' at the top of the sprint section.
The segment is only about 1/8 of a mile, but is hard after doing that climb.

https://app.strava.com/rides/7787657#145510316


I'm not trying to say Stravas numbers are spot of, but at least you can use them as a gauge against yourself.

https://app.strava.com/rides/12680373


^^ spiked to a max of 1283 watts at 47 minutes

Um... no.

Correct. I routinely get spikes at 1100+ in local races. In fact, I easily get 600+ spikes starting from red lights.

Also, if you don't have a power meter, the accuracy of the data can't be trusted. That said, could you have hit 700W+? Yep. I'd guess easily, too.

+1 Pro sprinters hit much more than that. I'm a lowly Cat 3 and can top 1200W.

+1

Interesting. I viewed the graph based on Distance. It showed a max spike of 990W. Then, in the Time view, I saw your max of 1283. Something's not right in Denmark.

Also, to collaborate the over-estimate claims of Strava, you had a spike just before that at 41:39 of 1193W. But the over-estimation part is where Strava shows you holding 1167W for the next 53-seconds. That's very impressive. One might say pro-ish.

Interesting stuff.

BTW, Mith, do you actually hit any stop-lights on that loop? I used to live in Rochester and remember that area. Out in the middle of nowhere. Great for riding, 'cept the wind.