Training with Power Balance
07-26-12 | 03:01 PM
#1
Thread Starter
pan y agua
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,812
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From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Training with Power Balance
A couple of new Quarqs, including the New Red Quarq, measuere power balance. Power balance uses torque to be able to seperate the first half of a pedal revolution from the second half.
It is not a measure however of how much power you produce from each leg, and the power reading from the left side power stroke is affected by the amount of power added by the right leg pulling thorugh at the bottom, and up, and vice versa.
As explained by Quarq:
"It is a direct measurement of the torque produced in the first half of the revolution as compared to the second half. So if you pull up with your right leg, that will show up as additional torque in the second half of the rev (which is dominated by the left leg driving).
We are intentional about the term Power Balance as opposed to pedal balance. Pedal balance implies independent measurement. We have only one measurement but can now partition it in two parts."
At this point, I've only used it twice. The results indicate that on average my power is 53-47 to the left side power stroke. However, it appears that it is the result of being more efficient with my right leg on the off part of the stroke.
This is based on 2 observations: 1) when I try to raise my right leg power by concetraing on the right leg, the left leg power actually goes up, presumably because I'm doing a better job pedaling "circles" on the right. and 2) when I do one legged pedal drills, I can get the power to a 40-60 split with my right leg, but only about a 75-25 split with my left.
So, given that it really isn't a measure of each legs's power, just how useful is the data?
Anybody using it? and how?
It is not a measure however of how much power you produce from each leg, and the power reading from the left side power stroke is affected by the amount of power added by the right leg pulling thorugh at the bottom, and up, and vice versa.
As explained by Quarq:
"It is a direct measurement of the torque produced in the first half of the revolution as compared to the second half. So if you pull up with your right leg, that will show up as additional torque in the second half of the rev (which is dominated by the left leg driving).
We are intentional about the term Power Balance as opposed to pedal balance. Pedal balance implies independent measurement. We have only one measurement but can now partition it in two parts."
At this point, I've only used it twice. The results indicate that on average my power is 53-47 to the left side power stroke. However, it appears that it is the result of being more efficient with my right leg on the off part of the stroke.
This is based on 2 observations: 1) when I try to raise my right leg power by concetraing on the right leg, the left leg power actually goes up, presumably because I'm doing a better job pedaling "circles" on the right. and 2) when I do one legged pedal drills, I can get the power to a 40-60 split with my right leg, but only about a 75-25 split with my left.
So, given that it really isn't a measure of each legs's power, just how useful is the data?
Anybody using it? and how?
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
07-27-12 | 12:25 AM
#3
blah blah blah
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 0
My guess is that a huge imbalance might be an indicator of possible overuse injury in the future, but who knows? Most people probably have one leg slightly stronger than the other and even one slightly longer than the other, so I'm not sure what would constitute a "big" imbalance versus one that is relatively inconsequential... Maybe having the actual numbers will make some people do supplemental strength work as well?
It seems somebody ought to have some interesting info about this?
It seems somebody ought to have some interesting info about this?
