Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Training & Nutrition
Reload this Page >

elliptical watts measurement accuracy?

Notices
Training & Nutrition Learn how to develop a training schedule that's good for you. What should you eat and drink on your ride? Learn everything you need to know about training and nutrition here.

elliptical watts measurement accuracy?

Old 03-22-07, 08:48 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TwoTyred's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 205
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
elliptical watts measurement accuracy?

i understand the METS, HR and some other values
are more specific to the individual, but, on a gym
elliptical trainer, is the pwr reading just a generalization
or is it real?

many thanks!!
TwoTyred is offline  
Old 03-22-07, 01:16 PM
  #2  
Videre non videri
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Posts: 3,208

Bikes: 1 road bike (simple, light), 1 TT bike (could be more aero, could be lighter), 1 all-weather commuter and winter bike, 1 Monark 828E ergometer indoor bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
It ought to be fairly easy to calibrate such a machine accurately, but whether they do it or not, I have no idea...
CdCf is offline  
Old 03-22-07, 03:06 PM
  #3  
Sensible shoes.
 
CastIron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: St. Paul,MN
Posts: 8,798

Bikes: A few.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have an elliptical at home that measures wattage. I can't think of why the wattage numbers would be significantly off. Having said that, based on heart rate, the wattage you produce on that machine will not translate to the number you'll see on a bike. Ballpark, perhaps. The elliptical seems easier and based on the numbers (nearly 4w/kg/hour on a really good day--3w/kg/hr average) it would make me one hell of a cyclist. I'm not. One can dream, though.
__________________
Mike
Originally Posted by cedricbosch
It looks silly when you have quotes from other forum members in your signature. Nobody on this forum is that funny.
Originally Posted by cedricbosch
Why am I in your signature.
CastIron is offline  
Old 03-22-07, 03:38 PM
  #4  
Videre non videri
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Posts: 3,208

Bikes: 1 road bike (simple, light), 1 TT bike (could be more aero, could be lighter), 1 all-weather commuter and winter bike, 1 Monark 828E ergometer indoor bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
It could be that it shows your estimated total power output, not just the power going into the machine.

On a bike, the efficiency is about 20% for a normal cyclist. That means your total power output is five times the power going into the pedals. What the efficiency is for an elliptical, I don't know.
CdCf is offline  
Old 03-22-07, 05:57 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TwoTyred's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 205
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
yeah, the HR etc, is an estimate based
on 'average' this and that, but what i
was wondering was if the watts were
based on what was actually being pushed
into the machine.

And yes, i was amazed, comparing my
own HR monitors numbers on the elliptical
to what it reads on the real bike--it's a whole
lot harder on the bike, i have no idea why?
especially since that's what i have all my
experience on!?
TwoTyred is offline  
Old 03-22-07, 10:16 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,941
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by CastIron
I have an elliptical at home that measures wattage. I can't think of why the wattage numbers would be significantly off.
The answer to your question is, "because people like to see big numbers when they work out."

I don't know if they do this specifically with the wattage figures, but I know they do it with the calorie measurements.
__________________
Eric

2005 Trek 5.2 Madone, Red with Yellow Flames (Beauty)
199x Lemond Tourmalet, Yellow with fenders (Beast)

Read my cycling blog at https://riderx.info/blogs/riderx
Like climbing? Goto https://www.bicycleclimbs.com
ericgu is offline  
Old 03-23-07, 03:11 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: rockford, il
Posts: 2,646

Bikes: Trek 7700, C'dale R2000

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
A little warning.
The Courtyard by Marriott has a very nice and expensive elliptical trainer. I got carried away and tried to see the maximum wattage I could sustain for one hour. I did not record the exact number but it was well over 1000 watts.
I suffered knee problems afterwards which I have never had before. I stopped doing that and went back to spinning on a bike trainer. The knee problem disappeared but it did scare me.
will dehne is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.