watts to kg cycling chart

Best efforts for males

	watts	watts	watts	watts per kilogram
%	5s	1m	5m	20m
99	1527	759	502	5.80
98	1436	722	470	5.41
95	1343	666	444	5.13

May 2 2022

Full Answer

What is the formula for wattage in cycling?

The cycling wattage formula that we use looks like this: P = (Fg + Fr + Fa) * v / (1 - loss) where: P is your power, Fg is the resisting force due to gravity, Fr is the rolling resistance force, Fa is the aerodynamic drag,

What is W/kg in cycling?

It is expressed as watts of cycling power produced per kilogram of body weight, abbreviated as W/kg. Larger riders tend to be more powerful than smaller cyclists in absolute terms, but lighter riders require less energy to overcome inertia and propel themselves forward (especially uphill).

How many Watts Does the average cyclist crank out?

The article claims that a typical fit cyclist might be able to crank out 250 to 300 watts as an average for a 20 minute FTP (functional threshold point) test, while the pros usually average 400 watts. But this is misleading, because how much do those pros weigh, and how much does the “average cyclist” weigh?

What is power to weight ratio in cycling?

Power to Weight Ratio: watts per kilogram explained and how to boost yours. On an undulating road, however, power-to-weight begins to matter more. If both cyclists weigh 80kg, A will still be faster. But if A weighs 80kg and B weighs 68kg, cyclist A’s power-to-weight ratio is 3.13W/kg, while B’s is 3.31W/kg.

How do you calculate watts per kg cycling?

If you are used to measuring your weight in pounds (lb.), then take your weight in pounds and divide by 2.2- and that will be your weight in kilograms. Then take your average power for a 60-minute all-out effort and divide that by your weight in kilograms. This result is your watts per kilogram ratio.

How many kilograms are in a Watt?

Simply put, your watts per kilo (w/kg) is your power to weight ratio. Watts per Kilo is your max power output, in watts, divided by your weight in kilos. For example, someone with a weight or mass of 80kg with a sustainable power output of 280 watts will have a power to weight ratio of 3.5 watts per kilo (3.5W/kg).

What is a good watts per kg FTP?

How 'good' is your FTP?World Class ProCat 4 and 5Male5.6 - 6.4 w/kg2.4 - 3.6 w/kgFemale5.3 - 5.6 w/kg2.0 - 3.1 w/kgMay 12, 2022

What is good wattage for cycling?

Generally speaking, a beginner cyclist may average around 75–100 watts in a 1-hour workout. A fit participant will average more than 100 watts, and pro cyclists can reach 400 watts per hour.

How many watts is 25 mph?

Cycling PowerSpeed - kmh (mph)Power (watts)Increase in power needed to increase speed by 2.5kmh20 (12.5)7522.5 (14)952025 (15.6)1202527.5 (17.2)148285 more rows

How do you calculate watts per kg Zwift?

You can work out your w/kg by dividing your FTP (if you don't know what yours is yet, you can take one of Zwift's FTP tests to find out) by your weight in kilos. For example, if your FTP is 250 watts and you weigh 65 kilos, your FTP would be 3.85 w/kg, putting you in category B.

Is 4W kg a good FTP?

It is claimed that a 4w/kg FTP is comparable to a sub-three hour marathon. Robert de Castella once said that the sub 3 hour marathon was the difference between a runner and a jogger. So it is that many club level cyclists have the goal of being able to achieve a functional threshold power (FTP) of 4W/kg.

Is 3.8 watts per kilo good?

Here are the categories that they recommend you race based on your FTP data and watts per kilogram. The Zwift C category (next from the bottom) says that you should be able to ride at the level between 2.5 to 3.1 w/kg. If you want to succeed in the A category, you'll need to be able to hit 4.0 w/kg or better.

Is a FTP of 300 good?

If you can climb a ± 2 km hill at a rate that Strava tells you is equal to about 300 watts - then that is probably the best “test” that the FTP you are seeing on Zwift is reasonable, if not necessarily 100% accurate.

Is 4W kg good?

And so is 4W/kg if you consider that 6W/kg on the major climbs of grand tours is about the benchmark for being in the first half of the field. However, 4W/kg is still better than most club level cyclists, and is literally lapping everyone on the couch. So it's a great goal to target.

Is 400 watts a lot of power cycling?

As you can see, the best human efforts at producing power over the course of an hour on a bicycle are around 300-400 Watts.

How many watts do Tour de France riders?

Tour de France cyclists are capable of generating enormous amounts of power for incredibly long periods of time compared to most people. For about 20 minutes, a fit recreational cyclist can consistently put out 250 watts to 300 watts. Tour de France cyclists can produce over 400 watts for the same time period.

What is watts in cycling?

Technically speaking, a watt is a measurement of energy transfer and is measured in real-time wile cycling with a power meter. Most commonly, the watts in W/kg refers to your sustainable power (FTP).

What is watts on a bike?

Watts are the standard measurement of power generated by a rider while riding a bike. While metrics such as heart rate and speed are subject to outside influence, power is objective and comparable in any condition. Technically speaking, a watt is a measurement of energy transfer and is measured in real-time wile cycling with a power meter.

What does it mean to have a high power to weight ratio?

High power-to-weight ratios signify efficiency and optimal body composition , and this does not necessarily mean lighter or skinnier. Excessive weight loss negatively affects power-to-weight ratio by reducing muscle mass, and many riders are proportionally more powerful at a slightly higher weight.

What is power to weight?

Power-to-Weight as a Performance Metric. Apart from its direct implication on performance, power-to-weight is useful to track as a signifier of efficiency. A higher power-to-weight ratio indicates a greater proportion of lean muscle mass and a stronger aerobic engine. So, while your W/kg does directly influence your climbing ability, ...

Why do athletes use power to weight?

Some athletes use power-to-weight as a reason to fixate on weight, but this is often counterproductive and unhealthy. Almost every athlete can improve their power-to-weight ratio with structured training and a sensible diet.

Is a lighter biker more powerful than a bigger biker?

Larger riders tend to be more powerful than smaller cyclists in absolute terms, but lighter riders require less energy to overcome inertia and propel themselves forward (especially uphill). Power-to-weight ratio thus offers a fairer way to compare different riders’ abilities than by looking at power alone.

Does W/kg affect climbing?

So, while your W/kg does directly influence your climbing ability, it’s also a good indication of general fitness and body composition as it relates to cycling. Analytics. See your hard work pay off and understand your performance with powerful analysis tools. Check Out TrainerRoad.

How many watts does a mountain bike use?

So amateur cyclists mostly fall in the range of 2.5 – 3.5 watts/kg for a 30 minute mountain trip, whereas world-class mountain cyclists can achieve a capacity of 6 to 7 watts/kg.

How long does it take for a pulse to reach the target?

The pulse is very slow to react and only reaches the target value after several seconds, while the power output adjusts instantly. The pulse can also be affected by many different factors, while the power output can give an indication of the actual training stress.

How to improve power to weight ratio?

Regardless of your riding ability, consuming a healthy diet with a minimum of sugary, fatty and processed foods will play a part in improving power-to-weight ratio. All other things being equal, higher intakes of sugar and sugary foods in particular have been unequivocally linked with higher levels of body fat (ref 1,2). Unlike muscle tissue, excess body fat blunts power-to-weight ratio and contributes nothing to power output. By the same token, a plentiful intake of dietary protein is recommended, especially after training. Protein is needed for recovery and repair after training, and studies show that higher intakes of protein can help prevent muscle mass loss when training volumes are high.

Which is faster, absolute power or absolute power?

absolute power will be faster. For example, if rider A weighs 80kg and can sustain 240W, while rider B weighs 70kg and can sustain 210W, they both have a power-to-weight ratio of 3W/kg. But A will be faster because he/she will have more power to overcome aerodynamic and frictional drag.

Can cyclists buy more power?

As cyclists, we can’t buy more power, of course — we have to train our muscles and bodies to produce it, and that’s not easy. While improving your aerobic fitness can increase the amount of power your muscles can produce, human physiology means there’s a limit to the gains that can be achieved this way.

Can you lose weight by running more miles?

You need to be a bit more focused than simply adding more miles. Yes, more miles might result in reduced bodyweight, but add too much extra volume and you run the risk of fatigue and burnout. Moreover, an attempt to reduce weight when your body-fat levels are already quite low can lead to muscle mass loss as well as fat loss. Given power is generated within muscle tissue, you might end up reducing your weight but losing some power with it, resulting in minimal improvements in power-to-weight ratio. In fact, remembering that absolute power is still very important, you might be worse off overall.

What is the power of a bike?

Cycling wattage is the power you produce with your legs to get your bike going (and, preferably, going fast ). You can think of it as the ultimate measure of your biking skills: the more power you can produce, the better cyclist you are. The cycling power is measured in Watts.

What is the component of cycling?

Component 1: gravity. If you're cycling uphill, you need to overcome the force of gravity. Naturally, if you're going downhill, the gravity will actually help you, making you accelerate without any additional effort. The force of gravity can be calculated as.

Why does my bike lose power?

Some of it is lost either due to the resistance of the chain or of the derailleur pulleys.

What is the difference between Fg and G?

Fg is the resisting force due to gravity, g is the gravitational acceleration, equal to 9.80655 m/s², slope is the slope of the hill, expressed as a percentage (positive for going uphill and negative for going downhill), M is your weight in kg, m is the weight of your bicycle and any extra gear, also in kg.

What is the third component of the power equation?

Component 3: aerodynamic drag. The third component of the power equation is the aerodynamic drag. It's a force of air resistance. Unlike the previous two components, it's dependent on your speed raised to the second power - the faster you are, the higher the air resistance.

What people say their FTP is

Firstly, let’s look at what people say their FTP is. FTP, or functional threshold power, is nominally the power output that can be sustained for one hour. All the data below and more is shown to Cycling Analytics users in interactive charts on the athlete statistics page, so consider creating an account if this is interesting.

What people achieve in their riding

It’s one thing to say you have an impressive FTP, but it’s something else to demonstrate it, so let’s now look at the best power outputs that Cycling Analytics users have sustained for various durations.

Conclusion

There you go. I’m not sure how to finish this other than by saying that I hope you found this informative.

Why is power to weight ratio important in cycling?

Power to weight ratio is very important in cycling, as it is in running. A lighter cyclist who can put out raw high wattage numbers is going to go a lot faster. This is why cyclists sometimes get obsessed with buying lighter cycling equipment.

Why is wattage so complicated?

ANSWER: It’s unfortunately a little bit more complicated than giving you a simple wattage number, because wattage depends a lot on rider weight.