How does strava calculate power

What would be useful is if strava took your powermeter data, course info, local conditions and spat out a CDA estimate. That would be cool. I always thought that they should use the power data recorded for existing segments, and use the rider data to correct the algorithm for that segment. You might be waiting a while for that CDA estimate Joel :.

He does a range of climb lengths too. Thanks for doing the test and posting the results! Thanks again! Thanks Chris glad it was useful : Power is expensive up front but completely changes your training.

If a MTBer falls in the forest does it make a sound? Thanks Stephen! I prefer to be a rider, not a robot and have a much higher level of self accomplishment and satisfaction after anything I do because there is no need to waste time analyzing that which does not provide a truly better life.

Nowadays, if you have a recent Garmin computer on your bike you can install an app from the Garmin IQ store that will give you an estimate of power output, supposedly using the same methodology as Strava does but in real time.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Monty is an enthusiastic road cyclist with only moderate talent. He started Sportive Cyclist in to record the journey to his first mile ride, the RideLondon Over time the blog has expanded to include training advice, gear reviews and road cycling tales, all from the perspective of a not-very-fit MAMIL. Since you're here, Monty would also like you to check out his YouTube channel.

Also, Monty really needs to stop referring to himself in the third person. Maybe a career in engineering beckons… Reply. But interesting to look at, if you view it in context. See my top recommendations here , as well as a full list of all products and services our team has tested for various mental health conditions and general wellness.

A good average watts cycling will depend but for most pro cyclists, to watts on average during a four-hour tour stage is considered a good average Watts. However, people who race regularly may have a higher FTP of 3.

You can get above 3. An FTP above 4. Strava can become quite accurate when your GPS works properly since it feeds the data to the app. If your phone has problems with the GPS signal then it can make the recording of the data less accurate.

Many forums may have an interesting debate about whether Strava is accurate in their measurements or not but we could say that it is a good option to track your activities. How to Get Power for Your Rides. How does Strava calculate power? To measure Power, Strava considers that the total power produced or P total , is the sum of the following components: The power produced to overcome rolling resistance or the resistance of forwarding motion.

The power produced to overcome wind resistance. The power produced to overcome gravity when climbing hills. The power produced to accelerate from one speed to another. Dirtyrider: Is the surly listed as a mtb in your strava profile? If not the default is road and strava will assume your ride is just a slow road ride. You can do a 20mph average on a mtb on the road for 20 miles….

Thats awesome.. If you want something that gives you a better idea of power but is much cheaper than a proper power meter then you might want to consider a PowerCal.

It uses heart rate and works on rates of change to calculate a power figure. I was very sceptical but it got recommended on here and the dcrainmaker review was positive. Mr Blobby: Thanks for the Powercal write up. This was over one ride, a definitive test would be over several rides, having said that I did a stage race in SA earlier in the year and used a powercal, the numbers were fairly consistent and about what I would expect based on my training sessions over 2 years on a powertap.