Mountain bikers who use power meters train 20% more efficiently.
From amateur to professional
In the world of mountain biking (MTB), power meters are now considered essential in training for amateur runners and professionals. According to studies, using a power meter can increase a cyclist’s efficiency by up to 15% or even 25%.
Andreas Harni said: “Last season, I used a power meter and adjusted my training to output more peak power where it was really needed – the climbs and sprints of the race. The power meter allowed me to adjust the intensity of each workout to focus on quality rather than quantity.
Lillian Martin added: “With a power meter, I know exactly when to push harder or save energy during a race. She even won her most important race by running at an average power of 300 watts, putting herself above competitors who ultimately couldn’t hold on.
“By understanding the relationship between power and heart rate, we can actually see if an athlete is starting to enter a state of overtraining,” says Johnson Smith. From Smith’s data, using a power-based program can reduce overtraining-induced rest days by up to 30 percent.
In terms of cost, power meters typically range from $300 to as much as $1,000 (which is more normal). Andreas Harni says, “With the performance-enhancing and efficiency-enhancing benefits a power meter brings to your training, it’s a small investment. It allows them to afford the technology investment, and if it leads to them racing at a higher level, leading to more results and prize money, that investment can be recouped within a season or two.”
User Experience
Data shows that the average rider who uses a power meter can train at least 18 percent more efficiently per hour. Professional mountain biker Emily Biton told Bike Magazine: “Using a power meter really allows me to focus on my training. It shows my date in real time and allows me to adjust my training intensity so that each session is as efficient as possible. It has helped her improve her performance by an average of 12%.
In a survey of about 200 mountain bikers, more than 90% of riders use power meters (these units are usually designed to be easy to read and can display multiple parameters at the same time, such as current output and heart rate), which greatly simplifies the final real-time status control.
Talking about training, he said: “I can change the power meter settings according to the goals in the exercise, such as increasing specific areas for maximum performance gains. Thanks to this customized training, this person was able to achieve 85% of his goals for the season. ”
Recommended: Georgina Wood (19) Race Power Data Before the final brutal climb, I limited my power and used years of sweat to give me the all-out effort that would have allowed me to finish third in the international race!
Cycling Improvements
The actual data showed an average improvement of 22% in overall cycling efficiency. This is great for staying on top of the action during a crucial race,” said professional cyclist James Carter. By doing this, James improved his average finishing time by 7%.
One senior coach said that using a power meter in their training program helped them develop a tight plan and train for their specific weaknesses, which helped improve their performance by nearly 15% in international races.
They were able to rest sufficiently before allowing fatigue to build up too much and cause imbalances, so that training continued to be consistent/efficient. Laura Hansen, multiple world champion and runner-up in the Renault Clio class, explained her recovery strategy “. Monitoring my power drop after a race, I was able to adjust the time needed to recover, helping me to get back to my best for each race.”
