One of the most important steps you can take to improve your performance on a bike is to find an effective cycling position, which is a position that maximizes comfort, power generation and aerodynamics. While a session with a bike fitting specialist is of paramount importance, a power meter can also help you find an aerodynamic position. It allows cyclists to determine how their position on the bike is impacting their overall speed and to identify changes that need to be made to produce the most watts with the least aerodynamic drag. This is particularly helpful for time trialists, track specialists and multisport athletes who compete without the benefit of drafting and require the most aerodynamic position possible. You can use your power meter to measure your effective frontal area just as accurately as in a wind tunnel (although it is much simpler and more convenient in a wind tunnel, albeit more expensive). While the process is beyond the scope of this article, this is typically done with techniques such as the constant speed/power method, the regression method and Chung’s virtual elevation method.
NEXT POST – January 22, 2012
Cycle Log: Intensity Phase Week 3
Leave a Reply