Fazz wrote:
Dan The Man wrote:
Fazz wrote:
Dan The Man wrote:
Does that not kind of prove the point that the heavier rider has it easier on a quick course like Kona? Lange from your stats is pushing 8% more w/kg and yet he rides a slower bike split to the heavier guys?No it doesn't. Well actually sort of but I think Lange's example is skewed.
I suspect Lange broke aero more than the others, or lost more time slowing/speeding up from penalty tent etc.
He also doesn't look as aero as the others.
The point is that 325w for same w/kg doesn't trump 265w. And I'd argue the 325w has better position and aero attention.
If watts trumped w/kg then there would be a greater deficit here. And in fact the 265w was 1min quicker.
So many aero variables of did they sit up, is there head as tucked as it can be, etc that I think the data points to CDA being very important, and w/kg being important, and then watts having a factor on flat courses if same aero details and w/kg.
I don't think you can compare McCrystal to the pros, he will have ridden the majority of his time on his own pushing all the wind and that's a very different race dynamic in Kona. Hoffman and Lange would have been in trains for most/all of the 112 miles. You could compare these two pros as they are experiencing similar pack dynamics but with the caveat that how well they manage these trains will have a big impact on their statistic.
A better comparison would be two age groupers but unfortunately I doubt there are age groupers riding close to McCrystal speed!
I'd argue that those stats don't prove anything, I'm not convinced either way.
True and fair point.
I'm not sure the pack dynamics make much of a difference to overall watts, w/kg and bike split time though other than potential advantage of legal draft, and leg fatigue from surges.
If McCrystal had a draft the whole way you'd expect a similar time for say 20w less, or a faster time for same watts.
In Kona, I don't think Hoffman had a full draft the whole way so don't think it's as skewed as you refer.
And as you point out McCrystal certainly had next to no draft for the entire bike leg, and possibly with similar surging at start to get past the trains.
But yes, 2 very different races, and yes, I agree I'm not convinced either way but have seen enough data to suggest overall watts are not as important as cda and w/kg imo contrary to popular opinion.
Open to correction as I said not convinced totally but think its a lot closer than some do.
Do you have any bike files you could share Dan as you've similar performances and Kona files that may help?
What watts and w/kg did it take for your 4:46 ?
Think you've got me mixed up with someone else sorry! I've never been anywhere near that kind of level (I rode a low 5 in Kona '12 and I'm afraid I didn't have a power meter for that or any of my Ironman races).
Off topic but 325W for an IM age grouper is absolutely amazing!!