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Power watts vs rolling resistance watts
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This may be a dumb or simple question, but is there a difference between 10 watts of power gained in the engine and 10 watts gained by using a better tire (based on rolling resistance test results)?
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Re: Power watts vs rolling resistance watts [New3901] [ In reply to ]
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Yes. You can take those ten watts gained with the engine and then get faster tires as well and be up 20 watts.

Versus just getting tires and only being up 10 watts.
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Re: Power watts vs rolling resistance watts [New3901] [ In reply to ]
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There can be. Watts are watts but not all claimed watts are necessarily available 100% of the time. In theory, 10 more watts of "engine" power is more likely to be available all the time whereas watts gained from rolling resistance, weight reduction or aero improvements may only be available in certain conditions or not be linear versus speed. For example, if you raise your FTP 10 watts, you will generally have that for the entire ride either as additional power or making a lower power output less taxing, no matter what the conditions. If you get tires that have a theoretical 10 watt rolling resistance improvement that claimed number very likely only comes at a certain combination of speed, tire pressure and road conditions. If you are not in that sweet spot, you may not be getting the full claimed 10 watts or even any additional watts at all.
Last edited by: STP: Jul 10, 17 6:00
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Re: Power watts vs rolling resistance watts [New3901] [ In reply to ]
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I'm not sure that 10 watts worth of crr savings @25mph is still 10 watts when climbing 10% @ 7mph*. But 10 watts output is 10 watts output.

*stand ready to be corrected, though.
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Re: Power watts vs rolling resistance watts [knighty76] [ In reply to ]
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10 watts where the rubber meets the road is worth more than 10 watts at the input of a mechanical system that is not perfectly efficient-- drivetrain losses are small but real. That said, I'd always sign up for the FTP improvement for the reasons listed above.
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