I’m just starting training with power meter and wondering which is more important: FTP or FTP/Kg.
Just say you have 200lbs guy pushing 200 FTP and 150lbs guy pushing 200 FTP.
I’m sure the little guy is faster on the road and better climber, correct?
BTW, I’m in more of triathlons than cycling races.
watts/kg
-end thread
.
I’m just starting training with power meter and wondering which is more important: FTP or FTP/Kg.
Just say you have 200lbs guy pushing 200 FTP and 150lbs guy pushing 200 FTP.
I’m sure the little guy is faster on the road and better climber, correct?
BTW,** I’m in more of triathlons **than cycling races.
in which case, running is all about w/kg
watts/kg until a point, I recall a stat saying that in the last 25 years Contador is the only rider under 65kg to win the TDF. Sometime you just need pure power.
Your FTP and weight change. Definitely both.
For hills W/kg.
For flat TTs W/CdA
It’s possible for a 90kg rider with 4W/kg (360W) to TT faster than a 60kg rider with 4.5W/kg (270W) power.
FTP/KG is a way to compare the two riders. The 150 pound rider is stronger than the 200 pound rider.
2.2 watts/kg (untrained non-racer)
vs.
2.9 watts/kg (top Cat 5 / absolute bottom Cat 4 rider)
For triathlon/TT watts/cda is the most important. Weight affects both, but weighing more wont really matter if you have done well at getting a good position.
What’s CdA?
For hills W/kg.
For flat TTs W/CdA
It’s possible for a 90kg rider with 4W/kg (360W) to TT faster than a 60kg rider with 4.5W/kg (270W) power.
FTP/KG is a way to compare the two riders. The 150 pound rider is stronger than the 200 pound rider.
I think I may be misunderstanding something here. You’re saying that if 150pound rider is pushing 225 WKg and 200 pound rider is pushing 225 WKg, then the 150 pound rider is stronger? I’d argue that they are both equally strong, but since the 150 pound rider is lighter, he’s actually faster. I’ve always been told that the easiest way to get faster is to lose weight. So the goal in training is to lose weight while increasing FTP. THis will cause your WKG to increase more rapidly. Am I missing something?
2.2 watts/kg (untrained non-racer)
vs.
2.9 watts/kg (top Cat 5 / absolute bottom Cat 4 rider)
Yes, per Allen and Coggan, those values are accurate based on their Power Output Profile.
A measure of how aero you are. Coefficient of drag (Cd) x Cross sectional area (A).
If two riders have equal watts/kg, but one is heavier, the heavier rider will tend to be faster when it is flat, and they will be identical if it is uphill.
Losing weight makes you a LOT faster on the run, but only a little faster on the bike.
FTP/KG is a way to compare the two riders. The 150 pound rider is stronger than the 200 pound rider.
I think I may be misunderstanding something here. You’re saying that if 150pound rider is pushing 225 WKg and 200 pound rider is pushing 225 WKg, then the 150 pound rider is stronger? I’d argue that they are both equally strong, but since the 150 pound rider is lighter, he’s actually faster. I’ve always been told that the easiest way to get faster is to lose weight. So the goal in training is to lose weight while increasing FTP. THis will cause your WKG to increase more rapidly. Am I missing something?
2.2 watts/kg (untrained non-racer)
vs.
2.9 watts/kg (top Cat 5 / absolute bottom Cat 4 rider)
Yes, per Allen and Coggan, those values are accurate based on their Power Output Profile.
Measure/importance
w/CdA = triathlon/TT
w/Kg = road/crit racing
.
What harm is there in losing excess weight? Unless you are starving yourself thin, I can only see benefits.
-
Less weight to drag up hills
-
Ability to get into a more aero position (belly not in the way)
-
Less force require to push yourself forward
-
Look + Feel better
-
live longer
Watt per kg becomes more important on hilly courses. What I mean here, if you allow me to modify your example a bit:
a 100kg rider having an FTP of 240w sees his w/kg ratio being 2.4w/kg
a 60kg rider having only 180w of FTP sees his w/kg ratio being 3 w/kg
So one may bet all his money on the higher w/kg ratio, ie that of the second rider. But on a flat course, assuming similar CdA, on a very flat course that is, passed the initial acceleration, it’s reasonable to believe that the 2.4 w/kg horse be faster than the light but less powerful (ftp wise) rider.
What harm is there in losing excess weight? Unless you are starving yourself thin, I can only see benefits.
Except that wasn’t the question.
You’re assuming the course is straight away flat.
If it has good hills or plenty of rolling hills then I guess CdA is not that important.
A measure of how aero you are. Coefficient of drag (Cd) x Cross sectional area (A).
Unless we are talking about some HUGE hills, cda still matters more. But a 50lb difference is huge anyways so its a pretty worthless to compare the two.
… or maybe FTP/CdA ? 
watts/kg until a point, I recall stat saying that in the last 25 years Contador is the only rider under 65kg to win the TDF. Sometime you just need pure power.
You are correct. Brute watts also matter. Although Contador is one of the few under 65 kilos, the three others are Pantani, Carlos Sastre and Pedro Delgado. Other than that if we go back, the guys who won had good watts per kilos but they are also slightly bigger: Wiggins, Evans, Lance, Ullrich, Indurain, Lemond, Hinault, Fignon, Merckx.
For tris, brute watts matter as most tris are not as hilly as the Tour de France. The only rider 5’6" or below that has won Kona is Welch. Everyone else is closer to 6 feet tall. Take two riders, one at 5’6" the other at 6" and assume they have the same watts per kilo (similar run strength). The 6" athlete will likely bike a lot faster and if they have the same watts per kilo, the 6" rider probably runs just as fast…on the women’s side a good example is Carfrae vs. Wellington. They both ran 2:52, but Mirinda never produces quite the same brute watts as Chrissie (I’m guessing because we don’t have their power meter data, but the bike splits reflect this, assuming Mirinda’s frontal is not bigger than Chrissie’s).