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Strava question
 

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

8/5/13 10:40 AM

Strava question

I see in the other thread the comments on altitude, etc.

I was wondering about the watts estimates claimed?

I am going to test it this week by setting up a segment [Strava can do this] coming up that last hill 6-7 miles on the return to my house when I go towards town. I usually do the same zig/zag up the hill making lefts up the fall line and right across to the next left. A luxury the street config there allows for the 2 mile effort to have effort/recovery effort/recovery etc.

So Strava users, opinion on the watts. So far it seems to be consistent on averages for total ride.
And I just adjusted my weight down after i realized
when I set it up initially I weighed a bunch more. So curious to see what impact it has on the data samples.

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ErikS
Joined: 19 May 2005
Posts: 8337
Location: Slowing boiling over in the steamy south, Global Warming is real

8/5/13 5:52 PM

Your weight will make a huge difference. The wattage will drop for the same speed.

It is pretty accurate for slow steep climbs but is less accurate for the flats. Never takes into account your drafting or prevailing winds. If you are riding a circular route that tends to give okay numbers.

I still end up addicted to that number as much as the speed. Good thing I can't see it while I ride.

Zig zagging up a hill? Dude get lower gears and save your aging knees.

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Sparky
Joined: 08 Dec 2003
Posts: 19068
Location: PDX

8/5/13 6:08 PM

Zig zag wrong term, I meant left right left right left on the streets on the side of the hill. the lefts being steeper, the rights less grade to recover a touch, etc. Although 2 months ago I did zig/zag up the steep left getting up that hill. ;)

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Tim123
Joined: 01 Apr 2004
Posts: 252
Location: Adelaide

8/5/13 10:19 PM

Seems to depend on the terrain. If fairly flat, Strava generated altitude and wattage seems ok, but if hilly terrain, Strava can inflate the altitude (and wattage) by a fair bit. In my example in the other thread, my altitude goes up from around 580m to over 800m for a regular loop. Wattage goes from around 185w to around 225w.

When I first started using Strava I would look at other peoples rides and think Holy Cow, how can they push that many watts!? But if they enter a high weight and use Strava elevation figures, it's not hard to look like a TdF pro ;)

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ErikS
Joined: 19 May 2005
Posts: 8337
Location: Slowing boiling over in the steamy south, Global Warming is real

8/6/13 4:06 AM

I have found Strava to be conservative WRT power numbers when compared side by side with power meters.

Of course you have to tell it your bike/body gross weight. The bike is via your bike info, not added to your body weight.

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