Aderasmo23

I would say im in pretty decent shape usually running 40 miles per week. I have been having a lot of hip issues lately so I have resorted to the indoor bike to help with that. Today, for instance, I was pushing only around 110-115 watts at resistance around 5 and let me tell you it wasn't necessarily hard but it defiiently was not easy either. My rpm generally was around low 90s. Am I really that out of shape aerobically to only being pushing low 100s of watts for a max of around 20-30 min???

DaveSSS 

I wouldn't put much stock in a stationary bike power readout. Your riding position probably isn't optimal either. As long as you get your heart rate up and work your legs hard you've accomplished something. I put my bike on either a magnetic or hydraulic resistance trainer I the winter, when it's too nasty to ride. The resistance feels like climbing all the time. I end up with a low cadence, high torque ride. I've got no power reading, so I go by heart rate.

mstateglfr 

Cycling is a different type of aerobic conditioning than running or swimming. I can ride 100mi and stand on every climb, but tell me to run a 5k and I will accuse you of war crimes.
Low 90s RPM is a good quick general cadence, so if thats what you are producing for power at low 90s, then yeah its probably a conditioning thing.



...or a high use gym bike isnt calibrated accurately. crazy thought.

genejockey 

I find it really difficult to continue to put out power on a stationary trainer without something like Zwift. Multiple winters, I started out with the promise of keeping in shape by using the trainer, but I'd find it excruciating trying to keep my HR over 120bpm. By contrast, on the road I had difficulty keeping my HR DOWN TO 120. I could barely make it to 40 minutes, and then only by blasting rock and roll with a fast beat, and at the end of the time I was more mentally exhausted than physically,.

PeteHski

This^ +1
Cycling and running are oddly very different and fitness doesn't seem to cross over as much as your would intuitively expect.

BlazingPedals

How many watts do you think you should be producing vs what the trainer is showing?

Aderasmo23

I would like to assume around 150-160 watts at the amount of effort I am putting in on that resistance, but since everyone is clarifying that running and cycling are quite different aerobically, I may just not be fit enough for the bike just yet.

caloso

What indoor bike is it? Does it have a means of calibrating the power meter?

Road Fan

Is it in Ergo mode? Does it need its bearings overhauled? Is it a raggedy old piece of of fitness gear that most would call a piece of something else?

Maybe it needs to be adjusted, repaired, or overhauled.

Road Fan

Is it in Ergo mode? Does it need its bearings overhauled? Is it a raggedy old piece of of fitness gear that most would call a piece of something else?

Maybe it needs to be adjusted, repaired, or overhauled. How does it make drag?

Erzulis Boat 

I think that your expectation of performance (watts) is unrealistic at this time.

If you ride a bicycle with a PM, you will see VERY quickly that the watts you have expected to produce don't materialize in reality. The "internet" is rife with inflated power numbers, and this muddies the waters on any kind of realistic expectations.

If you can average 130 watts (as a newish cyclist) on a relatively flat course over the span of an hour, then you are doing just fine, and are fitter than most cyclists that you will encounter.

Berge20

There also could be an element of not properly cooling yourself.

burnthesheep

40 mpw running, I'd simply say "it's an exercise bike". They just aren't accurate.

You're likely stronger. 40mpw I'd suspect someone after a single week of riding a bike could do some solid power. While running doesn't translate immediately or directly, it does translate more than 100w or so. So, maybe go by HR instead for that bike and just take the workouts on it "as is".

Maybe it is only reading half the power from one side or something. Dunno.

HeyItsSara

I find spin class very difficult too and I'm taking class for over a dozen years now. I'm in decent shape and relatively strong.

PeteHski

I think that's a very realistic expectation for someone with your general fitness, regularly running 40 miles per week. I agree with those suggesting the trainer is out of spec.

Bah Humbug

Given how easily I’ve gotten gym bikes to show over a kw (my highest power on a real bike is ~750), I would pay literally zero attention to the number it shows.

unterhausen

Unless you want to spend money on it, for example putting a real power meter on it, I would just ignore the numbers and ride at a wattage that allows you to do the workout you want.
I feel like my trainer is too difficult to pedal for the wattage it's reading, but it could be just that my condition isn't great.

mattcalifornia

Basically what everyone else said: the power reading on the gym bike is likely inaccurate (possibly even wildly inaccurate), and you are probably not quite as bike fit as you expected.