New Bike, More Watts?
#26
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The power increase is mostly there, and the RPE feels easier. But my heart rate data has basically returned to the previously expected range for a given power output. Right now I kind of feel caught between gears. One gear is slightly too easy and one gear is slightly too hard. I didn't have that perception before, so it might be a combination of the new frameset and a fresh clean/install of everything as well as just fitness gains. In the end....it's complicated. But this thread has been really helpful in checking off potential issues as well as shaping my thinking on how these things are related. Thanks!
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I have dual sided Garmin Vector pedals on my Trek and on my indoor bike (Lemond Revmaster Spinner-type bike). I have noticed that on my road bike a L-R balance of 52%-48% would be typical. On my spinner bike (set up just like the road bike as best as I could) a typical L-R balance would be 48-52. It could be that one of my pedals is out of calibration but it is also possible that subtle changes in setup between bikes can change your L-R balance (I don't know this but it seems possible) and since you are only reading one pedal, that could possibly be one source of the power difference that you are seeing.
dave
dave
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#28
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I didn't catch whether you changed gearing, based on the bold I'm assuming not. But you said you went from 28s to 32s. So you've effectively put the entire bike in a slightly faster/harder gear. Wider tires are also taller, so one revolution of the crank pushes the bike further down the road.
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The power increase is mostly there, and the RPE feels easier. But my heart rate data has basically returned to the previously expected range for a given power output. Right now I kind of feel caught between gears. One gear is slightly too easy and one gear is slightly too hard. I didn't have that perception before, so it might be a combination of the new frameset and a fresh clean/install of everything as well as just fitness gains. In the end....it's complicated. But this thread has been really helpful in checking off potential issues as well as shaping my thinking on how these things are related. Thanks!
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It may be due, to different sitting position, maybe BB was tight on the old frame and other marginal gains. 20w difference is realistic I think.
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Remember that he's measuring power directly at the crank arm, not at the rear hub. So it doesn't matter about how tight the BB was or any other marginal gains related to the bike drivetrain. I agree a more favourable position might give a little more power, but a 20W average increase is actually pretty big. It would have to be a much better position.
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