Thanks to indoor trainers, even the newest cyclist is now familiar with the concept of power-to-weight ratio as one of the most telling metrics in cycling. This metric is now more accessible because smart trainers have become more ubiquitous and power meters have become less expensive.
When it comes to improving your power-to-weight ratio, which variable in the equation should you focus on? Let’s start by considering what exactly power-to-weight means, and why it may matter—or not.
What is power-to-weight ratio?
The power-to-weight ratio (PWR) is the amount of power that you can produce in relation to your body weight, and usually it’s expressed in watts per kilogram. The higher your power-to-weight ratio, the faster you will go, thus the measurement is also a great predictor of performance.
It is also cycling’s great leveler, as a measure that allows a comparison of cyclists’ abilities even when the riders vary in size. That’s why apps like Zwift use it to help figure out which group you will be riding and racing with when you join their virtual competitions.
If you’re confused why weight needs to play into this, you’re not alone. Power—the watts you put out on the bike—is objective, so why doesn’t Zwift and other platforms just base the ride groups on that?
Well, imagine that you’re a 120-pound cyclist riding up a hill at 240 watts. Now, imagine a 240-pound rider going up the same hill, at the same wattage. They’d be going slower, because it takes more energy to move a heavier body—but they’d also more easily produce higher powers because of the weight and muscle behind each pedal stroke. Because of this, power-to-weight is used to more easily compare two riders objectively. In that example, the 120-pound cyclist has a PWR of 2. The 240-pound rider has a PWR of 1.
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