{"id":1490345,"date":"2021-11-15T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.bkool.com\/?p=1490345"},"modified":"2021-11-19T13:44:29","modified_gmt":"2021-11-19T11:44:29","slug":"what-are-the-cycling-metrics-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.bkool.com\/en\/2021\/11\/15\/what-are-the-cycling-metrics-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the cycling metrics you need to know?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
If you feel overwhelmed by cycling data and metrics<\/strong>, don\u2019t worry. We\u2019ll help you to get your head around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Data is essential to getting the most out of your training<\/strong>. In fact, there are few serious cyclists we see today without a cycling computer or smart watch. These devices provide data that is quite familiar to many of us, such as distance or speed. But you can also get metrics using external sensors, such as a power meter or a heart rate monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s take a brief look at the most important cycling metrics!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without a doubt, power is the most baffling cycling metric to any new enthusiast. However, it is one of the key pieces to improving performance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To put it simply: power is the amount of energy you are applying per unit of time<\/strong>. In cycling, it is measured in watts <\/strong>(w) and is extracted by multiplying the torque on the pedals by the cadence. Because of this mathematical nature, it is the most accurate and reliable way to measure cycling performance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a number of cycling metrics directly related to power <\/strong>that you should also be aware of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although power is the most effective way to measure efforts, heart rate (HR) is another cycling metric to bear in mind<\/strong>. Combining the reading of both power and heart rate, you\u2019ll get a lot of information about your performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While power is the key to understanding what you’re doing, heart rate shows you how your body is reacting to that workload<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Heart rate is the number of times per minute your heart beats. <\/strong>The higher this number is, the more demanding the effort. This is why measuring heart rate is a great option for novice athletes who haven’t been able to invest in a power sensor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just keep in mind that heart rate is not as objective as power. <\/strong>Not all athletes output power within the same heart rate ranges. Also, temperature and fatigue can skew your heart rate relative to your power output.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Heart rate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n