Power: What is it and why is it important to indoor cycling? Part 1

Power can be a bit complicated, so I think a lot of Spinning® and Indoor Cycling instructors ignore it. But by understanding power, you will see how my series on excessive cadence makes scientific sense, and is not just my “opinion” of how to teach a Spinning® or Indoor Cycling class. (See the two articles referenced in “related articles” at the bottom of this page). You’ll also understand more fully why we should ride with resistance and how having the right combination of resistance and cadence will lead to increased calories consumed in a class.

I’m going to try to see if I can make it a little easier to understand by holding your hand as I go through the equations. It still requires physics and algebra, so bear with me and put your thinking caps on – I hope your brain isn’t too full of cobwebs! This first article will do the math. In the next article we’ll discuss the exercise science part of the relationship. Then I’ll put it into (hopefully) layperson’s terms as a practical application for you and your indoor cycling and Spinning® classes. Then even if you do not have power meters on your bikes, you can learn how to “pretend” that you have power.

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