Power calculation for Mont Ventoux climb (untrained)

PaulMD said:

This vacation I cycled the Mont Ventoux from Bedoin in 1 hour en 40 minutes. The gradient in meters is 1600 meters. So with the formula U = m*g*h I can calculate that I used 85*9.81*1600 = 1.334.160 joules to get me and my bike on top of the mont ventoux. I did that in 100 x 60 = 6.000 seconds which meant that I had an average power of 1.334.160 J / 6.000s = 222 watt for only the height difference. It is without rolling resistance and air resistance.

What is an average rolling resistance and air resistance for climbing the Mont Ventoux for a person of 75 kg?

I thought that that would be 60 watt. So I had an average of 282 watt climbing the Mont Ventoux. But I think that is impossible. It's too much for me because I am untrained, it's 3.8watt/kg on a 100 minute effort. The last year I didn't sport or work out. The last four weeks for the vacation I did twice a week an 20km easy training because my girlfriend wanted to do the mont ventoux.

Does somebody know what I did wrong while calculating? And if it is correct: what would be my Maximum Lactate Steady State or FT?

I think you're close; of course, it depends on several factors like road surface and CdA. Regardless, they contribute a small percentage of resistance. I would guess about 40 W.

Attached is a power equation spreadsheet.

Not sure on all the power calculations, but what about the fact that Paul's girlfriend wanted to ride Ventoux? She is a keeper! 😄

Well, you use 85 kg to calculate the potential energy, while you use 75 kg to calculate your relative power output...

hmronnow said:

Well, you use 85 kg to calculate the potential energy, while you use 75 kg to calculate your relative power output...

I do cycle with a bicycle 🙂

Good point - sorry for erronumously being a smart ass - and thanks for pointing it out!

Henrik

Mont Ventoux from Bedoin in 1 hour en 40 minutes? And you are untrained? Are you sure it was from Bedoin, not Sault? Becaise that seems a very good time for someone who isn't trained? In my opinion, I don't think thats possible, unless you are a super talent? What colud be possible!

Are you sure it was 1h40?

Stinokourov said:

Mont Ventoux from Bedoin in 1 hour en 40 minutes? And you are untrained? Are you sure it was from Bedoin, not Sault? Becaise that seems a very good time for someone who isn't trained? In my opinion, I don't think thats possible, unless you are a super talent? What colud be possible!

Are you sure it was 1h40?

Yes

I didn't have time to do any sport last year. So I only cycled the last four weeks for the vacation. I did twice a week an 20km easy training. And the first week of vacation I did 200km with my girl friend. In the second week we did 3x the mont ventoux. So I did train a little, but the feeling was that I was a untrained person with a beer belly.

day 1: Bedoin: 1h40
day 3: Sault: 1h30
day 4: Malaucene: 1h40

Day 4 from Malaucene was the worst because I wasn't recovered yet. My girlfriend who was trained (she trains 4-5 times a week) rode those 3 climbs in: 2h14, 1h59 and 2h10

Calculating my times to power made me wonder if it was correct because the values are pretty high. At the moment I have time to train 3 x 1 hour a week and I want to buy a powermeter to see what is possible. I am now 27 years and 10 years ago I did some races but wasn't any good.

Should it be possible to increase my aerobic perfomance with more than 10%? It is possible to lose 10% of my bodyweight and 30% of my bikeweight (is realistic). Will that make me 20% faster uphill? How much training is needed to increase my aerobic performance with 10%?