Watts with Wahoo Element bolt

alexbg
alexbg Posts: 19
edited January 2019 in Road general
Is it possible to measure watts with a wahoo element bolt with the speed and cadence sensors or do I need a power meter?

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  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    You need a power meter to measure it. What you can do is to upload the rides to Strava, who provide an estimate of your power based on speed and gradient. This won't really be hugely accurate though, as it makes assumptions about air resistance, rolling resistance etc. Having said that, from what I've observed on rides with and without a power meter, it's not a million miles away.
  • alexbg
    alexbg Posts: 19
    I'm looking more for something that can measure watts so I know how hard I am working over an average time so I don't go too hard too soon. Is a dedicated power meter the only way?
  • supermurph09
    supermurph09 Posts: 2,471
    alexbg wrote:
    I'm looking more for something that can measure watts so I know how hard I am working over an average time so I don't go too hard too soon. Is a dedicated power meter the only way?

    Yes
    Trainer Road Blog: https://hitthesweetspot.home.blog/

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  • alexbg
    alexbg Posts: 19
    Thanks
  • paulbnix
    paulbnix Posts: 632
    You could just use your heart rate.
  • MiddleRinger
    MiddleRinger Posts: 678
    alexbg wrote:
    Is it possible to measure watts with a wahoo element bolt with the speed and cadence sensors or do I need a power meter?

    That's a bit like asking if you can measure your cadence with a heart rate monitor. You need a powermeter to measure watts. Although you don't need a power meter, just ride your bike and listen to your body (that's from me and is my personal opinion and I ride with a powermeter all the time).
    ~ ~ How fast is fast enough? ~ ~ ~ ~ Tempo Cyclist - Tasmania ~ ~
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    alexbg wrote:
    I'm looking more for something that can measure watts so I know how hard I am working over an average time so I don't go too hard too soon. Is a dedicated power meter the only way?


    I don't think you need to spend hundreds of pounds on the power meter just yet.

    Watts is only useful if you know what you can hold flat out. By the time you're up to doing those kind of tests you'll have a good idea anyway. I'd just get a HRM strap and use that as a guide. Cheaper and nearly as good.

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