Power Reading Pedaling Through Sand

[SoaringBear]

As I was struggling to pedal through a section of sand on an otherwise smooth trail my speed slowed and my effort level went way up. The section of sand was about 200-300 feet. However, my PP didn't show power going up but registering lower at about 120w. Is riding through sand a situation that PP does not cope well with?

Thank you

[Velocomp]

The reason it's harder to ride through sand is because it is a soft material that deforms when bike tires roll through it. This "softness" translates into a much higher rolling resistance.

PowerPod assumes that rolling resistance conditions do not change. That's a fancy way of saying that it doesn't know when you are riding in sand.

If you post a .ibr ride file, please indicate the place where there is sand. I will show you how do deal with this.

[SoaringBear]

Thanks, John. Interesting. Then if I were out riding and there were sections of mud the same thing would happen.

I believe it was at 1:47:33 where my pedaling efficiency went down momentarily

Thanks

[Velocomp]

I note that you had a perpetual headwind (which is unreasonable), so I used the Check Calibration feature to get your wind readings to a normal value.

You have a 6 minute section, starting around 1:47, where your gear ratio drops. I assume this is where you were riding in sand.

To account for the sand, here is what I did:

1) Using the "File/Split File at Cursor" command, I created 3 ride files: A. Up to 1:47; B. 1:47 to 1:53 (sand section); C. 1:53 to end of ride

2) For ride file B, I set Crr to 0.012 (the approximate value of Crr when riding in sand). I saved as file "BSand"

3) I used the "File/Split File/Append File" command I opened File A, then appended file BSand, then appended file C.

In sandy section your watts increased by about 50W.

Corrected ride files and profile attached.

[SoaringBear]

Thank you. Will check it out.