It all adds up

27 watts. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? That’s the difference in my power output between riding the Etape Loch Ness two years ago, in 2023, and riding it this year, 2025. But my Heart Rate- identical. So for the same cardiovascular work, I produced 27 watts more power on average. But that’s 27 watts more than 122… 22% more. Two years ago I was pretty pleased with my ride: I’d done what I set out to do, and only paused a couple of times. I was riding my aluminium Liv Avail back then, training for the Celtman Solo Point Five. For where I was at then, it was a great ride. This year… Different bike, different weather conditions. But I didn’t stop at all, didn’t even pause or stop for a wee; and I rode the course 50 minutes faster. But the real teller is that absolute number: a 22% increase in average power output for an identical average heart rate. I've worked so hard over the last ten months, and it can be hard day-to-day to see progre...