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71% of Riders Use Power Meters | Train Smarter: Insights from Hans Becking

We turned to Hans Becking, professional mountain biker and Epic Series veteran, for his insights:

"A power meter gives you an accurate and stable way to train. Unlike heart rate, which can fluctuate due to temperature, fatigue, or even time of day, power is consistent. This consistency allows you and your coach to structure your training more effectively, target weak points, and improve your overall fitness."

Key Metrics Every Mountain Biker Should Track

Hans emphasizes the importance of understanding your numbers, especially for mountain biking, where terrain and effort can vary dramatically. Here are some key metrics:

Functional Threshold Power (FTP): The highest power you can sustain for about an hour. This is the cornerstone for establishing training zones and tracking fitness improvements over time.
Normalized Power (NP): Mountain biking includes frequent bursts of effort. NP accounts for these variations, giving a more accurate representation of the physiological cost of a ride than average power alone.
Power-to-Weight Ratio (Watts/kg): Crucial for climbing performance and overall efficiency.
Intensity Factor (IF): Normalizes NP to your FTP, providing a single number that reflects the overall difficulty of a ride, regardless of terrain.
Left-Right Power Balance: Some power meters measure each leg independently, helping identify weaknesses, technique issues, or injury risks.
Short-Burst Power (3s & 10s): Essential for live trail readings, especially during accelerations or steep climbs.

"With a power meter, you can see exactly what you are capable of," Hans explains.

"In a long stage like the Swiss Epic, knowing your threshold power allows you to pace climbs without blowing your engine. It’s a guideline for smarter effort not a magic tool, but an intelligent one."

How to Use the Data

Train effectively: Use FTP to set training zones and track progress.
Identify weaknesses: Monitor left-right balance to address imbalances through strength or technique training.
Manage effort in races: Use live short-burst power readings and your knowledge of FTP to pace climbs and conserve energy over long, technical stages.

Hans sums it up perfectly: “A power meter can help you train more efficiently, more intelligently, and make the most of your workouts but commitment, effort, and consistency are the real tools that make you faster, stronger, and ready to achieve your goals.”