You just contradicted the title and the content of your first post. I suppose you wanted to be controversial to get attention.Originally Posted by integrate .
I have burped up the mktg pitch: time shares and snuggies, must have missed it. You don't have to agree with the info, and there mere fact it has met with so much skepticism means people are thinking about it.
Power meters DO measure power, but that measurement is the effectiveness of your neuromuscular coordination and how much muscle your brain is turning on as you move. That's the point of the OP.
You are however incorrect in thinking that neuromuscular coordination is the dominant factor in power production. Power come primarily from the rate at which the body can metabolize energy sources. Neuromuscular coordination is important to put power released to the ground in an efficient fashion. Better control and coordination, a smooth pedal stroke - pedaling in circles, engaging all the muscle groups have long been in the cycling training bible. This is nothing new. Many training guides suggest off the bike exercises engage the important muscles.
You are wrong because power meters do not provide an assessment of efficiency. Two physically equivalent people can generate the same power measured at the wheel, the efficient rider burns less calories, uses less power, in the process the other has a sloppy stroke and is using much more energy. The power meter outputs will not differentiate the efficient rider from the non-efficient rider.
Or consider an individual with great neuromuscular coordination but no aerobic engine. While this rider has a great efficient pedal stroke, they have little power production capacity to begin with. It is obvious that focusing only on the neuromuscular piece ignores many other factors and systems at play.
Coordination alone is not the only factor affecting efficiency, many metabolic and physical factors will affect this. I would also argue that due to the repetitive motion, constant feedback and mechanical constraints placed on a rider, that neuromuscular coordination of the pedal stroke should come naturally. The body is a wonderfully adaptive system or systems that is always seeking to perform actions in an efficient manner.
Training effectively off the bike, understanding how to foster efficiency and power in the gym are important, but it not the holy grail of power. I think oversold your theory in the beginning of this thread.