I Want Five Megawatts by Mid May.

Today is Thursday June 19 2025 and this morning i attempted my first ever 20 minute power test to determine my watts per kilogram.

Apparently watts per kilogram is a good fitness indicator and it can be used to set appropriate training zones.

i'm not a numbers guy but this year i'm trying to be serious about getting bicycle fit so im beginning to dabble in the digits.

So this morning i hopped on the smart trainer, put in some headphones, and pedaled as hard as i could for 20 minutes. Then i took my average power and multiplied it by .95. Then i took that figure and divided it by my weight in kilograms.

Years ago BK said "don't get a power meter, all its going to do is tell you how slow you are"

It turns out he was right (as usual) because after doing the test and the calculations i came up with a number of 2.33 watts per kilogram. 

That is not good! According to a chart i found i'm almost up to a cat 5. Yikes!

Yes i thought i would do better than that but honestly im not surprised. i haven't done many rides in the last 6 months where i was really pushing myself. So spoiler alert, if you want to get faster on a bicycle it turns out you have to suffer.

This mornings test was a great reality check. i'm thinking i'll retake the test in a month and again in another month. 

Meanwhile i feel like Professor Jerry Hathaway in the classic 80's movie 'Real Genius'. Jerry is in charge of the laser program at Pacific Tech University and he needs a powerful laser and he needs it now. The US Military wants the laser for its weapons program and he's promised he can deliver. In order to deliver he needs Chris Knight, his most promising student, to get off his ass and get the job done. 

Jerry and Chris have a come to Jesus meeting where Jerry tells Chris "i want 5 megawatts by mid may".

Chris thinks that impossible but with some hard work, help from his friends, and some elite 80's movie montages he ultimately gets it done.

So that's me, i want 5 megawatts by mid may.

Yes its late June and yes i don't think we refer to cycling watts as "mega" watts (although maybe we should) and yes even if we did refer to them as megawatts there is no way in hell i could get to 5 (mega?) watts per kilogram because according to the chart i found on the internet that would make me a better than average cat 1 racer... and that is not in the cards.

But... the sentiment still stands. i think you get it.

i want 5 megawatts by mid may.

i have cycling goals coming up fast and i'll need to work hard to achieve them.

Weeks until Gravel Worlds (75 miles) = 9.5

Weeks until Little Sugar Mountain Bike Race (31 miles) = 16.5

Weeks until Cyclocross Nationals (not registered - probably a pipe dream) = 24

i want 5 megawatts by mid may, without that there's no way i can become Number 1.