1. What is W' (Watt Prime)?

W' (pronounced "W prime") represents your anaerobic work capacity - the amount of work you can do above your critical power before exhaustion. It's a key metric in cycling performance, especially for high-intensity efforts.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the W' equation:

Where:

• \( W' \) — Anaerobic work capacity (joules)
• \( Total\ Work \) — Total work done during the effort (joules)
• \( CP \) — Critical power (watts)
• \( t \) — Time duration of the effort (seconds)

Explanation: The equation calculates how much work was done above your sustainable power (CP) during a given time period.

3. Importance of W' in Cycling

Details: W' helps cyclists understand their capacity for high-intensity efforts. A higher W' means you can sustain power above CP for longer, crucial for attacks, sprints, and short climbs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter total work in joules, critical power in watts, and time in seconds. All values must be positive numbers. For accurate results, use data from a maximal effort of 3-8 minutes duration.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical W' value?
A: Recreational cyclists might have 10-15 kJ, while elite cyclists often have 20-30 kJ. Values vary based on training status and physiology.

Q2: How does W' differ from FTP?
A: FTP (Functional Threshold Power) is about sustainable power, while W' measures your capacity for work above that threshold.

Q3: Can W' be improved with training?
A: Yes, through high-intensity interval training targeting efforts above CP. However, W' is more genetically determined than CP.

Q4: How is W' used in racing?
A: Racers use W' to strategize attacks, knowing how much "matches to burn" they have for high-power efforts.

Q5: What's the relationship between W' and recovery?
A: W' depletes during high-intensity efforts and recovers exponentially when below CP. Recovery takes minutes to hours depending on effort intensity.