Imaginary Cliffs?

[Bob C]

Hi John,

Can you help me make sense of the attached ride file from a route I've ridden many times?

I've left it unedited, and I do understand that the first 8 minutes of amazing wattages for a 76-year-old really don't put me in Guinness, and I assume that the equally amazing climb in the first 8 minutes may have to do with adjusting the handlebars when I retaped them. I did re-level the PP before this ride, and did expect some weird numbers during the first 8 minutes. What I'm puzzled by is after that, specifically minutes 9 through 24 or so, which compared with other days are 100 to 200 watts high.

1) Would this be related to the three slope spikes of -20 to -30% in that segment? They have to be artifacts. There are no such features on the road out of town. Speed, cadence, and HR are all normal. Only power and slope are goofy. Solo, not group.

2) The slope graph shows two more imaginary cliffs later on. The power numbers still seem slightly exaggerated, especially since I had a tailwind, but not as in the earlier segment.

3) The turnaround on this loop comes about 47 minutes in; the return route is not the same road but parallel to the out road -- they're roughly equivalent. The numbers here settle down to what I'm used to, but compared with perceived effort seem a little low. The tailwind becomes a headwind and knocks easily 3-5 mph off my speed, with equivalent or harder effort than going out. Power numbers are nevertheless somewhat lower.

Thanks for any help.

[Velocomp]

I deleted the first 8 minutes of your ride file. Even with this section deleted, there is some evidence that your PP is still rotating on the handlebars. Make sure that it is solidly attached, cannot rotate, and all should be well.

[Bob C]

Thanks for prompt reply, John.

I thought everything was snug, but it could be that the brake cable nudged the PP which is fighting for space with cross top levers. I moved it a tad inboard, snugged everything again, and will try again. If you don't hear back, it means things are back to normal.