Planning a Strava KOM

Let’s plan tomorrow’s KOM attempt together. Just as I would for a cycling time trial, I am using myWindsock.com to plan and predict my time. Tomorrow I will follow the plan and see how close I can get to the prediction!

In this video I:

  1. Pick the fastest time of day. Changing the time of day alters the predicted time. I gain a few seconds by waiting an hour.
  2. Discover the power I will need to break the current KOM. I estimate that I’d need around 340 Watts to be close to the current KOM.
  3. Predict my time using my expected power values. Entering my anticipated wattage for my attempt at 360 Watts. This beats the current KOM by 30 seconds.
  4. Add junctions into the plan. Two right hand turns means I will have to give way. I am optimistic for no hold ups at the junctions and lose just a few seconds.
  5. Adjust the finishing power for a final big effort to the line. 500 Watts at the finish takes 11 seconds off my time.

My predicted time and target for tomorrow 8:23. Let’s see tomorrow if I can do it!

Predict your time on Strava Segments. Start here

Author: Ben Norbury

Ben Norbury is four times Manchester & District Middle Distance and Best All Rounder Time Trial Champion from 2016-2019. During this time he developed software to eliminate uncertainty of the weather conditions out of his pre-race preparation.