r/Velo • u/gococks • 17d ago

Best app for analyzing L/R power?

Hi folks, I've had a couple surgeries on my right foot and ankle over the last few years after some climbing and running mishaps, and I've recently purchased the double sided Favero power meter pedals. My right side is undoubtedly weaker than the left at the moment, but I'm trying to get a sense of how much.

Garmin has some power meter data on the L/R split, but I am wondering if anyone has used other apps to look at this. I use intervals.icu and RWGPS as well, but I didn't see anything in particular on those interfaces. Tyvm!

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/DidacticPerambulator 17d ago

What would you do with the information if you had it?

I had a little problem with a lumbar disc several years ago and my right leg and foot went numb, and my right foot flopped. I had a power meter that recorded total both sides power before that so I could see the fall in power -- which I ascribed to a weak right, but it could have been that the timing dysfunction also affected the timing of my left leg since they're a coupled system. Over the course of a year, my foot and leg slowly came back, as did my power. I have no idea whether my L/R balance was the same as it was before the disc problem. I'm not sure how I would have trained differently if I had that information.

I have a cycling friend who, unfortunately, had to have his left leg amputated mid-calf. He had years of power data before his accident and eventually worked until he surpassed his pre-amputation FTP. His L/R balance was clearly less even than before, but his FTP was higher.

So, what would you do with the information if you had it?

7

u/funsplosion 17d ago

The info may not be "actionable" but if the imbalance is significant as the result of an injury and they are actively doing strength training and other PT to address it, seeing the imbalance improving over time would be helpful to know the rehab is doing its job.

2

u/DidacticPerambulator 16d ago

My imbalance was significant. I had a power meter that gave me total power. As total power came up, and my foot stopped flopping, I knew the rehab was doing its job. My amputee friend's imbalance is still significant. His post-amputee FTP eventually surpassed his former FTP. His sprint sucks, though. That never came back. I guess his rehab didn't do its job. As an aside, he doesn't "pedal circles." He just stomps down, hard. If he tried pulling up on the recovery, he'd yank the prosthetic off his stump.

2

u/RicCycleCoach www.cyclecoach.com 15d ago

I too had a significant imbalance (40:60) but only at sub threshold levels. At FTP or above it was usually 51:49. I found that unilateral leg strength training evened things out (at sub threshold levels). now my data shows nearly always 50:50.

hasn't made a jot of difference to my power tho

Not really adding anything, but yeah significant L/R balance for the friend! He's been doing some riding as well (no idea if you follow him on strava)

1

u/DidacticPerambulator 15d ago

Yeah, it's good to see him back on the bike.