SuperRecord.

Post-race analysis

Why was the time trial slower than planned?

The rider was 40 seconds slower than planned. Were the legs not there, did they lose their position, or was there more wind than expected? Without separating the causes, the conclusion is an opinion and the next plan repeats the same mistake.

The problem

  • After the race there is only an average power and a time, and you cannot see where time was lost.
  • You do not know whether the rider followed the plan or improvised.
  • When the time is off, the legs get the blame even when position or wind was the cause.
  • Nobody measures the race’s real CdA, so the next plan carries the same error.

Why it happens

The final time mixes three things: how much power was put out, how much air the rider pushed aside and what wind there really was. If they are not separated, a poor position looks like poor form.

Comparing plan and execution segment by segment tells you where time was won or lost and why, and every race sharpens the next plan.

How SuperRecord solves it

  1. 1

    Upload the race .FIT

    In Plan vs Actual, from the plan. Files from Garmin, Wahoo or Zwift all work. If you upload another version, each one is kept with its date.

  2. 2

    Check adherence to the plan

    How closely each segment’s power matched the prescription, time against the forecast and how much reserve the rider spent.

  3. 3

    Separate the causes

    The time difference is split between power, aerodynamics and wind, so you know what really went wrong.

  4. 4

    Read how the effort was spent

    Whether pacing was steady or surging, how often the rider dipped into the reserve and whether they lost efficiency at the end.

  5. 5

    Sharpen the next plan

    The race’s real CdA is measured, by gradient too. With three races analysed, the platform tunes how much position each rider loses on climbs and their plans use it.

What you need

  • The event plan made in SuperRecord.
  • The race .FIT file with power.

Try it on a real time trial

The demo is a real time trial: change the power, the CdA or the wind and watch the time move. No sign-up.

See the demoStart your free trial

Frequently asked questions

How do I know whether time was lost to position or to the legs?

By comparing plan and race segment by segment: if power was as planned and the rider was still slower, the problem was in the air, not in the legs.

Can CdA be measured from the race file?

Yes, and by gradient too. On steep climbs it cannot be measured well, and the chart says so.

Does a Wahoo or Zwift file work?

Yes, any .FIT with power.

What if the real wind was not the forecast one?

The analysis separates it from power and aerodynamics, so a windy day is not read as a bad day for the rider.

Further reading