The Wattbike makes athletes accountable. The consistency and reliability of the data means there is no hiding behind the numbers, making it the perfect tool to ensure the best team is selected for the new season.

For managers and coaches, structuring their team’s pre-season programme correctly, and making accurate comparisons between players, can make all the difference to their prospects for the season.

FOOTBALL
In 2016, Leicester City Football Club made history with an incredible season, and have been using the Wattbike for power development and conditioning since 2012. Mitchell Willis, LCFC Strength & Power Coach, explains: “We never considered any other bikes, I knew the Wattbikes well; how to use them, the physical qualities and the amount of feedback the Performance Monitors provide. We have a philosophy of ‘training = testing and testing = training’ and we continually monitor performance, therefore Wattbike perfectly matches this.”

The team use the bikes for power development which involves intermittent supramaximal bursts with extended recovery periods. This allows lower limb power to develop, whilst safely overloading the players using the air resistance and magnet settings. Conditioning sessions focus on longer intervals of continuous work on the bikes, targeting specific energy system development.

Mitchell continues: “The bikes have also played a key role with international players who have returned late to us this preseason – we administered additional ‘off -feet- conditioning sessions using the bikes to help bring them up to speed with the rest of the squad.”

RUGBY
The Saracens, who were victorious Double Champions last season, winning both the Premiership and European Cup, also utilise the Wattbike throughout the season. Phillip Morrow, Performance Director explains: “The Wattbike is a tough piece of training equipment, which can be used to challenge all of your energy systems.

The ability to measure power output is great for setting targets as well as giving us the capability to manipulate sessions to target diff erent aspects of training.”

With six bikes, the Saracens focus on conditioning sessions throughout the season as a form of off load training, limiting the amount of running the players are doing, which is key for the larger, load bearing players. The full squad then work on the bikes for maximum energy sprints and general energy system training through preseason.

Philip adds: “We also make use of the bikes a lot with our injured and rehabbing players when they are limited with the amount of ‘on feet’ work they can do.”

Saracens and England back-row, Billy Vunipola is renowned for his power and force, and is a player to be reckoned with on the Wattbike. Billy remarks: “The Wattbike plays a massive part of our anaerobic and off -feet, aerobic work. It saves us loading our legs every day, as in pre-season you get through a lot of running, so the bikes allow us to still improve fitness but not aggravate the joints.”

We use the bikes every other day through pre-season, and on Monday mornings through the season – naturally we’re quite a competitive bunch through and there’s definitely no hiding on the Wattbike.”