True Manufacturing Company ES9.0 - Manual (Page 85)

ES9.0 Recumbent Bike Owner’s Guide
85
Appendix C
Constant torque is used in a modified way in Bike Mode. In
addition to constant resistance for a given “gear,” additional
torque is applied to simulate wind and road resistance, as
well as to compensate for different body weights.
Personal Power was initially designed to vary workload at a
1:1 ratio with body weight, just like a METs-based exercise
prescription. However, it turns out that human endurance
and power generating capability varies with the 2/3 root of
body weight, not straight body weight. This relationship can
be seen in everything from weightlifting world records to
distance running competitions. (See McMahon and Bonner,
On Size and Life (1985), page 55).
Since METs do not work the way they’re supposed to,
Personal Power is based on a new unit of measure that
correctly accounts for body weight. This new unit of
metabolic measure, called the T-MET, is defined as:
T-MET = watts / (kg) 2/3
where watts is power applied to an external machine
from the exerciser, and kg is the exerciser’s body weight in
kilograms.
The
Personal
Power
Calculation