Terms

Cadence in cycling is the pedaling rate in revolutions per minute (rpm). Most recreational riders find 80-95 rpm comfortable, while professionals often ride at a higher cadence.

Drafting is riding close behind another cyclist to reduce aerodynamic resistance. It can lower the required power by 20-30% at the same speed.

FTP (Functional Threshold Power) is the maximum power output in watts a cyclist can sustain on average for about an hour. It's a key fitness indicator in cycling, analogous to the anaerobic threshold (AT) in running.

Gear ratio is the relationship between the number of teeth on the front chainring and the rear cassette sprocket of a bicycle, determining how many times the rear wheel turns per one pedal revolution.

Power in watts is an objective physical unit measuring the amount of work a cyclist performs per unit of time — unlike speed, it doesn't depend on wind, gradient, or road surface quality.