# 5w or 1kg - which is better **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Created:** [July 10, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250 "2022-07-10T16:00:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![theflyingduttman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/theflyingduttman/32/97785_2.png) [@theflyingduttman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/theflyingduttman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/1 "2022-07-10T16:00:44Z")
Hi Guys I’ve watched a few GCN tech videos and they’ve said the following a few times… ‘5 watts gained is better than losing 1kg in weight even on climbs’ I agree, but what is your opinion? ---
**Author:** ![ArHu74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/arhu74/32/177458_2.png) [@ArHu74](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/ArHu74)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/2 "2022-07-10T16:11:12Z")
at least it’s a healthier approach to try and get stronger than be as lean as you can be ---
**Author:** ![theflyingduttman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/theflyingduttman/32/97785_2.png) [@theflyingduttman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/theflyingduttman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 4:14pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/3 "2022-07-10T16:14:31Z")
Fully agree with that! ---
**Author:** ![ChefAcB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/chefacb/32/144835_2.png) [@ChefAcB](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/ChefAcB)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/4 "2022-07-10T16:25:22Z")
Depends on the situation, some people may be better losing 1kg or more. Others might benefit more from gaining watts and a little weight. Im on the lean side so gaining a little weight and watts is better for me. I gained about 5# since using TrainerRoad but my ftp has grown about 50 watts with it. ---
**Author:** ![WombleKiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@WombleKiller](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/WombleKiller)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/6 "2022-07-10T17:56:34Z")
Totally, I was going well early season, and then lost about 8lb (3.5kg) from 165lb to 157lb (74.8 to 71.2 kg) by a change in diet. wish I’d put more effort into keeping the weight, “improve your climbing by losing weight” has not worked for me, but like you say, depends on your starting point … ---
**Author:** ![theflyingduttman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/theflyingduttman/32/97785_2.png) [@theflyingduttman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/theflyingduttman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 6:06pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/7 "2022-07-10T18:06:25Z")
I started cycling at 105kg a few years ago… I got down to 70 but went back up to 75 and feel really strong… although because I gave up on structure my ftp really hasn’t moved but now with TR I feel I’m getting stronger again but don’t feel I can drop the weight ---
**Author:** ![Pbase](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/pbase/32/969_2.png) [@Pbase](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Pbase)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/8 "2022-07-10T19:41:30Z")
As others have said, it depends. Are you shaped like the GCN guys or like Eddy Merckx? ---
**Author:** ![theflyingduttman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/theflyingduttman/32/97785_2.png) [@theflyingduttman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/theflyingduttman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/9 "2022-07-10T19:44:32Z")
It’s not really advice for me. Just more for general conversation. I’m just about average. ---
**Author:** ![Pbase](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/pbase/32/969_2.png) [@Pbase](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Pbase)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 7:53pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/10 "2022-07-10T19:53:04Z")
I meant “you” as in the person making the decision, not you specifically ---
**Author:** ![theflyingduttman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/theflyingduttman/32/97785_2.png) [@theflyingduttman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/theflyingduttman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/11 "2022-07-10T19:59:30Z")
Ahhhh! ---
**Author:** ![GoLongThenGoHome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/439d5e/32.png) [@GoLongThenGoHome](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/GoLongThenGoHome)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 9:13pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/12 "2022-07-10T21:13:20Z")
> [@theflyingduttman](#): > > 5 watts gained is better than losing 1kg in weight even on climbs’ Often you get both if training and eating sensibly. ---
**Author:** ![AJS914](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@AJS914](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AJS914)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 9:21pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/13 "2022-07-10T21:21:11Z")
You can find various sites on the internet where you can model these parameters. Weight depends on the grade of the climb. If you watch the Tour de France, you see bigger guys go up 3-4-5% climbs pretty easily. When it turns up to 24% like it did the other day, the climbers can make big gaps on the larger riders. ---
**Author:** ![varmstrong](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/varmstrong/32/80523_2.png) [@varmstrong](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/varmstrong)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 9:29pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/14 "2022-07-10T21:29:32Z")
I dont know if anyone has said it, but I guess it depends on if you are over 5w/kg or not. If youre under, 5 watts is better. If youre over, 1 kg is better. ---
**Author:** ![Pbase](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/pbase/32/969_2.png) [@Pbase](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Pbase)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 10:43pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/15 "2022-07-10T22:43:06Z")
I totally disagree. If you weigh 250, you’re far better off losing the weight than gaining 5w. ---
**Author:** ![varmstrong](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/varmstrong/32/80523_2.png) [@varmstrong](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/varmstrong)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/16 "2022-07-10T23:33:39Z")
> [@Pbase](#): > > I totally disagree. If you weigh 250, you’re far better off losing the weight than gaining 5w 250 lbs is 113.4 KG. assuming a 300 watt FTP, thats 2.645w/kg +5 watts is 305 FTP. 2.689 w/kg -1kg is 112.4 kg or 2.669 w/kg 2.689\>2.669 therefore, while you may disagree all you want, you are incorrect. edit: I’ll edit to say that personally I would try to lose more weight if I weighed 250 lbs, so I agree that weight loss should be a priority for said individual, BUT, the math states 5 watts is better. ---
**Author:** ![Pbase](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/pbase/32/969_2.png) [@Pbase](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Pbase)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/17 "2022-07-10T23:37:52Z")
Do it again with an FTP of 225. ---
**Author:** ![AJS914](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@AJS914](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AJS914)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 11:39pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/18 "2022-07-10T23:39:29Z")
Doesn’t any calculation depend on the gradient of the course? On a flat course, +5 watts will be better. At a certain gradient, 1kg less weight will be better. ---
**Author:** ![varmstrong](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/varmstrong/32/80523_2.png) [@varmstrong](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/varmstrong)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/19 "2022-07-10T23:40:16Z")
> [@Pbase](#): > > Do it again with an FTP of 225. I allow myself one math problem a day, so this one is on you. That said, if I am correct, it should hold true (i believe??) for everything under 5w/kg Math has never been my strong suit ---
**Author:** ![varmstrong](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/varmstrong/32/80523_2.png) [@varmstrong](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/varmstrong)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/20 "2022-07-10T23:45:29Z")
> [@Pbase](#): > > Do it again with an FTP of 225. Damn you. I did it again. Still: 225 FTP =1.984 w/kg 230 FTP = 2.028 w/kg 112.4 kg = 2.001 w/kg ---
**Author:** ![Pbase](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/pbase/32/969_2.png) [@Pbase](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Pbase)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 11:49pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250/21 "2022-07-10T23:49:48Z")
Well damn. Work on a Sunday. 🤣 250 lbs is 113.4 KG. assuming a 225 watt FTP, thats 1.98w/kg +5 watts is 230 FTP. 2.03w/kg -1kg is 112.4 kg or 2.00 w/kg So I guess you’re right. It’s because we’re talking about such small increments. I think in my head I was thinking of it more like 5lbs vs, 5 watts. I stand corrected! [Next page](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/5w-or-1kg-which-is-better/74250.md?page=2)