# Why can't I hit the target power? **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Created:** [October 25, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523 "2018-10-25T05:46:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Thebigred](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/thebigred/32/18334_2.png) [@Thebigred](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Thebigred)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/1 "2018-10-25T05:46:56Z")
hi there, Before I ask the question, here is my setup. Tacx Neo in Erg Mode, connected via BT. When I complete my workouts, I am never able to hit target power on intervals. It is always 1W below. It may not be a huge issue but drives me crazy :). Is anyone facing the same problem? ![Capture](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/original/2X/2/2628266fee21109302cc209e7e5d65a9581103ae.png) ---
**Author:** ![IanDarlington](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/iandarlington/32/15724_2.png) [@IanDarlington](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/IanDarlington)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 5:56am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/2 "2018-10-25T05:56:32Z")
Most likely it’s because you’ll be lowering your average over the first few seconds as the resistance climbs from rest level to interval level. ---
**Author:** ![janneseppala](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/janneseppala/32/17140_2.png) [@janneseppala](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/janneseppala)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 6:18am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/3 "2018-10-25T06:18:54Z")
As you didn’t post the power graph in your post, thought of asking, might there be a chance that you are using too big of a gear during the intervals for the watts needed. That may cause too much fluctuation in power, which in turn may lower the average watts. ---
**Author:** ![Thebigred](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/thebigred/32/18334_2.png) [@Thebigred](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Thebigred)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 6:20am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/4 "2018-10-25T06:20:45Z")
> [@janneseppala](#): > > which in turn may lower the average watts. it should not be the case as I am in ERG mode. Plus I was on small chainring and mid gear 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![JCorfield](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jcorfield/32/13109_2.png) [@JCorfield](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/JCorfield)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 6:50am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/5 "2018-10-25T06:50:01Z")
My Kickr 2016 is the same, i’m always 1W under ---
**Author:** ![Thebigred](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/thebigred/32/18334_2.png) [@Thebigred](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Thebigred)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 7:15am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/6 "2018-10-25T07:15:49Z")
Makes me mad:) ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Taplin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/karen_taplin/32/14136_2.png) [@Karen\_Taplin](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Karen_Taplin)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 7:43am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/7 "2018-10-25T07:43:31Z")
This is the same for me too. I’ve got a 2016 KICKR, I’ve updated firmware, completed spindowns, tried changing gears, speeding or slowing my cadence and still I’m always -1% power output. It’s does my head in but I’m slowly learning to accept that’s how it is and I am hitting my numbers! ---
**Author:** ![Crownan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/crownan/32/103116_2.png) [@Crownan](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Crownan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 7:54am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/8 "2018-10-25T07:54:46Z")
1W! ONE WATT. 0.5%. Power meters and trainers aren’t even that accurate 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Thebigred](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/thebigred/32/18334_2.png) [@Thebigred](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Thebigred)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 8:00am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/9 "2018-10-25T08:00:31Z")
It is all about Watts, even it is 1 😂😂😂 ---
**Author:** ![Bioteknik](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/bioteknik/32/7721_2.png) [@Bioteknik](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Bioteknik)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2018, 10:27am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/10 "2018-10-25T10:27:30Z")
you all would go crazy if you were in resistance mode the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![BlueHeron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/blueheron/32/115365_2.png) [@BlueHeron](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/BlueHeron)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/11 "2019-12-02T21:12:46Z")
I have this same problem. Elite Direto in ERG mode. I usually increase the intensity by 1% whenever i can to balance this out. This sometimes increases the targets also, but i just go by the initial targets and make sure im hitting those. ---
**Author:** ![rocourteau](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rocourteau/32/7746_2.png) [@rocourteau](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/rocourteau)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/12 "2019-12-02T21:38:18Z")
The summary gives the average power during the interval, as measured. TR sends power changes 1-2 seconds early, to give reaction time to the trainer. Despite this, the trainer will probably be a little late hitting the target power at the start of the interval, but will also drop off from the target a second before the end. These two facts make the average slightly lower. Here’s the beginning of an interval: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/original/3X/4/2/4279e047b33873d243bf748d4d282dbe06a9cf9a.png) And the end of one: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/original/3X/9/f/9fba072d62bf45b7ff423f794daea21e26d19d20.png) That’s where your 1% goes. This said - do you think this difference has any impact on the efficiency of your training? ---
**Author:** ![Un-QuittingBikes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bb73d2/32.png) [@Un-QuittingBikes](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Un-QuittingBikes)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/13 "2019-12-02T21:39:47Z")
Might be losing perspective on why you’re doing this. ---
**Author:** ![rocourteau](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rocourteau/32/7746_2.png) [@rocourteau](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/rocourteau)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/14 "2019-12-03T01:00:33Z")
Da numbers!!! Da numbers!!! ---
**Author:** ![BlueHeron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/blueheron/32/115365_2.png) [@BlueHeron](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/BlueHeron)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/15 "2019-12-03T14:07:17Z")
Thank you for the info. “Da numbers” is totally on point. Its a psychological thing. I need to meet those targets in order to feel like I am applying self-discipline and not short-changing my workouts, regardless of whether there is actually an difference in training effect. I just started with TR, currently in week 4 of ssbhv1. This is the first time ive ever done any structured athletic training, and hitting those numbers exactly or a bit over feels like what i need to do to keep myself on track. Maybe i’ll loosen up once i get some more experience? ---
**Author:** ![rocourteau](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rocourteau/32/7746_2.png) [@rocourteau](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/rocourteau)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/why-cant-i-hit-the-target-power/4523/16 "2019-12-03T14:10:29Z")
Honestly, I never look at the summary. And by the way, the “missing 1%” ends up as an over-power on the recovery valleys. Relax, do the workouts, don’t worry about the 1%. By the time you do 3x20mins threshold workouts, the behavior in the first and last second of each of those intervals will be the last thing on your mind.