V G wrote:
> I wonder if there's an easy way to calculate the power output of a
> human pedaling on a bicycle.

Of course.  This has been done, a while ago too.  I wrote some of the code
for the original Tune PowerTap, which was later sold to Graber Products and
then redesigned.

The PowerTap used a special hum that had a strain guage in it to measure
torque.  It also used that signal to infer pedalling cadence.  The hub
transmitted to a pickup using only a few KHz "RF" to a sensor mounted very
close by but on the fixed part of the bike.  The PowerTap also collected
wheel tick and heartrate information.  The wheel tick gave it distance
travelled, from which speed was also calculated.  It didn't do anything
directly with the heart rate other then provide it in the log along with th=
e
other parameters.  Heart rate was just intended for the trainer to look at
along with power, speed, etc.


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