The %Power parameter lets you set power output targets relative to each athlete's tested capacity. Whether you're programming conditioning equipment based on average power or resistance training movements based on peak output, you enter a percentage and Bridge calculates each athlete's wattage target automatically.
This article covers how %Power works, how to add it to an exercise, and how to preview your athletes' calculated targets.
What %Power Does
%Power calculates individualized wattage targets by applying a percentage to each athlete's tested power output. This works for two common scenarios:
Conditioning Exercises (bike, fan bike, rower, ski erg): Link to a test that measures average power over a set duration. For example, a 6-minute bike test captures each athlete's average power output. Programming at 70% gives each athlete a wattage target relative to that baseline.
Resistance Training Movements (pneumatic cable machine, or any movement where you measure power output via VBT): Link to a test that measures peak power output. For example, a 3-rep hang power snatch test captures each athlete's peak power. Programming at 90–100% gives athletes a target range relative to their best effort.
Setting Up a Power Test
Before you can use %Power, your athletes need baseline test data. There are three ways to get it into Bridge:
From the builder: After selecting %Power, you can select the test result it is linked to and manually enter results for your athletes.
In a workout: Add a required set for the exercise and have athletes test their power. See Tracked & Required Sets for how to set this up.
Manual upload: If you collected results outside of Bridge, you can upload them directly. See Manually Uploading Test Results for details.
Once test results are recorded, they're available for %Power calculations.
The %Power parameter pulls from test results. You'll need to link an existing test or upload results before calculated wattage will display.
If no test results exist, the %Power field will appear empty on the athlete's end so they can log their output manually.
Adding %Power to an Exercise
Open your program and navigate to the workout where you want to prescribe %Power.
Click Add Exercise and select the exercise (e.g., Bike).
Click the Parameters dropdown in the exercise detail modal.
Select Power from the parameter list and select the dropdown to toggle from absolute to %. The column header will update to include %Power.
Prescribing a Single %Power Value
Enter your desired percentage in the %Power column for each workset (e.g., 70%).
Click the test link area to link the exercise to a test. Select the appropriate test (e.g., Bike | 6-Minute Average Power).
Click View Results to confirm that test data exists for your athletes.
Prescribing a %Power Range
For exercises where you want athletes to auto-regulate within a window, you can prescribe a %Max Power range instead of a single value.
In the %Power column dropdown, select %Max Power range.
Enter a low and high value for each workset (e.g., 90 - 100%).
This is especially useful for barbell power movements where you want athletes to work within a target zone based on how they're feeling that day. The athlete sees the corresponding wattage range on their end.
Estimating Power for Your Athletes
After linking a test and setting your percentages, you can preview each athlete's calculated targets.
Click the Estimate Power button in the exercise detail modal.
Select the athletes you want to estimate for.
Click Next.
Bridge displays each athlete's name, their tested power value, and the calculated estimated power in green.
Same percentage, different wattage targets based on each athlete's actual capacity.
What the Athlete Sees
On the athlete's mobile app, the workout displays the calculated wattage, not the percentage. Depending on the way the exercise was prescribed what they see may differ:
Single %Power Value:
%Power Range:
Tips
Use Template Sets. If you frequently use the same percentage and set structure (e.g., 3 sets at 75%), save it as a template using the Save Sets as Template option at the bottom of the exercise detail modal.
Check the Load Progression View. In the builder, the Load Progression View lets you view a single day across multiple weeks of your phase, so you can see the prescribed percentages for each week at a glance.
If you have any additional questions, reach out to us at support@bridgeathletic.com.