Scientifically, 1 watt is defined as the rate at which work is done when an object’s velocity is maintained at one meter per second against a constant opposing force of 1 Newton. In practical terms, wattage measures how hard you are working on the bike.
Watt is often referred to as your power output, reflecting the power you apply to the pedals. It depends on two factors: the resistance of the flywheel (the opposing force you overcome) and your pedaling speed (the flywheel’s angular velocity). This means you can achieve the same wattage by either pedaling fast with low resistance or pedaling slower with higher resistance. For more on why exercising with watt is beneficial, see BODY BIKE’s five reasons to exercise with watt.