N+One Power Curve vs Strava Power Curve: Why the Numbers Differ
5 min read
Why N+One and Strava power curves can differ, what processing choices change the numbers, and a 7-day protocol to compare matched ride files.
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Photo by RISHI GURJAR on Unsplash.
N+One and Strava can show different power curves because they process the same raw ride data through different pipelines.
A power curve looks simple, but it is built from many choices: which files count, how gaps are handled, how peaks are found, and what gets shown. Your legs did not change between tabs; the data path did.
Photo by Buddy AN on Unsplash.
A power curve is a plot of your best mean power across many ride lengths. It may show very short efforts, longer hard work, and steady work on one line.
The curve is not a direct scan of your body. It is a math view built from files, sensors, time stamps, and platform rules.
That is why one curve can sit above another without proving a real gain or loss. When you review how N+One detects breakthrough rides, treat the curve as evidence that needs context.
For training, the useful question is not which graph feels more flattering. The useful question is which graph will guide this week's targets with the least noise.
Power curve means best mean power for each duration.
Short points can move more when smoothing rules change.
Longer points depend more on which rides are included.
A different curve can mean different math, not different fitness.
In N+One terms: your threshold did not vanish; the measurement around it did.
Your threshold did not disappear; the measurement layer changed, so the displayed output moved.
N+One and Strava may start with the same ride file, then apply different rules before drawing the curve. Those rules can change the best value found for each time window.
The biggest shifts often come from file choice, gap handling, smoothing, and peak search logic. A short power spike is more exposed to these choices than a long steady effort.
If a ride came from Strava into N+One, first check the source file and power stream. The guide to checking imported power data is the right place to start.
Device setup also matters before the file reaches either service. If you use different head units, trainers, or meters, review power meter pairing choices before blaming the curve.
Be careful with platform labels. A view that blends best efforts, derived models, or smoothed values may not match a raw peak-power curve.
Use the same original FIT or TCX file when comparing.
Check whether both platforms include the same ride set.
Look for smoothing, gap, and spike handling differences.
Do not compare raw peaks with derived model views.
Power-curve differences usually come from data processing, not magic: smoothing, interpolation, and peak-detection choices change numbers.
Photo by Margaux d’Arbeloff on Unsplash.
A curve gap matters when it changes the work you set for yourself. If one platform gives higher short-effort targets, the session can feel mismatched from the first set.
Use one source for prescriptions during a training block. Switching between curves inside the same week adds noise to intervals, feedback, and progress checks.
If you want richer context, compare the curve with the session details and trend view. Start with reading a workout session, then place that ride inside longer trend patterns.
This keeps the decision clean. The curve helps set work, while the broader record shows whether your training system is moving well.
Pick one curve for all interval targets this week.
Use the same curve for post-ride review.
Do not change zones from one odd point.
Translate only after you compare matched files.
In N+One terms: keep intensity, adjust the measurement layer.
Keep intensity, but do not chase two rulers at the same time.
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The clean test is simple: send the same raw file to both systems and compare matched durations. Do not judge the whole platform from one strange point.
Use one power source for the whole week. A smart trainer, crank meter, or pedal meter can work, but mixing sources adds another layer of drift.
After upload, compare the curve with the workout file itself. If needed, use side-by-side workout review to spot whether the gap is broad or tied to one section.
Indoor and outdoor files may not line up perfectly because the whole setup can differ. The N+One guide to trainer and road target drift helps you keep that layer separate.
Use one device for all test rides.
Calibrate or zero-offset before each test when your device supports it.
Upload the unedited file to both platforms.
Compare matched durations, not screenshots alone.
Choose one platform today and use its curve for all interval targets for seven days. That is the cleanest move when the numbers do not match.
If you choose N+One, let its curve shape the next workout and review the result after the ride. You can still check Strava, but do not let two curves rewrite one session.
If you want a broader rider view, pair the curve with your strengths profile. A guide to mapping your rider strengths can help you read the curve without overreacting.
If you want day-to-day guidance without second-guessing, let N+One translate your latest training and recovery context into one clear next decision.
Choose N+One or Strava as the target source today.
Use that source for every interval this week.
Run the comparison protocol before switching targets.
Keep notes on feel, not just watts.
Ready to optimize your training.
One ruler for the week beats two rulers for every workout.
Day 1 — Preparation: Calibrate your power meter or trainer when your device supports it. Pick two low-fatigue test days and one long steady ride day. Keep setup choices as stable as you can.
Day 2 — Short all-out test: After a full warm-up, do two short maximal sprints with full recovery. Save the whole ride file and upload it to both platforms.
Day 4 — Steady hard test: After another controlled warm-up, do one sustained hard effort that you can pace evenly. Upload the file to both platforms without edits.
Day 6 — Long aerobic ride: Ride steady at a pace you can hold well. This helps fill longer curve points without adding a second maximal test.
Day 7 — Compare and decide: Compare the same named durations in both platforms. Note broad offsets, choose one curve for the next seven days, and adjust only if the gap is repeatable.
N+One and Strava can show different power curves because the same raw ride data can pass through different file, smoothing, gap, and display rules. Use one curve for this week’s targets, then compare matched raw files before you change the plan.
Not by itself. A lower curve can come from different files, smoothing, gap handling, or peak search rules. Check matched raw files before you change training targets.
Use one platform for the full week. If N+One writes the training decision, use the N+One curve for targets so the prescription and review come from the same system.
Screenshots can help, but they are not enough. Compare the same raw file, the same durations, and the same ride set before you call the gap real.
Treat that ride with caution. Calibration and zero-offset choices happen before either platform reads the file, so a bad source stream can shift both curves.