BREATHE EASY, RIDE HARDER: REVIEW OF POWERbreathe
As any serious cyclist knows, your legs may do the peddling, but it’s your lungs that often set your limits. You can have the lightest bike, the perfect gearing, and a nutrition plan dialled in to the gram, but if you’re gasping on climbs or winded in the sprint, your performance hits a ceiling. That’s where the POWERbreathe comes in.
Initially, I was skeptical. A small plastic device that promises to strengthen my breathing muscles? It sounded like something from a late-night infomercial. But after hearing from a few teammates who swore by it, I decided to give it a proper test.
Out of the box, the POWERbreathe feels well-made, lightweight but solid, with adjustable resistance and a simple design. No batteries, no apps (unless you opt for the high-end models), just you and your breath. It’s portable enough to take in a jersey pocket, but really, it’s best used at home as part of your daily routine.
Using it is straightforward but surprisingly tough. You set the resistance, then breathe in through the mouthpiece, forcing your diaphragm and intercostal muscles to work harder than normal. A full set of 30 breaths takes less than five minutes, but don’t mistake that for easy. At higher resistance levels, it feels like trying to inhale through a straw while climbing Alpe d’Huez.
After the first week, I noticed I was less winded during hard intervals. By week three, the difference was undeniable: better control on long climbs, quicker recovery after bursts, and the ability to stay relaxed, and focused, during intense efforts.
POWERbreathe is essentially a gym for your lungs. By training the muscles responsible for inhalation, you increase respiratory strength and endurance. Multiple studies back this up, especially in endurance athletes. For cyclists, this means more oxygen with less effort, a clear advantage in both training and racing.
The biggest benefit for me? I no longer dread long climbs or headwinds. I feel more composed under pressure, and my breathing has become more rhythmic, especially when deep in the red. It’s also helped in unexpected ways, like recovery. I’ve found I can get my breathing under control faster after intense efforts, which translates into quicker heart rate recovery.
POWERbreathe isn’t a magic bullet, but it’s a powerful supplement to structured training. At around £39.99 to £59.99 depending on the model, it’s cheaper than a new pair of tyres and arguably offers more return on investment, especially for those of us already squeezing every watt we can out of our gear.
For cyclists looking to get an edge without adding more time in the saddle, the POWERbreathe is a quiet game-changer. Five minutes a day might just make your next ride feel a whole lot easier, or faster.
Rating: 4.5/5
Small device, big difference.
