Scottish cyclist Charline Joiner is a Commonwealth Games silver medallist. The Dunfermline-born rider, who races for Team WNT, beat the odds to compete at Glasgow 2014 after breaking her back in a training accident only six months before the Games.

Off the bike, she has a degree in sports and exercise science and works as a personal trainer. Here Glasgow-based Charline unveils the new cycling-specific sessions she is offering to help improve technique and get the most from your time in the saddle.

What does Wattbike testing entail?

Having been tested by the world class British and French cycling teams I found that baseline testing identified my strengths and weaknesses - something crucial in training to help improve my performance.

After my crash last year I was unable to ride on the road for three months and the Wattbike was a key part of my rehabilitation.

I have now set-up a business that will allow anyone from elite to novice level the opportunity to improve performance through monitored sessions.

What are watts and how are they relevant to cyclists?

Watts are used to measure power, equal to one joule per second. It is basically the measurement of how hard you push down on the pedals. There is no hiding there and no variability: the watts always tell the truth not matter how you are feeling.

Six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy was able to produce a maximum wattage of 2483 during his track career, while 2012 Tour de France and Olympic gold medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins is said to average 475 watts in his road racing. What does this all mean?

That's quite a lot of watts for both guys there. The key thing to remember about watt results is that it's all relative to your weight. The heavier population will tend to produce more power, but this is needed as they have to produce more force on the pedals to move their bodies forward.

For example, if you have two people who can produce 1000w for peak power, one is 60kg and the other 90kg. The person who is lighter will go faster and further on a bike. If you are heavier you have to produce more power which is why hills can be more difficult.

How do different body types and physiques affect this?

Sprint and endurance athletes will have very different results. A typical sprinter like Sir Chris Hoy will have a massive peak power but will only be able to sustain this for a short period of time (a few seconds) whereas his power for say 20 minutes would be much lower than that of an endurance rider.

Endurance riders tend to be able to hold power for longer whereas the sprinters burn out. It's simply different energy systems on show.

However, you get some endurance riders who have almost the same peak power watts as sprinters and this is a magic combination if they can get to the end of a race for the sprint. Former world champion Mark Cavendish is a good example of this.

In comparison, what would be good numbers for non-elite athletes?

As I mentioned before, the numbers are all dependent on weight and I have a lovely table which shows me which power "would be good" for every weight. I'd have to test you to find this out.

There is no set answer as everyone is different so if you compare yourself to Sir Bradley Wiggins and his 475w then you would have to be his exact weight. These are world class numbers: even to be averaging 350w in a race is pretty hard for a man.

Women's numbers are lower in general, but I know that world class women sprinters can produce up to 1500w and perhaps even more.

The key is to find your baseline watts and improve on that. I believe focusing on yourself will achieve better results rather than chasing the numbers of your competition.

Take us through what one of your Wattbike sessions entails?

The procedure lasts between one-and-a-half to two hours. I can either do the maximal power test, which involves a peak power six-second test, a three-minute test or a 20-minute test depending on what you want to achieve.

I do a warm-up off the bike beforehand to fire the gluts and make sure all the muscles are awake. The 20-minute test is to find the training zones which are used in specific training rides. We can also do the maximal power test before the 20-minute test as this is good to get the neuromuscular system working.

Is this something only for elite cyclists?

This can be used for any cyclist from novice to elite. For example, a friend of mine who has been cycling for enjoyment and fun for a few years wanted to give the track a go. She asked me to find out whether she's best suited to sprint or endurance disciplines.

The testing can be used for anything from finding your starting numbers and measuring general progression to finding training zones so you can work each one efficiently in training.

How will the data gathered be useful?

From the results I will work out your training zones and can give guidance for sessions to improve areas of weakness. Testing can also be revisited every four to six weeks to measure progression.

Will it take long to see improvements?

I'm there to give my clients a starting point. If they want to return and do Wattbike sessions once a week then they would definitely see improvements for their next test four to six weeks later.

If they follow my guidelines and advice there should be progression. The testing can also be used for cyclists who have their own coaches to use the information gathered in their training.

Charline Joiner offers Wattbike sessions and testing from £35 (children) and £45 (adults). For more information, email: charlinejoiner1804@hotmail.co.uk