My coach and several other sensible people talked me out of trying them. One of the most notable items was the following observation, "everyone I know who uses them seems to get injured at some point." I also spent a lot of time reading Dr. Coggan's and other's opinions on the matter (in threads like this one) and decided I was, like many people, looking for a "shortcut" or "edge" which didn't really exist. I knew a few guys who used to use them - all guys I respect. NONE of them use them anymore, which to me speaks volumes. Basically, when it came down to it, I had lots of people I trust telling me "no," and no one saying "yes."
I think one of the key factors is that people train and they use powercranks, and they get faster. And then they mistakenly assume that they got faster because they trained used powercranks, rather than just because they were training hard. Coggan posted something along these lines in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek post about how to raise VO2max some % in some period of time. Basically, the crux was just do smart, hard workouts.
Not one the former powercranks users I know misses them. Not one of them has gotten slower.
My own fleeting interest also had nothing to do with cycling. It had to do with running. I've also shifted my training program towards a lower volume of higher quality cycling, and more running, so the idea of using my cycling to improve my running is even less applicable than it was in the past when I was riding more.
Basically, I did research and used some critical thinking and asked my coach to do the same. In the end, our decision was that powercranks were not worthwhile. We both focused on training where is lots of good evidence (and easily producible power files to support said evidence) of what actually works.
EDIT: Quick add - it was over this most recent winter, when I had planned to use them, that all the guys I know who had used them decided they just weren't worth it. So all those guys I talked about in the thread you mentioned who had not previously had anything bad to say, changed their mind. People can do that, contrary to what *certain* people on this forum might be people. It is okay to admit you were wrong. Or to change your mind. Or to come to a new understanding in light of research, input from knowledgeable folks, etc. ;)
"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp
I think one of the key factors is that people train and they use powercranks, and they get faster. And then they mistakenly assume that they got faster because they trained used powercranks, rather than just because they were training hard. Coggan posted something along these lines in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek post about how to raise VO2max some % in some period of time. Basically, the crux was just do smart, hard workouts.
Not one the former powercranks users I know misses them. Not one of them has gotten slower.
My own fleeting interest also had nothing to do with cycling. It had to do with running. I've also shifted my training program towards a lower volume of higher quality cycling, and more running, so the idea of using my cycling to improve my running is even less applicable than it was in the past when I was riding more.
Basically, I did research and used some critical thinking and asked my coach to do the same. In the end, our decision was that powercranks were not worthwhile. We both focused on training where is lots of good evidence (and easily producible power files to support said evidence) of what actually works.
EDIT: Quick add - it was over this most recent winter, when I had planned to use them, that all the guys I know who had used them decided they just weren't worth it. So all those guys I talked about in the thread you mentioned who had not previously had anything bad to say, changed their mind. People can do that, contrary to what *certain* people on this forum might be people. It is okay to admit you were wrong. Or to change your mind. Or to come to a new understanding in light of research, input from knowledgeable folks, etc. ;)
"Non est ad astra mollis e terris via." - Seneca | rappstar.com | FB - Rappstar Racing | IG - @jordanrapp