My PT Sl crapped out last week and I had to send it to Saris for repair. Everyone here raves about their customer service, I agree, they are replacing all the internals of the hub no questions asked.
It’s a real pain in the ass having to ride without it for two weeks. I can’t imagine another piece of equipment that I’d miss as much. Take my tri-bike away for 10 days, no problem, I’ll ride the roadie…wetsuit torn, who cares, HTFU and deal with the cold.
My Powertap though!! I don’t know how I’m supposed to train, I may as well just take a couple weeks off till it gets back. It can’t be any worse than training by RPE and heart rate.
Uh… do you still think you are going to race Kona without it? 
I hope you get to borrow a nice race PT wheel. It’ll be fun cruisin’ with you on the wide open Queen K!!! 
I find that I train without power by clicking into my pedals and making them go round and round as much as I can each week. I was a slave to the power meter for nearly two years and can happily say I was power free for nearly nine months. More volume keeps making me faster. Now I found a use for it, trying to figure out if aero equipment really makes a difference.
I can’t stand looking at the meter anymore.
Chad
Chad, thanks for these posts, keeps me from going to the dark side with power meters.
So, whats the du schedule? (Even though you sure have gotten slower in the last nine months. )
Dave
That’s why I like the simple approach: no speedometer, no heart rate monitor. just ride hills and you’ll get faster.
50x15 fixed.
That’s how it’s done.
I have been riding the hills, just waiting for the faster part.
Dave
Then maybe you ought to train with a power meter to see if it works, and then make an informed comment. Did you become a better swimmer without immediate feedback or did it help to have a coach providing information? Very similiar with a power meter.
To be honest with swimming, I got very little coaching feedback. I have gotten most from watching and listening to others, plus reading ST.
So, have done the same thing biking. Get in those hills. And for this off season, somehow, get MORE TIME IN THE seat!!!
Now, here is the bottom line for me, and it is the same swimming, biking or running. There may be great things that could be done, but I believe
these work well for younger folks. But, as I get older, the goal is not speed, it is to just be able to get to the starting line. So, I train not to see
if I can kill myself, but do it 12 months a year to stay in shape. Getting older is NO fun. :o(
Dave
Has nothing to do with getting older but rather having an understanding of the zones in which your body can be best trained. Endless miles are probably the best formula but for those of us without the benefit of retirement it’s not really an option. So utilizing a tool such as a power meter to dial in the most significant part of a triathlon (at least time wise) only makes good sense – just like using PCs, swim paddles, etc. This year I rode less miles but much more specifically within power zones and had my best year yet, setting a Ironman PB and taking 9 minutes of the Napa 1/2 Iron race.
are you still looking for a race wheel PT for Hawaii?
J-mo, yeah still looking, you know anyone willing to lend one out?? Anyone else in ST land know someone with a PT race wheel I could use in Kona…
Others who have responded…
I’ve been training with the PT for almost 3 months, it was refreshing riding without it for the first couple of days. Someone mentioned “being a slave to the numbers” In the short time that I’ve ridden the PT, I’ve noticed one thing, being a slave to the numbers makes you faster. On the hard rides and the easy rides, the numbers don’t lie.
Riding fixed, riding hills, or just “putting in the miles” works, no question about it. But doing all of those with a power meter works better…my $0.02
Having a PT has helped my cycling, no doubt. I rely on it during the race more than HR. I watch cadence and watts more than HR and rely on RPE to fill in the rest. I could ride without my PT, but I won’t. I like the feedback and it keeps me focused during a race, basically reminds me when I’m slacking and staying in a comfort zone aka - riding like a wimp.
Just my $.02
Neil you don’t have a track SRM, how can you tell if you should be in a 51 or a 50 without the power readings?. You could be underpowered with the wind and against it over powered. Besides I thought in order to wear the kilt every Scottish boy has to use the 56 and at least a 14. That is what I have been told. I don’t even have a computer any more or do I wear a watch.
In Hawaii we have Daytime activities and Nighttime activities. If it is dark it is a night time activity. Don’t need no watch to tell me that. On the bike you go round de round as hard as you can go. If ya don’t puke that was submaximal. Actually you really don’t need gears either. I rode 490 miles across Iowa and didn’t miss a shift or coast one inch. If ya ain’t pedaling ya ain’t making progress. I love to be on rides where people say’Damn, I just lost my cadence or my watts" I always reply “it looks like it is still there to me”.
Ride with power and get faster faster.
In the short time that I’ve ridden the PT, I’ve noticed one thing, being a slave to the numbers makes you faster. On the hard rides and the easy rides, the numbers don’t lie.
AMEN BRUTHA!!!
btw… Dave Clarke passes along a hello.
<< I don’t know how I’m supposed to train, I may as well just take a couple weeks off till it gets back
pray that it never goes out in the middle of a race.
Apparently you couldn’t run either without a Power Tap.
(did I just say that in my out-loud voice? hahaha, just kidding dude!
Find some hills. Ride up them as hard as you can. Problem solved.
You don’t need a PT to do this, although it is fun to download the file afterwards
Once you’ve been riding w/ the PT for a good long while, you won’t even really need it that much anymore, other than to comfirm what your RPE and pressure on your feet and burning (or lack thereof) in your thighs is telling you. I pretty much know within a reasonable margin what my wattage is without even looking at the PT.
But yeah, I’d rather have it than not, all else being equal.
roger that…my PT SL is a great motivator. Always try to meet/beat my last effort. Rinse and repeat.
Aye, but I canny get the 56x14 up the brae. Hae to gear it doon fur the lumpy courses. Couple of malt loaves in yer pockets for energy and yer all set for any ride. If it’s raining and ten below zero, put a coat on
Who gives a monkeys what the power output is. You’re either pedalling it or your walking. Cadence now, your down something like 60-70 revs on the climbs for good strength work, 90 odd on the flatter bits and 130 on the descent for your Lance-esque pedalling workout
I shun your modern training equipment, but if anyone wants to donate me a power meter so I can see what the fuss is about…