Can some of you who’ve made the leap to power-based training recently give me an idea of the returns you’ve received (great or wish-you’da-saved-the-coin)? I’m a bit on the techy side and am fascinated with both the training method and the gear, but am balking at the cost…
Thanks!
No.
No.
How is training with power equivalent to Mayo? Given that you’ve capitalized it, are we perhaps talking about the Mayo Clinic? What are your feelings on Helleman? What do you do with **your **pomme-frites? I sense a secret anti-Belgian sentiment here…
Oops. Uncapitalized. Mayonnaise on french fries? That’s just wrong on so many levels.
And rubbery grated cheese too!
Your answer lies in how you would answer this question: Is the P3C worth $1500 more than the P2-SL?
A powermeter won’t make you faster - riding your bike long and hard will make you faster.
Your answer lies in how you would answer this question: Is the P3C worth $1500 more than the P2-SL?
nope! it’s worth $2750 (CAD) more (for the pro kit)!
not the greatest rhetoric here 
" Your answer lies in how you would answer this question: Is the P3C worth $1500 more than the P2-SL?
A powermeter won’t make you faster - riding your bike long and hard will make you faster. "
Out of curiosity, have you trained with a powermeter?
Your answer lies in how you would answer this question: Is the P3C worth $1500 more than the P2-SL?
A powermeter won’t make you faster - riding your bike long and hard will make you faster.
So far people are missing the point of the powermeter in the first place. First of all, there is no relevance in knowing what your absolute numbers are. It just gives you a fun measure vs. other people. The relevance lies in your relative gains and training at given intensities, undisturbed by outside variables.
There is no relation whatsoever to P3C vs. P2-SL. These are tools that are comparable via immediate gains. A power meter is a tool to aid your training.
This poster is right, a powermeter won’t make you faster, riding your bike hard will make you faster. And hopefully you’re smart enough to figure out when to ride hard and when to ride hard/ combination of the two. A powermeter will help you with that.
And just as important, riding your bike long and hard doesn’t make you faster so much as recovering after riding hard will make you faster. A powermeter is HUGE in this department. Especially with endurance training it is too easy to push through fatigue, but if you have the numbers to tell you that you’re sucking, then you know you’re sucking and prob. need a rest.
And almost anyone that has taken the time to actually use their powermeter and not just look at the numbers will tell you that it was the best bike related purchase they ever made. The only people who tell you that you don’t need it are people who don’t use them.
Do you need a powermeter to go fast? Absolutely not. Will it help if you use it right, 100% guaranteed. It will help you know when you need to go harder and it will help you know when you need to go easier. And it’s fun to compare, because we love numbers.
Knowing my power output is not worth $2000 to me. Using my power output has been priceless.
In a nutshell I test for my 60 minute threshold power, design interval based training plans around this number. Retest every 8-10 weeks.
I download all workout data, and monitor training stress and intensity of workouts.
My threshold power has gone up by roughly 30% in 18 months of dedicated training with a powermeter. I would not have made those gains without it. Those gains were surely possible without a powermeter, but I would not have done it by myself. So possible yes, probable, no.
If I had $2000 and was just starting out, I would buy a Trek 1000(or comparable cheap bike) with clip ons, a forward seatpost and a powertap with wheel cover for racing. This is from a guy with 5 figures worth of bikes and powermeters at this point.
Out of curiosity, have you trained with a powermeter?
yes, I have a powertap and a coach, I’ve also used Strauss’ off-season power plan.
ok… i feel like a smartass this morning
the 3299 price is for the frameset only of course… not the 2008 build…
if you read at all3sport, you will see they explain it! the fully build bike msrp is 4500 on most shop!
as for power, it definitly teach you a few lesson that you can apply. I m happy i rode one for many years as i think i have a good knowledge of all this now. But i m also very happy that i dont have one on my bike anymore… i enjoy riding a lot more without it!
It doesn’t need to be $2k…you could always pick up a used Powertap or something for a few hundred bucks, and the data you get is invaluable, provided you are willing to use it. If you are a techie, this is right up your alley and is not at all difficult to get a handle on. I’m still riding an old PT standard, and I have seen those go real cheap now that they are discontinued.
Phil
I’ve had a powermeter on my bike for 6 days/6 rides; and I wrote this on Friday after only a couple of days.
In addition to this - it was easy it is to start off an interval and “too hard” feels “too easy” or “just right” and you can end up blowing yourself up.
http://www.scottbowe.com/blog/item/82
For a couple of years I have watched various internet forums and personal blogs rant and rave about powermeters. For various reasons, a couple of years ago I decided I wanted/needed a powermeter. Those reasons ranged from I want to be one of the cool kids with bling, to I’m a total geek and to be able to know all this cool information at my disposal during and after rides, and finally I felt that all these people can’t be wrong, this tool has to open some doors.
After bellying up to the bar and buying an SRM, and exactly 3 rides using it - I finally hear Jimi - to quote http//www.imdb.com/character/ch0014571/"]Sidney Deane
Look man, Your can listen to Jimi but you can’t hear him. There’s a difference man. Just because your listening to him doesn’t mean you’re hearing him.
What do I mean? Last night I did a Spinervals DVD (14.0 Totally Time Trial). The main set of this workout consists of 4x15 minutes @ 2 minutes rest at your 40k effort. As I posted earlier this week, I estimate my FTP to be about 297 watts. So I planned to aim for an even 300 watt average, trying to have no more then ± 5 watts variation in what I saw on the powermeter display. Reps #1, 2, and 3 went great. Averaged 300 watts more or less on the head, and kept my variation pretty small. RPE and HR were right were I expected them to be.
Along comes rep number four. The first 5 minutes goes as expected, then my PE slowly started to creep up. OK I think, I’m going to just keep doing this and these last 10 minutes are gonna fly by. A couple minutes go by, HR is still where it should be for this type of effort, PE is telling me the engine room is at full tilt, and the PM is proudly displaying 270 watts. “HOLY BUCKETS” I said to myself, and slowly dragged myself backup to 300 watts. Minimal increase in HR, PE exertion goes up, but guess what? Only doing the work I need to, despite what my legs are saying.
I get it.
I’ve had an SRM Pro for 3 years now and I’m glad I purchased it … it was worth it to me and I train and race differently because of it. Knowing my power output alone probably is of minimal use, but how you train seeing your power,HR, cadence and speed is better. I won’t give you specifics since I think you need to purchase your own meter and then it will be quickly obvious to you. I have taken it off my bike from time to time and reverted back to my old just doing distance routine which is less stressful.
Is it essential … hardly … is it nice to have …YES.
Dave
What sentania wrote is one of the best and clearest examples of the benefit of a power meter that I have ever read. I concur completely.
Very simply put, a power meter is the only “pure” measure of work output. HR, PE, etc. are all influenced by outside factors. So, as a training tool, I have found the power meter to be invaluable in forcing me to get the true benefit out of my workout and to keep me honest.
I will admit that I do not use it THAT much during races, but, it is invaluable (for me) for training.
Not to influence one way or another, but the SRM patents expire basically now, so in the next year or two, there may well be several competing designs out on the market for crank based power. The quark is coming this spring. They are like $1200 and work with a wireless standard. If you already have a headunit that uses this standard (Garmin 605/705), then all you have to buy is the power meter and a compatible crank, which you may already have. It is still very expensive, but the point is that competition has the potential to drive the price down in the very near future.
I am still doing heartrate based training until my options / price requirements get a little more favorable. Another year or two and I think that it will be there. Until then, a good HRM does a decent job on the open road, and a good trainer with consistent power curves (Kurt, Cycleops) does a decent job indoors estimating power.
Over the years I’ve bought an SRM amateur which I upgraded to an SRM pro, a DA SRM, and an ergometer. At MSRP, I would say that totals roughly about $16k.
I decided to put my money into training equipment rather than new frames, wheels, Assos bibs, etc.
Well, my FTP is now approaching 5 W/kg at 5500’ elevation. I’d say it was worth every penny.
Many would argue that the feedback it gives you during races will allow you smooth out your power output to such an extent that its worth an extra 5-10% of power output for the same physical input over most people’s natural riding style.
I gained 10% my first few times riding with power on the trainer just by adjusting my position on the bike and my cleat placement on my shoes. No fitness changes at all, just saved power I was losing with an improper position.
THEN, I was appropriately fit on my bike at Get a Grip Cycles and gained another 8%-ish on the Computrainer.
I like having those numbers, we’ll see how much they can do for me this year.