So I read the article in Triathlete this month on training with a variety of ‘power measuring’ cranks and training for power and still don’t get it. Does one with power cranks stick in a consistent range (average maybe) over a race distance as their primary pacing criteria and simply use the other measures (HR, speed, cadence, etc.) as supporting information? What’s the advantage of using power exertion over a race instead of RPE or HR and if so, at this point in your racing/training experience don’t you already ‘know’ how much power you’re using?
Is this a ‘fad rage’ or will it stick as a legitimate measure?
Has anyone here seen major improvements in racing since using ‘power cranks’? Thanks.
I use it to determine my est. time for a 20k TT. (I primarily race 20k TT) I do 2x20 min. intervals at a park near my home, and I look at the average power to determine if I am improving. I cannot use speed because it is too variable with the weather conditions (temp, wind, etc) I cannot rely on HR because it can also vary with temp, and other recovery factors. Power is a consistant indicator of my overall performance.
Yup!, but occasionally I have a slow race, but when I get home and look at the data, it shows that it is attributed with the wind but I am putting out roughly the same power output as a previous race… I do the same 20k TT every month, with the same setup/position.
I have the Black Giant TCR aero, I am pretty small, 5’6". I go there in the afternoons. I am actully looking for a partner for the CBR 2-man 40k TT in Lancaster. Do you know anybody? My Piru 20K TT time is about 33-34 minutes. I’ll try to head down there Wed. morning, what time do you usually go?
Has anyone here seen major improvements in racing since using ‘power cranks’? Thanks.
“Power Cranks” are a different thing from “power measuring devices,” which can include cranks (SRM), the bottom bracket (Ergomo) or a rear wheel (PowerTap).
And yes, measuring power as a guide to training and racing is here to stay. It is rapidly pushing the HR monitor out the door among top cyclists and triathletes (and, of course, among us amateurs). It seems that most top pro cyclists (Ullrich and Mayo being prime exceptions) use power to guide their everyday training.
A powermeter is the single best investment a cyclist or triathlete can make. I have made major gains in my racing since I got one. The reason is that every bike workout is designed and executed with a specific purpose in mind – no wasted time and energy. It also works because you can very carefully “up the ante” as the season progresses – similar to how you would add weight to a bar if you were looking to improve squats.
“I would guess that many if not most owners of powermeters have no clue what to do with it, properly train with it”
This is a prime reason for the truth in SAC’s statement about the fad part. It takes time to develop an understanding of what this VERY VALUABLE tool is telling you, and how to use it to improve your training. My best advice is that if you invest in power training, that part of the investment is in a coach who knows what they are doing…at least until you learn the ropes of power training. A powermeter can be either extremely effective if used properly, or a worthless bit of extra weight on the bike if you don’t.
Suppose you were a weightlifter but didn’t have access to free weights. You would go around and just lift things - milk jugs, furniture, tree limbs, whatever. You just lifted based on perceived effort. 'Wow, that feels heavy!" You progress in that as the days roll on you can lift more chairs than yesterday. One day you try lifting some different chairs. Same number of chairs but it feels a lot easier. “Am I stronger?” you think to yourself. Well, who knows. Those chairs may be lighter or heavier.
Then one day you walk into a gym. Free weights await you. Everything is marked X kgs or Y lbs. You have a tangible number that you are lifting. 200 lbs is 200 lbs. There’s no guessing about how much chairs weigh. You take the mental part (perceived effort) out of the equation and focus only on what the muscles are actually doing.
Same with power meters. Heat, hydration, rest, and more mask power readings. Power lets you set up your regimens based on “weight” (power ranges) to elicit certain responses. You are wanting to first and foremost stress the muscles/CV system to that “200 lb” limit rather than stop prematurely because of perceived effort or heart rate.
In the summer my heart rate is often elevated at the same power because the body/heart is working harder to keep me cool. If I went by heart rate, I’d actually be de-training during the summer months. With a power meter I’m kept honest. By the way, the power meter is the best tool to really nail down your perceived effort.
RPE is the queen, powermeters are the king. They are both here to stay. Speaking for myself, when it comes to race day, if I want to really transcend myself, the powermeter stays on the bike, but I’ll set it to only show me average power or max power, not current. During training I’ll sometimes do the same, and sometimes set it to show current power if I’m training a specific range.
Ultimately, I would say that your brain is the best powermeter you have available to you, by far, but it’s very helpful to calibrate it with an off-the-shelf powermeter.
Ultimately, I would say that your brain is the best powermeter you have available to you, by far, but it’s very helpful to calibrate it with an off-the-shelf powermeter.
On another forum, the brain is referred to as the “supercomputer”, I believe.
Ultimately, I would say that your brain is the best powermeter you have available to you, by far, but it’s very helpful to calibrate it with an off-the-shelf powermeter.
On another forum, the brain is referred to as the “supercomputer”, I believe.
Right, and I didn’t want to steal Willet’s terminology, but I think that is dead on.
Ultimately, I would say that your brain is the best powermeter you have available to you, by far, but it’s very helpful to calibrate it with an off-the-shelf powermeter.
On another forum, the brain is referred to as the “supercomputer”, I believe.
Hmmph. I dunno. Adrenaline and other action (i.e., getting passed by a herd of speedy rabbits) can override your supercomputer’s processing and trick you into a higher level of power output than you can sustain. With the powermeter you can check yourself, unless you are really convinced that you will somehow be able to maintain a record level of power…
