Looking for any and all opinions. I ride a Trek 2.1 that’s about a little over a year old. I added clip on aerobars and got properly fitted (new stem, and seat post). I am pretty comfortable on the bike. I did my HIM on this bike and have put lots of training miles on it. It’s nothing special overall (105 rear, Tiagra front).
I am at a crossroads now. Doing an oly this month, hopefully 2 70.3’s next year, and a full in 2011. So I was really hellbent on picking up a powertap thinking that it would provide me with some excellent data about my progress and help me understand my own pacing better. I am having a bear of a time going by HR alone for some reason. I’m a data junkie and I will take the time to learn about power and use the data (not an expensive bike computer). I could however take the same money and apply to a real tri bike. Obviously this isn’t dollar for dollar, I would spend more on a new bike than I would on the powertap, but at present I couldn’t have both.
If you are willing to settle for a powertap comp you can get one pretty cheap at competitive cycles, with a open pro wheel, for about $600. Then you can probably still get that tri bike your looking at also.
I had originally planned to go wireless with the powertap the cheapest way possible but after reading some threads here, it sounds like I need to spend the money to get a decent hub otherwise I’ll be paying the price with a lot of flex (I’m a clyde) and possibly repair bills down the road. That’s what has thrown me for a loop.
I purchased a PT and had it laced to a Hed Bastogne wheel. It is a 23mm width and is absolutely bombproof! The wheel cost like $125 and then the cost of spokes and the build but that didn’t run that much.
it cost more than my bike, (quarq w/ 705) but I just love it.
I look forward to rides (more so than int he past) because of it. it helps me pace races better, and it allows me to decend races & workouts much easier.
it also makes trainer workouts (I do 2 w/o’s per week on the trainer, no matter the weather) much more fun (for me) and it allows you to define the workout and have specific goals.
for me, HR is too crazy on the trainer and more so outside…so many variables that change it. but power is power, and on a trainer not much can change the reading other than your power.
so, my suggestion is get the one that will make biking more enjoable, hence you will bike more and become a better biker.
also, we’re coming up on season end, get the PM and maybe get a new bike in april/may for 2010 season. if you get a new bike, by the time you “break it in” and get used to it, it’ll be september/october…
Thanks for all the responses! Still a tough choice
If I get a new bike, I wouldn’t race it at the end of this month unless i really got a ton of rides in on it before. It’s not an A race so I could mess around a bit. That being said, I don’t see myself walking out and getting the bike next week.
HR are great, but don’t get stuck using it all the time. Remember, you want to train harder than you race. So, if you are always keeping your HR at a certain level just for training, you probably won’t see a ton of progress. I learned that the hard way.Now I just ride hard all the time and I know that I willsee gains, whereas when I used my HR,I was more concerned about my level of HR and it screwed me up
If I recall correctly, my powertap is a pro+ but has the steel axle from the comp in it. I ordered from wheelbuilder.com and that is what Richard recommended at the time. I am also clydesdale so it matered to me as well.
So I think if you get the wired powertap I think you will be getting on with a steel axle. It seems like the pro+ is the one where the axle is an issue.
Given that you are comfortable on your current bike, and it seems like you will make use of the power feedback; then I’d recommend the powertap first. That’s my opinion.
I would spend the money and go ahead and get the srm, you can pick one up now used for around a grand if you dont get the dura ace version. The value of pacing and ability to measure your progress are to me far more important that the speed you gain with a TT bike. Unless you are planning on averaging over 25mph for a hour, the TT bike isnt necessary. I would go in this order, powermeter, aero wheels, ttbike. Many do the reverse, but if you are serious about training and improving your engine, i think getting the powermeter is the only way to go, i recommned SRM since you can run any wheels you want and for its accuracy, and the fact that it works in the rain. you can also switch it over if you get a race bike for events.
I’m in the market for a PT myself right now and the general consensus that I’ve received is that, if properly utilized, a PT is the best training tool available. And just remember…when you have some more money laying around later, you can swap the PT onto your new bike!
I’m in the market for a PT myself right now and the general consensus that I’ve received is that, if properly utilized, a PT is the best training tool available. And just remember…when you have some more money laying around later, you can swap the PT onto your new bike!
The key point there is “if used properly”. Learning how to use that data can be challenging and time consuming.
I have had a PT for about 4 years now, I’m actually on my 2nd. It is a big investment! You will need to spend some amount of time reading and learning about power based training, you will need 3rd party software for downloading and analyzing the data (WKO+ or RaceDay). Getting a coach who specializes in power-based training may be very worthwhile. Since you have special concerns about using a PT hub, you should talk to Wheelbuilder about it - they do an awesome job and have built my last several wheels for me.
If you are prepared to make that investment, a power meter can really take you to the next level.
It sounds like your bike is probably fine as it is. Your fitter should be able to tell you if he thinks a tri bike is a good idea, but unless it helps your position quite a bit it may not make nearly as much of a difference as the focused training you can do with a power meter.
I look forward to rides (more so than int he past) because of it. it helps me pace races better, and it allows me to decend races & workouts much easier.
it also makes trainer workouts (I do 2 w/o’s per week on the trainer, no matter the weather) much more fun (for me) and it allows you to define the workout and have specific goals.
for me, HR is too crazy on the trainer and more so outside…so many variables that change it. but power is power, and on a trainer not much can change the reading other than your power.
so, my suggestion is get the one that will make biking more enjoable, hence you will bike more and become a better biker.
If you like the data get a PT, and cycling peaks it rocks
