Powertap question... (1)

Triathlon Forum
1

Hi all. I’m new to this forum and am entering my second year as a triathlete. I had some decent results last year and would like to improve this year and believe that training with power will be a big plus for my bike training. I have come across some decent deals for Powertap wheels (local shop with custom build, or Neuvation) and I’m debating on whether to pull the trigger on one. For those of you who train with power, do you also race with power? I currently have a set of tubular Zipp 404s which I only use for racing. I cannot afford to buy one of the Zipp/Powertap combo wheels that are out there. Is it worth getting a powertap wheel just for training purposes?

Thanks in advance.

2

You’d probably save more time by using a power tap to pace in a race properly using an everyday wheel than you would with a rear 404.

3

Solid training wheel with a disk cover makes a fantastic race wheel for the price.

http://www.wheelbuilder.com/store/product.php?productid=16265&cat=0&page=1

4

I think training and racing with a PM is important. You’ll always be missing a piece of the big picture by doing one yet not the other, imho.

You might be surprised at the cost of a workable solution that allows you to train and race with a PT. Here are a couple of options off the top of my head:

  1. Buy a PT w/full setup for your current 404 and then buy just a PT Pro on a cheap training wheel w/just a mounting kit. You can probably get a used PT Pro for very cheap. You can certainly get a used wireless or wired PT SL too for your racing wheel to save even more money. You just need to find someone who can build the PT on your current 404.

  2. Just buy a PT Pro or whatever you can afford on a cheap training wheel. Maybe sell your current race wheels and then rent a race wheel w/PT for races. This is a good or bad option depending on how often you race.

Good thing about PTs is you can be pretty creative to fit your specific needs. As someone else mentioned, you can buy a decent training wheel w/PT, put a disc cover on it and it makes a very good race wheel too.

Thanks, Chris