I tried doing a search and wasn’t successful in pulling up any old threads. What do people think of racing with a power meter? Is it something that one should do if you train with a power meter? I wouldn’t feel too comfortable with using HR during a race to determine how I was doing. Seems like a PM is the only way to go.
Far more people use just HR for training and racing then PM (keep in mind that PMs also give you HR, or at least SRM does). This is mainly due to the money involved. My bottom line on this is simply to use all the available tools that you have in both training and racing. Tim
I pulled the trigger on an SRM last year a couple months prior to IM WI. Had a while to learn how to use it and did some power-based training to get ready for the race. As background, I had done WI 3X prior, and typically rode under 5:30, followed by 1 death march ('03), one good 1/2 marathon and a shuffle ('04), and one DNF ('05). For each of these, I either rode based on perceived exertion or HR. Last year, I rode based on power and went 5:44, followed by a 3:44 marathon. Of course, the weather conditions were damn near perfect in '07, but I attribute the fact that I was able to actually RUN the marathon on strict adherence to the power meter. I do think that I was a bit too conservative, but better to err on the side of caution, especially given my history with this race. HR works for some, but it just didn’t for me.
Mike
racing with a pm isn’t a necessity if you are training with it fulltime, IMO. When you have been training on it for a while you will get a good feel for what power outputs you are doing at a given level of PE and will be able to race fine off that.
that being said, if you can afford a training/racing setup and have the ability to race on it that’s a great bonus!
I’ve trained and raced with power for the past 3 years and I think that to get the full benefit out of the PM then racing with it is the only way to go. For better or worse I’d probably be lost without a powermeter when racing. I use the training (and previous race performance) to choose a goal power level for a given race, and then try my best to stick to it.
I think for the half and full iron distance it is the way to go. For a sprint, I’m inclined to think you do what you have to do to go all out but for the longer distance stuff, the powermeter is providing you with empirical data on how you have exerted yourself. HR is fairly inaccurate - - so many variables affect your HR from day to day. Perceived exertion is tricky for such a long race. I’m inclined to think perceived exertion will lead to failure in the longer distance races unless you are a pro…
Like another said, use the tools you have. If HR is all you can afford I would say it is definitely better than nothing but if you have a power meter and you train with it, I would absolutely race with it for the longer distance stuff.
I have seen a benefit while riding hilly courses cuz I’ll spike my power on the climbs without it. It also works well on longer races since I’ll want to go easier in the beginning than shorter races and I have a hard time finding the right intensity early in a long race.
On flat courses HR is a decent guide since you can bring it up (or down) to your designated value and then keep it there. I find my HR is 30 to 45 seconds behind my power, my power is generally consistant on flat courses as well as my HR so using either one works for me.
When I use my PM in shorter races I’m really looking for data to base my training on.
It’s not the only way to go but I would say it’s an easy way to go.
jaretj
I was able to actually RUN the marathon on strict adherence to the power meter. I do think that I was a bit too conservative, but better to err on the side of caution, especially given my history with this race. HR works for some, but it just didn’t for me.
Bingo!
This is perhaps the BEST application of a PM. MANY don’t seem to get this, the fact that it’s less about the bike and more about the run, and if a PM can get them there, then great. I like Gordo’s quote in this context - “If you waant to do well in an IM, all other things being equal, keep backing off the pace/intesity on the bike until you can run strongly the WHOLE way on the run”. Clearly many are over-cooking it on the bike and way under-performing on the run. If a PM can turn that around, then I say it’s a good way to go.
It is so easy to get caught up in it all on the bike in an IM - Many go in WAY over their head. You can write off your day in the first two hours on the bike, if you don’t know what you are doing. However, it’s not about slapping the PM on your bike and just following some numbers - you need to have trained with the PM for some time to know exactly what your limits are and how that relates to your performance.
I raced this winter’s CX season on my PT and found it very useful. Not tri, but still, given that you can review race performance vs training, you can find limiters and sections where you are going to easy/hard, can recover, etc. For CX, I found out I still had more to give even though I felt like my heart was going to explode. I was also able to change up gearing based on memory of what combo I was using on different sections. Sure enough, the next 2 races I upped the power and HR stayed flat. It simply gave me a better race plan to execute.
Said differently, if your training power ranges/targets are appropriate, the PM will definitely assist you racing. If your training zones are right, all you need to do is execute on race day. Slower bike and actually running the run leg is a victory.
While I’m always happy to talk about power, there are a number of good threads on this topic. I’d search under posters and look for lakerfan (Chris Whyte). He’s got a look of great advice out there on how to use power in long course races.
I am an ex-tri, now back into it after 10 years. If you have PT or SRM, why would one not use it on race day? Is it simply a matter of weight or getting a cover made for your wheel?
I am planning on buying one of the two products, and race day switch-outs (in the case of srm doesn’t sound good). Do most that have it - use it on race day?
I agree completely. I train on my PT exclusively and don’t really see a neef to race on it, especially considering it is laced to a dt swiss RR1.1 rim and not my normal Zipp 808 rear. Yes, I could get aq wheel cover, but I’ve never seen any data to indicate that the aero advantage is the same…
Bob
I agree completely. I train on my PT exclusively and don’t really see a neef to race on it, especially considering it is laced to a dt swiss RR1.1 rim and not my normal Zipp 808 rear. Yes, I could get aq wheel cover, but I’ve never seen any data to indicate that the aero advantage is the same…
Bob
Ummm…I’ve seen data that says the PT wheel with a cover is possibly faster than your 808 rear. Just go to biketechreview.com an look for the report…it’s not free though 
I am planning on buying one of the two products, and race day switch-outs (in the case of srm doesn’t sound good). Do most that have it - use it on race day?
switching the crank on the srm from bike to bike is a piece of cake. i do it on two race day weekends for road racing between my tt bike and road bike all the time. barely more hassle than the pt.