If you have a powertap are you loosing out by only using it for training? How usefull is the info you get from races. How useful is it to use the info whilest racing? I am just wondering if it is worth the extra cost to get a powertap race wheel e.g Zipp 808? A good Powertap race wheel seems to cost alot more than a normal Disk (I know some use wheel covers). Would you be loosing much of the value of using a Power meter if you just used it for training (including training races), whilst using normal wheels for major races?
Racing with a PT is the best thing to happen to triathlon since aerobars. I will never race without it again. If somebody offered me a choice between a new Zipp disc and racing with my PT training wheel, I’d take the PT. I think the PT will do more for my bike and run splits than a disc wheel because of the supreme control it gives me over my pacing.
I decided to go with a wheel cover instead of building up an outrageously expensive special-purpose wheel. I used the cover at Ralphs and it worked beautifully. My bike split was outstanding relative to the rather modest amount of power I generate, so I figure the cover did what it’s supposed to do (ie, save 8-10 watts).
Check out my website for actual race data with a powertap. I can tell you that this data is far more valuable than any training data. Look how well I can pace a 40K, I can ride at my threshold HR for the entire race and still come off the bike and run. I invented the best option for the power tap race wheel which is a carbon fiber cover that weighs about 200g. I used this in all my races last year and plan on doing it again this year.
TJ Tollakson
Those are some impressive race results. You’ve got some massive quads (referring to the 2004 Worlds, Funchal picture in particular). http://www.ltcycles.com/tollakson/images/portugalrun7.jpg
Do you do a lot of leg weights?
Is the cover a perminant fixture or do you remove it for training?
I remove the cover during training. I have two methods for attachment, one uses light weight aluminum screws and my preferred method uses velcro on the rim and cover for a nice seal and seat.
TJ Tollakson
AJ-
I don’t lift a lot of weights but I do most (90%) of my riding in my big ring at a slower than race pace cadence. I feel this provides the best sport specific strength and combined with my aerobic capacity from swimming and running allows me to spin fast and push heavy gears in races.
TJ
You can get a set of Alps/PT SL for about 1850 at analytic cycling. The rear alone is about 1450. Should be o.k. for daily training and more than adequate for racing - the set with PT weighs about 1850 grams. Also comes with cycling peaks software (75$ to buy on your own). Not a disc or an 808 but if you get an 808 - you’ll have to either have multiple PT wheels (expensive) or train on an 808 (tubular only). Wheelbuilder (Rich) can also build a PT into a Jet rim of different depths…
You could go PT Pro/Mavic open pro rim/cover which would be slightly better from an aero perspective, a bigger hassle with the cover/taping…(I’ve never done it though), and a lot heavier. Cheaper to at under 1000 for the rear with cover. Add a nice aero front and your price goes up.
A disc over an Alps is likely not much and even a disc over a regular rim is likely not much unless you are within a minute of where you want to be. I’d vote pacing issues much more important than a disc…
I’m just starting training for watts and I want them for races…
Do you already have a PT?
Dave
I saw that you guys at ltcycle would sell the covers for $125, but you are worried about the custom fit. Could one just send you their wheel/ptpro and have you custom fit it instead?
I have had my PT for 3 years now. I race all B and C races with it. The information is absolutely beneficial for helping you analyze your race and pacing as you build for A races. I have ordered a PT SL hub and Hed Stinger 5.0 wheel so that I can be on PT 100% of the time. There are times like this last weekend at the Virginia Duathlon where it was stupid windy and the PT kept me right where I planned to be…as opposed to those silly folks still trying to hold their 21-22 mph into a 25+mph headwind and probably pushing 400+ watts to do it.
I never really feel that I give up much using the PT (with CXP-33 rim) over my Disc, H3, or Alps rear wheels. I still put either the H3 or Alps front on with the PT wheel. No problems.
If you are the data geek, after you start using any power meter, you will start to want to use it on every ride. At least with sample size N=1, that’s the way it works for me. I have a race powertap wheel and a training powertap wheel. This also covers the case whenever you send the wheel back to graber once every two or so years to get some maintenance done on it. ( not any different from the SRM in this respect but here you can keep on measuring data while you wait)
Powertap or SRM? Which is better?
I have both and they each have advantages and disadvantages and idiosyncracies. I tried the Polar Power option and wasn’t satisfied with it. (I got the SRM for my track bikes and use PowerTap on everything else.)
These tradeoffs are covered by lots of people, notably in the power FAQ and the Kraig Willett review.
http://www.midweekclub.com/powerFAQ.htm
www.biketechreview.com somewhere
Some practical considerations - if one has one bike and lots of aero rear wheels - maybe one should go with SRM. If one does not have a big investment in aero rear wheels, perhaps the PowerTap is a better way. Or one could change one’s rear wheel philosophy.
The SRM has to be sent back to a service center to get the battery replaced every two to three years and this means the computer and the right crank assembly. Turnaround is pretty quick I’ve heard.
PowerTap wheels last one to three years in the field under constant use and need to be sent back to Graber for some servicing. Turnaround can be slow or fast.
There is no SRM compact crank (yet).
Thanks very much for the insight, I’ll check out the articles.
Has any one raced with a Tub Aero wheel upfront and a clincher with cover at the rear or is this just stupid due to flat changing implications?
Has any wone race with a Tub Aero wheel upfront and a clincher with cover at the rear or is this just stupid due to flat changing implications?
The last two years, I have raced exclusively with a tubular Spinergy Rev-X up front, and a clincher Open Pro/PT with home-made cover in the rear. Never had a flat, but again I’ve only done sprint races (and an Olympic), and never bring pump/C02/tube/spare with me. I’m going longer this year, and I’ve replaced the Rev-X with a deep dish clincher.
A hundred years ago, I used an SRM unit. The old team I was on had one, and we switched it between the bikes. I would race my early season races with it, and I loved how I could see how many watts I was putting out at certain times. Of course during TT efforts, I found my wattage was quite a bit tamer than durting certain efforts in a crit.
If you can figure out how to conserve your energy usuing wattage measurement, you would probably end up with better racing, especialy on the run. A power measuring unit, in my opinion, would almost be better for multisport racing for the fact that you can monitor wattage and turn it down a notch to save your legs for the run. You could also see where any wattage improvements would come from a positioning change during racing or training.
I like the concept of the crank (as I have used it) better than the hub, but I could easily see how the hub would be very good, especially since the hub is a bunch cheaper. Also, the weight penalty would be lower, considering that the weight is centred on a wheel, rather than a heavy crank.
If you want your bike to be the lightest it can be on race day, then you would not want to use it on race day. But if you really like how you have the in a glance knowlege of your wattage, then use it all of the time.
Check out my website for actual race data with a powertap. I can tell you that this data is far more valuable than any training data. Look how well I can pace a 40K, I can ride at my threshold HR for the entire race and still come off the bike and run. I invented the best option for the power tap race wheel which is a carbon fiber cover that weighs about 200g. I used this in all my races last year and plan on doing it again this year.
TJ Tollakson
Has any one raced with a Tub Aero wheel upfront and a clincher with cover at the rear or is this just stupid due to flat changing implications?
I did that in some short races, but I switched my front wheel to clincher this year.
I used my powertap at Ironman Arizona with a ch disk cover. I feel it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. despite the worst training cycle I ever had going into the race I was able to execute one of my best long course races. I knew the kind of watts I could handle and stayed there. When certain people passed me I kept my ego in check. I finally ended up by running my fastest ironman marathon.