So getting around to upgrading the ol’ tri bike and I’m running into the question of what big purchase should I commit to first. A power meter for training or a wheelset for racing. Both are about the same price range, and both have their uses. I’m curious as to what everyone else out there thinks. I’ve never used a power meter before, but the kids tell me they’re all the rage and only the coolest kids have them (also, apparently their useful). That said, after volunteering at Louisville yesterday I have come to the conclusion that I am the ONLY one left on the planet that does not own at least one set of Zipp wheels.
Depends on your fitness level I guess. Personally, I am far from being capable of utilizing race wheels to its fullest potential. I feel like a power meter would be much more useful as it’ll improve your engine in the long run. Engine > bike.
Go for the powermeter!!! If your not a data fan, like hate to use a HR montior then don’t buy a powermeter. Race wheels help a bit, but the powermeter + good training will make way faster.
I would go for a built-to-order wheelset from Wheelbuilder.com. You can get a PowerTap hub (one of the bottom
two Wireless models) built onto a mid-grade rim (Like American Classic) for about the same price as the
Powertap built wheels. You could even get spokes to match your bike or school colors.
Get a disc cover from Wheelbuilders for about $100
Get a Garmin 500 computer which does all your Power goodies, plus works great on you MTB or any other bike.
See if you can find a PM based cycling class around you. Lots of bike shops or gyms hold 6-8 week ‘training with power’
classes where you’ll get your FTP figgured out, learn some good drill…plus bleed out of your eyeballs while you do
some structured Intervals.
( I went to one around here and a girl lugged in a set of rollers with her bike. I made a wisecrack about ‘good luck doing one leg
drills on the rollers’ and she coolly unclipped one leg and rode with one leg while she stared me down.
Yet another lesson to keep my mouth shut… )
Ok, i first bought the wheels just to look cool and then realized i pretty much had the same bike splits. I then bought the PM and ever since have seriously increased my cycling. Now you must take the time to understand how power training works, dedicate yourself to training with your PM and you will see results. Nice wheels are great but then again its all about the motor; a guy at a local olympic who had the fastest split (26+) was on training wheels but had a PM.
My top training investments are PM, Power beam Pro trainer, and masters swimming.
Where do you live? If you have winters that make it harder to ride, a Computrainer might be a better investment.
Race wheels will cut some time, but getting stronger will probably make a bigger difference.
Power Meters can help, but you then start facing the decision of a wheel solution versus a crank solution and each have their pros and cons.
You also could look at something like the NormaTec / Recovery Pump solutions which help recovery and can also be used to have fresher legs for both the bike and the run.
Using Heart Rate zones is not quite as dialed in as a Powermeter, but learning to pace and monitor the zones helps. Powermeter will be more accurate in terms of the bike output versus the HR which is your input and can have “lag”, i.e. you can over exert before your heart rate reflects it. Anything will be an improvement, but you might get better bang for your buck doing HR with race wheels than powermeter alone.
The computrainer is nice, but overpriced right now. If they ever release the new software, it will be worth it (as long as they don’t raise the price). I’d look at some other ERG type workouts. I thought I’d like the real course videos and 3d courses, but I’m not a fan of phantom 12% grades that take you to a stand still in a ride.
Look on the forums for used deals. I got a 404 front cheap. I just bought a wired PT rear (I’m ok with that) and both cost less then most 60mm front wheels do new. I had a wheelcover I cut and put on the PT for races.
My first ride with the PT was an eye opener. I used to kill myself on the hills without realizing it. I felt way better from proper pacing.
I’m guessing you aren’t one of the average 150k a year triathletes?
You guess correctly. Just out of grad school for a little over a year. Just starting out as an engineer, check back in 15-20 years, maybe I’ll make it up the corporate ladder one day.
So getting around to upgrading the ol’ tri bike and I’m running into the question of what big purchase should I commit to first. A power meter for training or a wheelset for racing. Both are about the same price range, and both have their uses. I’m curious as to what everyone else out there thinks. I’ve never used a power meter before, but the kids tell me they’re all the rage and only the coolest kids have them (also, apparently their useful). That said, after volunteering at Louisville yesterday I have come to the conclusion that I am the ONLY one left on the planet that does not own at least one set of Zipp wheels.
Thoughts?
I would get both. Rear Hed C2 training wheel with a wheel cover, laced to a powertap. 808 or Hed Jet 60 or 90 for the front. Then you have power for training every day, and a wheelcover and deep front wheel for racing.
If you’re shopping around, I’ve been very happy with my $600 wheel + wired PT + computer from bcmultisport.com. I wasn’t able to find anything cheaper.
Given that I was pretty much in exactly your situation 1 month ago and went for the PT, I’d go for the PT. I got a wheelcover at the same time and haven’t been convinced of its aero advantages yet (though my only rides on it so far have been in extreme crosswinds). The PT has been fantastic though.
You also could look at something like the NormaTec / Recovery Pump solutions which help recovery and can also be used to have fresher legs for both the bike and the run.
You can’t possibly suggest buying a recovery system before buying the product that would allow him to get the most out of his workouts.
Doesn’t matter how good a powermeter is and what it measures if the legs are crap.
So if he goes out and has a 20 mile run today and then has a bike tomorrow, does the powermeter help him? May help him “target” his riding and see what power he is riding at, but does not effect that legs may be rubbery and sore.
Now throw in something like the NormaTec boots, and yeah, after a long or hard run, throw the boots on for 45 minutes or so and go into the ride the next day the legs will be fresher.
You want to “get the most out of your workouts”, well that starts with how fresh your body is. In fact, I also think that with accelerated recovery, a person can cut down on the “recovery rides/runs” and focus on stronger workouts and the net affect might be like adding a few weeks of training over the course of a year but within the same time window.
A recovery product also aids in training across at least two of the three sport aspects, not just one. And yes, I will buy the argument that becoming a stronger cyclist will help the run, but I would also argue that running will beat up the body more and a powermeter does nothing to that extent, where the NormaTec will help in recovery post bike so you have fresher legs for the next day which may be a run, or vice versa.
I guess then my next few questions would involve a power tap. What components are involved? Is it just a hub and a computer? Am I missing something? How hard (i.e., how expensive) is it to have a power tap training rear and racing rear? If I wanted to train on my regular bomb-proof wheelset and then race on Firecrest 808s, how much are we talking for hubs in both? Am I crossing into the ‘ridiculous’ price range yet (ignore the wheeleset selected…it is used as an example…)
I really have no idea what I’m doing with Power Tap. Could someone break it down Barney style and tell me what needs to be purchased?
I guess then my next few questions would involve a power tap. What components are involved? Is it just a hub and a computer? Am I missing something? How hard (i.e., how expensive) is it to have a power tap training rear and racing rear? If I wanted to train on my regular bomb-proof wheelset and then race on Firecrest 808s, how much are we talking for hubs in both? Am I crossing into the ‘ridiculous’ price range yet (ignore the wheeleset selected…it is used as an example…)
I really have no idea what I’m doing with Power Tap. Could someone break it down Barney style and tell me what needs to be purchased?
You need the hub and a computer, along with a mounting kit. Purchase of a new PT will include all three. Of course, then you need to spend the money on a rear wheel to lace it to (or you can just buy it already laced to a wheel of your choice). Most new PTs come with the little yellow computer (LYC), but you can upgrade to another type of computer (Garmin and Joule seem most popular), as long as both the PT you buy and the computer have ANT+ technology.
If you buy used, you will find folks sell just the computer, just the hub, the hub and wheel, the whole package, and just about any permutation you can think of. Note: Wired PT won’t work with a wireless mounting kit, and vice versa, so if you go the used route, make sure you get the right stuff to go with the hub/computer you buy.
