OK forum . . . who here trains with a power meter? What brand? Have you improved using power as a training tool? Ergomo or SRM?
aye…
not sure if i’ve improved because of it, because i can’t access the alternate parallel reality where i’m currently training without a power measuring device. either way, i was off the back of the guy i rode with today, who isn’t using a power measuring device, up a notable 3000’ 11.75mi. climb to the tune of about a 48:50 (rider x) v. 53:30. Sooooo…they obviously aren’t necessary to be fast, but I do think they can help most people.
using a PowerTap Pro
I’ve been thinking the ideal thing would be to share one of these with a group of friends if you are at all strapped for cash. Once you’ve ridden one for several months, if you’ve been paying attention, you don’t have to look down at the computer to know what type of power you are putting out. Of course, I’m speaking for myself here. After the intial feeling-out of it, I would think riding with it for one week a month would keep you tuned in quite well. Eventually I’d like to transcend the device altogether, but for now it’s helping me understand what a certain perceived effort is akin to in power and how long I can sustain that.
Power training changed my bike training for the better. It’s not the only way, of course, but it has worked wonders for me. It helps make every workout count. I’m too old and time constrained to spend 5 years of trial and error to get it right the old fashioned way.
Powertap standard.
Been using a computrainer for 6 years and a power tap pro for one. They make training more enjoyable. If it is more enjoyable, you will train more and will improve as a result.
Francois in Montreal
OK forum . . . who here trains with a power meter? What brand? Have you improved using power as a training tool? Ergomo or SRM?
I do, SRM, yes , SRM using cycling peaks software
Count me in… power tap… still learning how to use it, but having learned how to work a flat line heart rate throughout a bike split i am now aiming to have a somewhat flat steady power line. i liken it to entertainment when you are doing very intense sessions on the bike… just one more thing for your brain to stop off at on its way to thinking about the pain you are in… delay it long enough and you can cycle back to some other data… seriously though when doing intervals i am fascinated by the correlation between my HR, cadence, power and speed. those elements keep my brain ticking the whole time. have yet to do anything long and focused (it’s coming though… 4 hour TT rides… grreeaat) but the short stuff i love so far with it.
good luck
Computrainer for 8 years
Standard Power tap for 1 year
polar power meter for 2 weeks on my mountain bike that I am using to commute
I am using the Power Tap in Arizona this weekend with a CH aero cover. I am looking forward to disceting the data and using it to plan. I had hoped to use it in Lake Placid last year but my battery died (I know that I am a dumbass for not getting batteries before the race)
the Polar was a gift which I received about the time that I got the power tap on e-bay. I tried to return it to Biometrics but they would not take it back due to the package being opened. When I got a cheap mountain bike for commuting I figured WTF. I had always heard that the Polar sucks but now I know. Sunday when I was riding to the pool. I went over an over pass on the way “uphill” it said 150 watts on the way down it said 700 watts. i need to read more about it in the manual but so far it seems like junk.
Does the Powertap or SRM show you power per pedal stroke i.e. left vs. right? I’d like to know just how much harder my left leg is working.
Does the Powertap or SRM show you power per pedal stroke i.e. left vs. right? I’d like to know just how much harder my left leg is working.
Nope.
I’ve got the powertap, hasn’t really had much impact because I ride mostly with groups, not sure why I bought it now ! I feel riding with the guys motivates me to get out of bed in the morning and get the kms in which in the most important thing. I don’t know how these guys ride around by themselves looking at their computer screen. However I do use the powertap on my individual rides sometimes, it is a good pacing tool.
For the time-challenged athlete, powermeters are a godsend. Once you know what you are doing, you never waste precious training time doing work that isn’t optimal to get you where you’re trying to go.
I use the Powertap system. I’ve used the SRM Pro as well. Either would be a good choice. The major drawback for most of us with the SRM is, of course, price. The major drawback with the PT is that if you a rear race wheel…you’ll have to make a choice whether to ride the PT or race wheel at your races. Either that or buy two PT wheels…one with a training rim and one with a race rim…but then you’re getting into the $ thing again.
I have a standard PT; purchased early 2003. I don’t train with it since training requires things like “goals” and “sacrifice”. But I do work out with one. It’s a blast. It’s like a biofeedback electronic game. What’s also neat is that I’ll download my raw PT data and massage my numbers in EXCEL to calculate things like TSS and IF and normalized power. I find it soothing, doing rudimentary statistical manipulations on a spreadsheet. If I’m bored I’ll even make my own graphs on EXCEL as well.
I also got a CT this year as well…For those weeks when it’s too nasty to do anything but bike commute to work or for those days where I’m kept away from my bike until after dark. It’s like a videogame that inflicts pain, like that James Bond movie, I love it! Who needs playstation when I have that?
OK forum . . . who here trains with a power meter? What brand? Have you improved using power as a training tool? Ergomo or SRM?
Just started - I’ve had my PowerTap Pro for about 3 weeks, so no major improvement yet. My coach says it will be more useful for me for training than it is for him (as in, it’s better for not-as-strong cyclists than strong cyclists). Right now I just feel like a wimp because the darn number is so low.
Cam
Francois,
What do you think is a more valuable training tool? Powertap or Computrainer?
Train and race with a PT Pro. I’ve had it about a year. Bought it to pace my first IM off of. But, after using it all summer to train, it is a far more valuable tool than just that. I use to for all workouts. Its great to do intervals with, as it don’t lie. Hr, speed, PE, etc, all will vary with wind, heat, hyrdation, nutrition, motivation, etc, etc. But those watts on that display don’t. I’m a good bit stronger on the bike this year and attribute much of it to the training with watts.
yep. been on a powertap pro since Nov 2003. Had two 10% increases in 20min power in the first year, and I was already a cat 1. Another 5% increase already this year. Of the athletes that I coach that get powermeters, all experience at least a 10% increase in the first 8 months.
I train and race with a SRM Pro, Cat 1 cyclist and pretty good triathlete (already qualified forHawaii this year). It’s the best way to go since you can use any wheels and transferring it between bikes is simple.
Power is the way to go as a cyclist since you can see where you are weaker and then work to improve it (sprints, aerobic power, etc.)
As a triathlete it’s great for longer races like an IM since you can quantify your effort and know where your sustained power output to be. Great so you don’t blow up and don’t get concerned about external factors (wind, heat, etc.) affecting how you are performing.
Intervals are great since you can keep them very consistent throughout the set you are doing. Train by power if you can.
That’s an incredible increase for a cat 1. How much do you think is attributable to actual fitness increases? I’m an master fattie and it’s taken me a year for each 10 percent increase.
PowerTap and SRM ( tried Polar and it’s more trouble than its worth, the right / left thing isn’t really accurate, get the $800 SRM torque option if you really want that.)
oh, come on Cam… you’ll be ripping Jaime’s legs off before you know it. 
I have an ergomo, so I will comment since I don’t see anyone with that unit on this page yet.
As long as you don’t mind the aesthetics of a big, black rubber cable running down your downtube and a huge computer unit, ergomo is hard to beat. Since the first doesn’t bug me and I think the big computer is really an asset then I can say I love riding with ergomo power.
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You begin to understand how to keep your ride even-paced. One example-for triathletes riding out of the saddle up hills is not wise. It produces all kinds of power spikes that you will pay for later. The PM taught me to sit and spin.
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You understand the lag relationship between power and heart rate. For instance you see that every time you jump out of the saddle or sit and really crush your gear it creates a power spike that may not show up as much of a change in heart rate. Heart rate only would tell you it wasn’t a big deal, but power says that if you want to be efficient, you better keep the power to the pedals smooth.
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You can observe the heart rate “creep” vs. power output over time. In the beginning of a ride you may be able to push big power with a low heart rate, but muscle fatigue starts to wear on you and by the end of a long ride the same power takes 15-20 bpm higher effort. By recognizing this you can once again keep the pace nice and even.
A power meter is an expensive tool and not “free speed” like an aero wheel might be, but using one you can learn how to maximize your fitness and still be able to get off the bike and run. The longer the distance, the more important this becomes.
Chad
P.S. A couple of advantages of ergomo over others (in my view). 1. You can race any wheel you like, to include your disc. All you have to do is change out the wheel and have a magnet. 2. While the computer unit is large, it shows you power, speed, heart rate, and either cadence, distance, time, odometer, temperature–all are very easy to read. 3. You can use most any crank you choose. I actually use Powercranks on mine and can find out some interesting data of PC vs. regular crank riding.