Getting Started with POWER
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240 days
Sully800 posted 18 weeks ago.
MarkyV will be your go-to man for this subject I think.
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kylie posted 18 weeks ago.
I have written a bit about my "getting started" process with my PowerTap over on my blog. It is tagged as PowerTap (and they are in the most recent entries).
Basically I've been going with riding with it as I normally do for a while: get an idea how the computer works, get familiar with the displays, buttons, options, etc. Get an idea what kind of power numbers you see in different situations, and build up a base of data. I haven't gotten past that part yet :) (I'm also a neeew power user - got a PT for xmas)
Oh, and the most important step I took? Hiring MarkyV the same day I placed the PT order! Definitely a worthwhile resource! I don't want my PT to be just an expensive bike computer -- I want to get all I can out of it! I got the training with power book as well (a bit before the PT), and am reading it now. But having an experienced and helpful person guiding me has made it much easier.
That said -- I'll try to get back on the bike this weekend Marky! ;)
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1118 days
throughthewall posted 18 weeks ago.
I started with some threshold tests as well. Do you have the software from cycling peaks to analyze your data? It's about $100, but you'll be able to tell how much your threshold has increased (i.e. how many watts you've gained) over the long haul. Worth the investment. That book is a great help as well. You might also see if your lbs has one? That, or maybe even ebay so you don't have to wait...
436
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684 days
tsilcyc posted 18 weeks ago.
http://www.buy.com/prod/training-and-racing-with-a-power-meter/q/loc/106...
Says it ships 1-2 days from buy.com
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GGehrke posted 18 weeks ago.
Unfortunately CyclingPeaks software is PC only and I'm a mac guy. I may install it with VMWare to play with it, but I have a hard time buying software that isn't actually going to run natively. From what I gather, though, your viewpoint that it's "worth the investment" is the consensus.
I also want to find a good way to correlate my Garmin GPS data and my Powertap data. I figure I'll deal with that one when it actually arrives, though.
And Amazon un-back-ordered the book or... something... I dunno, all I know is it supposedly shipped today :D
Not that I don't already have hundreds of pages of reading for my masters thesis to juggle another book with. Yay.
-Grant-
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1445 days
kylie posted 18 weeks ago.
I keep thinking of writing up a little app to make my PT and Garmin data be at least displayed together -- maybe I should get on that ;)
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280 days
MarkyV posted 18 weeks ago.
GET BACK ON THE BIKE!!!!
More tomorrow... sleepy time.
BTW... for mac users... you now have two options... Golden Cheetah and Phys Farm: Race Day. Google them and you'll probably find the dl's. the former is free the later has a demo.
NIGHT!
MarkyV Racing and Coaching
Powertap Dealer: Ask me how you can get rolling with power
164
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151 days
GGehrke posted 18 weeks ago.
I've got Golden Cheetah, but it seems a little lightweight. Being open source, I might try to work on it a bit myself, but if my thesis adviser finds out I'm writing software not related to my work he'll string me up for sure.
-Grant-
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415 days
Sandman posted 18 weeks ago.
Just get on the bike and ride as you would normally. Download the data after each ride and look at it. Get familiar with it. Look for power spikes, do you fade at the end of the ride? It takes about a month or so to get a good handle on it.
The 20 min FTP test would also be a good thing to try. Look at the protocol when the book arrives.
ditto on the Marky V consult ;))
79
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280 days
MarkyV posted 18 weeks ago.
GGehrke wrote:
So I bought a used PowerTap online with a Reynolds Stratus DV wheel (back only)
I'm extremely excited, but not quite sure where to begin.I have that _Training with Power_ book on order, but Amazon is backordered - boo.
I was hoping, though, that some other power meter users could give me an idea of where to get started and get me jump started on power.I am kind of thinking I'm going to do some tests to try to establish my critical power levels for the sake of tracking my progress over the season (at the moment, I think my muscular endurance and force are my real limiters). I'm going to try to play with riding at constant power levels as well for the sake of pacing. Beyond those, however, I'm not sure where the best place to get started is.
Any advice is appreciated :)
-Grant-
Step one: Spend 2-3 weeks just_ riding_ with_ it_. Download everything but continue your workouts as you would if you didn't have the PM. Watch and familiarize yourself with how wattage behaves. Begin to get a sense of what a certain number on the screen translates into what sort of effort level.
Step two: throw together a few uptempo workouts in there if you are only tooling around at this point... note... now that you have a PM you should never "tool around" again... if you are on a limited time frame with your training.
Step three: FTP test. I don't like using just_ 20 minutes. I have found that 30 to 40 to 45 minutes depending on the individual gives a clearer indication of true FTP.
Step four: use all of the above to begin building your program and getting faster... faster.
When asked out of alllllllll the STUFF that I have that is used for training for triathlon (there's a LOT!) what was the one thing that i found to be most valuable... my Powermeter. :)
MarkyV Racing and Coaching
Powertap Dealer: Ask me how you can get rolling with power
164
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151 days
GGehrke posted 17 weeks ago.
So the PowerTap came yesterday. I'm about to go out for my first real ride, but ran into one question:
Should the HR Strap from my Garmin work with the PowerTap or vice versa (Garmin pick up the PT strap). Right now the only solution I have for getting HR data into both devices is to wear both straps. Ugh. Though at least that doesn't seem to conflict
Two computers mounted on one bike = SUPERDORKTRON. Oh well. At least the new Reynolds wheel looks HOT.
Speaking of which,
Ksyrium/Ultegra Cassette/Tube/Tire = 1470g
Reynolds/PT/DA Cassette/Tube/Tire = 1530g
Adding 60g to go Aero and get Power data is just too cool. Now if only I could afford a matching carbon front wheel.
-Grant-
3476
Member
1445 days
kylie posted 17 weeks ago.
Why do you need both reading HR? I often ride with both, but I just use the PT HR strap (as I find it more comfortable, and since the main bike computer for me is the PT). I like having elevation data and the map (I am a map and data geek), but I know the important info is all in the PT.
I put my GPS data on Motionbased, and I get the elevation info from it, as well as the map. It just doesn't have HR with it -- but if I ever really wanted to know my HR from the ride I have the date and could just look at the PT record. I put my PT data into Cycling Peaks, where it is best for analyzing my ride and how I'm improving.
However, my main "total stats" log is the one on here -- it's the best I've found for having bike, run, and swim data all in once place. I put a number of the PT stats in as keywords, and I put a link to the motionbased entry.
So I don't find I ever really miss having the HR data with the Garmin data.
164
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151 days
GGehrke posted 17 weeks ago.
Yea, that's kind of the direction I think I'm headed too. I just wish I could keep using my Garmin exactly like I have been.
I'm glad everyone told me not to do anything too special to get started, too. I just did a normal ride and watched the numbers to start getting a feel for it. I doubt I'll start doing any real tests or power-guided intervals or anything for at least a few days.
I was sure I'd do like 50 Watts average, but was pretty pleased with myself - averaged 178 (90 mins) with a peak over 1000.
-Grant-
79
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280 days
MarkyV posted 17 weeks ago.
kylie wrote:
Why do you need both reading HR?
.
Or for that matter HR period. :) Trust me... there will come a day where you will say NO to the HR strap. I haven't worn one on a training ride in almost a year now.
MarkyV Racing and Coaching
Powertap Dealer: Ask me how you can get rolling with power
So I bought a used PowerTap online with a Reynolds Stratus DV wheel (back only)
I'm extremely excited, but not quite sure where to begin.
I have that _Training with Power_ book on order, but Amazon is backordered - boo.
I was hoping, though, that some other power meter users could give me an idea of where to get started and get me jump started on power.
I am kind of thinking I'm going to do some tests to try to establish my critical power levels for the sake of tracking my progress over the season (at the moment, I think my muscular endurance and force are my real limiters). I'm going to try to play with riding at constant power levels as well for the sake of pacing. Beyond those, however, I'm not sure where the best place to get started is.
Any advice is appreciated :)
-Grant-