Powermeters: love 'em or hate 'em... but what I want to know is... why?
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Sully800 posted 26 weeks ago.
But did you buy the powermeter before getting any other bike upgrade? I think that one of the biggest obstacles is that its a huge price to pay for a training tool which most people have no experience with. I'm sure its a great benefit and your testimonies are very convincing, but without having used it yourself its hard to stomach paying $1000 to add a power meter.
I fall under "those that wish they could have one" because I'm not ready to spend that kind of money (I've already gone well above my "budget"). I would be very interested to hear from people who swear against powermeters since everyone on this board is very supportive of them. Other than the cost, I don't see any negatives of training with power so I don't know why someone would swear against it.
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kylie posted 26 weeks ago.
I think as I get the device more and more dialed in and figured out I will be a "swear by it" (now that I've upgraded from "wish I could have one").
I didn't get one until I already had my dream bike, but it was mostly a lack of knowledge. While I'm not sure I can say I would have gone with a clunker bike and a power meter (although I might once I learn more about the training with it) it is definitely a tool I think would have been a smarter upgrade before the first tri bike to the super one. I didn't really understand what they were or how they would help. Now that I got one for xmas, I'm starting to get it all figured out.
I've just gone back to grad school with working full time, and I really see now the need to maximize all my time on the bike -- and I now know that a power meter is the right tool to get that done.
The power meter also helps me accept rides -- I don't get frustrated at speed or how I feel at a certain heart rate since I can look down, and go "oh, yeah, I'm working as hard as I should be" and I STAY THERE instead of going for some speed that doesn't really make sense on a climb ;)
I'm also a data geek, so that analyzing and tracking fits right into my life. I am motivated by progress: not a single good workout, or a bad one, but by being able to see that what I'm doing works, and being able to identify what needs more work and focusing on it and gettin' it done! Although I haven't reached that level with my power meter yet, that is the goal and I definitely think it is attainable.
Oh and as a bonus I've met some great power folks to help me really get going with it and teach me their tricks!
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
kylie wrote:
Oh and as a bonus I've met some great power folks to help me really get going with it and teach me their tricks!
Uh... you should probably put a disclaimer in your response. :)
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kylie posted 26 weeks ago.
MarkyV wrote:
kylie wrote:Oh and as a bonus I've met some great power folks to help me really get going with it and teach me their tricks!
Uh... you should probably put a disclaimer in your response. :)
Ok well for some reason I can't edit it now that you have replied, but here it is: I bought a power tap after hearing and reading great things about them, and after I made the decision to get one my next step (to get the most out of it) was to start working with Super Power Dude MarkyV ;)
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
Sully800 wrote:
But did you buy the powermeter before getting any other bike upgrade?
Disclaimer... sponsorship for bike at the time=QR... race wheels=AustinTricyclist... worked in another bike shop so I was able to get an employee EP... I was making $12/hr at the time so even then it was a stretch. But I saw the value in quantifying my training and was hacked off with the known dependency of HR even back then. I just wanted something that was truthful.
Quote:
I think that one of the biggest obstacles is that its a huge price to pay for a training tool which most people have no experience with.
And here's where budgeting can help. Being in finance I like ROI... what device is going to give you more ROI... new bike... or powermeter? If your metric of measurement is bling... then it's new bike... if it's getting faster? Than it's a powermeter.
Quote:
I'm sure its a great benefit and your testimonies are very convincing, but without having used it yourself its hard to stomach paying $1000 to add a power meter.
"See for yourself" is very difficult to convey. I find it easier to explain to someone that is intimately familiar with numbers and their value.
Quote:
I would be very interested to hear from people who swear against powermeters since everyone on this board is very supportive of them.
Maybe here but I know of several people in Boulder and on forums elsewhere that are very ANTI PM.
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kylie posted 26 weeks ago.
Just cause I'm never sure and I'm not a finance person... ROI is "return on investment", right?
And as for the cost, I think more people should check out what is available used and such as well. While I do have the $$ power meter (hey, it was for xmas!) there are definitely ways to get on power for less, like a used PowerTap (I see them on SlowTwitch classifieds and have seen some on here as well).
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
kylie wrote:
Just cause I'm never sure and I'm not a finance person... ROI is "return on investment", right?
Yep!
Quote:
And as for the cost, I think more people should check out what is available used and such as well. While I do have the $$ power meter (hey, it was for xmas!) there are definitely ways to get on power for less, like a used PowerTap (I see them on SlowTwitch classifieds and have seen some on here as well).
Bingo... I've seen used ones on ebay go for as little as 400 bucks.
But back to the question at hand... which camp are you in?
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Triguy98 posted 26 weeks ago.
I am in the "Wish I could Afford One" category. $500 I could swallow. $1000+ is too steep for me. I just can't justify it, try as I might. Until the prices come down, some people- like Park Rangers- will just have to dream of having one. I definitely understand their value, but HR is the only tool in my budget.
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Triguy98 posted 26 weeks ago.
MarkyV wrote:
Bingo... I've seen used ones on ebay go for as little as 400 bucks.
And gamble on spending $500 on something that may not work right? Or maybe near the end of its usable life span? There lies the problem with goign the ebay route with something like this.
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Iron Dan posted 26 weeks ago.
Same as Triguy, I wish I could have one, but $1000 is a bit to much for me to do it.
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GGehrke posted 26 weeks ago.
I would disagree with the sentiment that I'd rather put a power meter on a steel, crap bike than get a nicer carbon bike.
To me, riding on equipment that holds you back is so demoralizing. I certainly don't claim that I was truly maxing out my aluminum Iron Horse, Sora equipped, Alexrims rolling road bike back when I ditched it for an Ultegra equipped Carbon Frame, but I disliked riding it because I felt like it was holding me back. If you don't ride it, you won't get better. Maybe for some people, seeing that your power numbers are high is motivation enough, but for me cycling has to be fun or I won't do it.
People say you can ride into a headwind and look down and feel better because you're putting down 250W. So what? If I'm riding a measly 15mph into a headwind and my legs are burning, that sucks, plain and simple. Hills I can justify, though, because at least you get to come back down, so you feel more like you're working FOR something :)
I also just upgraded from the "wish I could have it" category. I've been drooling over them ever since I saw the PowerTap a few years ago. I don't know yet whether I'll "Swear by it" but I suspect I'll trend more in that direction over the next few weeks.
My fiancee says this has to last me the next 40 years before I'm allowed to buy another bike toy, though. :(
-Grant-
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trimas posted 26 weeks ago.
There are alternative power meters out there for under $1000. I've had the Polar CS600 for a couple of months now. Actually got it on Ebay for under $500, brand new. Like Kylie, I'm still playing around with it and dialing it in, but I'm really liking it. Another thing I really like about the CS600 is the Polar trainer software. You can design your own workouts: intervals based on power, cadence, HR, or combinations of them. Upload the workout to the CS600, and go ride. When you're done, download the recorded ride data back to the Polar trainer software, and it will graph it and give you all kinds of information. As you can probably tell, I too, am a data geek.
I'm moving towards the "swear by it" camp. Why? Because I too, like to quantify my training. I can now differentiate my training by HR, or by Power, or both. I also get to learn the relationship between HR and Power and how my body adapts to certain loads. Right now, I'm in base training mode, so most of my training is focused on HR.
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
trimas wrote:
Right now, I'm in base training mode, so most of my training is focused on HR.
ARGH!!!!
Don't go there!!! :)
You just upgraded to a tool that is an independent metric... so why go back to using a metric that is very dependent???
If metabolic and training response is best measured by a powermeter why are you using HR?
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kylie posted 26 weeks ago.
Ok I'll bite -- what is the recommend way to do base training with power? Is it the same idea of zone but using power zones instead of HR ones? (or do you want that discussion in it's own thread?)
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trimas posted 26 weeks ago.
I'm still new to the power meter so you're gonna have to explain the dependence thing you're talking about. I've been having issues with a high HR ever since I started tri's 2 years ago. My athletic history never included any endurance activities, none whatsoever. For the last 20+ years, I've "involuntarily" trained my body, through various sports activities like basketball and football, to go from a zone 1 HR to a zone 4/5 HR. During the last 2 years, I've finally seen success in bringing my HR down during my triathlon training. That has been my primary focus, because I was always redlining during races, and training, for that matter. I believe I didn't have a good base in place. Now, I have this power meter and I'm still learning and playing with it. So given my athletic history, you think I should ignore HR?
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kylie posted 26 weeks ago.
I'm sure Marky will correct me if I'm wrong, but here is my understanding:
When he says HR is dependent, he means on other factors. If it is extra hot, HR goes up. If you are sick, HR goes up. So a 150 HR today doesn't mean the same effort as a 150 HR tomorrow.
Power, on the other hand, will always be how much work you are doing. 180 watts of work is always 180 watts of work -- independent of the weather, if you are sick, etc. Sure, when you are sick you might see a lower number. But it won't be because you are sick, but because you are doing less work.
I'm not sure what the best ways to use power in base are, but the idea is that the power number will be a better target, and a more dependable gauge of your effort.
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PrinceofClydes posted 26 weeks ago.
Sort of makes you wonder how Dave Scott ever won a race without a power meter, huh?
Anyway, triathletes do love their toys, and yes training quality can improve with better biometrics. I used to love my workouts on the Puch ergonometer bike at the university in Surrey, UK. It was great watching the numbers on the dial and correlating that with the feeling of exertion and power - they had a watts display.
I think I'm in the category of "25lb steel bike with downtube shifters" - but without coveting a power meter. I just think I have so much other work to do on position, flexibility, base - and strength that my ROI isn't big enough right now. Anyway, my money is targetting aerobars, stem, brakes, cranks, derailleurs, chain, shifters and, oh yeah, wheels! Hopefully by the spring.
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tri-ac posted 26 weeks ago.
kylie wrote:
I'm sure Marky will correct me if I'm wrong, but here is my understanding:When he says HR is dependent, he means on other factors. If it is extra hot, HR goes up. If you are sick, HR goes up. So a 150 HR today doesn't mean the same effort as a 150 HR tomorrow.
Power, on the other hand, will always be how much work you are doing. 180 watts of work is always 180 watts of work -- independent of the weather, if you are sick, etc. Sure, when you are sick you might see a lower number. But it won't be because you are sick, but because you are doing less work.
I'm not sure what the best ways to use power in base are, but the idea is that the power number will be a better target, and a more dependable gauge of your effort.
just to be devil's advocate... [i'd like to understand this, too]
it seems "effort" is the work your body is doing to keep itself running efficiently. the power measurement identifies the work done to move the bike. so, because you're measuring an independent metric (moving the bike), you could overtrain your body if you're not trained to handle the extra load on your system from those outside forces, say, on a hot day?
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
trimas wrote:
I'm still new to the power meter so you're gonna have to explain the dependence thing you're talking about. I've been having issues with a high HR ever since I started tri's 2 years ago. My athletic history never included any endurance activities, none whatsoever. For the last 20+ years, I've "involuntarily" trained my body, through various sports activities like basketball and football, to go from a zone 1 HR to a zone 4/5 HR. During the last 2 years, I've finally seen success in bringing my HR down during my triathlon training. That has been my primary focus, because I was always redlining during races, and training, for that matter. I believe I didn't have a good base in place. Now, I have this power meter and I'm still learning and playing with it. So given my athletic history, you think I should ignore HR?
Kylie nailed it. :) HR is going to do what it's going to do. Simply... it does whatever it wants. Basing your training off of power is more likely to see you get where you want to go.
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
tri-ac wrote:
just to be devil's advocate... [i'd like to understand this, too]
it seems "effort" is the work your body is doing to keep itself running efficiently. the power measurement identifies the work done to move the bike. so, because you're measuring an independent metric (moving the bike), you could overtrain your body if you're not trained to handle the extra load on your system from those outside forces, say, on a hot day?
It's more about dialing in the way you feel to what you are putting out. Put it this way... if something feels really off... do you need the HRM to tell you that? At the same time your HR could be off but you feel fine.
Does that help?
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stewarba posted 26 weeks ago.
MarkyV
Quote:
I think that one of the biggest obstacles is that its a huge price to pay for a training tool which most people have no experience with.[/quote wrote:
And here's where budgeting can help. Being in finance I like ROI... what device is going to give you more ROI... new bike... or powermeter? If your metric of measurement is bling... then it's new bike... if it's getting faster? Than it's a powermeter.
I am new to triathlon and I have to admit that I have been fascinated by power meters (PM) since I started reading Red5 and his weekly training reports, but there are a couple of things that keep me from making the investment. You mention ROI which is an interesting concept from your comparison with new bike vs. PM, but from a total triathlon investment it doesn't seem to hold true. If I invest $1k in a power meter, what is the measurable gain for that investment from a total triathlon perspective compared to a HR monitor. I know with a HR monitor (even with its perceived shortcoming), that my cost of entry is low and has proven benefit and can be used across all three disciplines. As a triathlete with a budget, it would seem that a PM is reserved for serious competitors but for the average triathlete there is a greater ROI in a HR monitor.
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2008 Sprint Tri A race goals
S: 500m in 10:00 – FS Stroke only
B: 22mph avg over course
R: 5K <= 25:00
Place top 50% for my age group
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GGehrke posted 26 weeks ago.
For what it's worth, with regard to "return on investment," being that the bike leg is the longest, optimizing it has the greatest potential for overall increased performance. That's why my goals for the season are to do "well" in the swim and run, but I want to really improve on the bike.
I agree, though, on the utility of training with HR across the disciplines. That's one of the reasons I don't like that my Garmin/PowerTap HR straps are incompatible. I did a brick last sunday and had to change straps to get my running HR. I don't use HR in the pool (though I would like to experiment with it) but that just adds another complication.
I've said before and will say again that I wish Garmin (or whoever) made a truly multi-sport computer.
Probably a wrist mounted device. I'd prefer a bit larger than a watch, but something you don't mind wearing. Key feature, though, is that it would have easily switchable modes for each sport.
+Waterproof for the Swim. GPS would be beneficial for open water swimming as well. Ideally lap features for pool swimming, perhaps even with some sort of auto detection. (Maybe place a small beacon on the pool deck on one side and whenever you come within 10ft of it the device triggers a lap. Any time you stop for more than 10 secs within 10 feet of it, the device triggers a set. Or the other way around - you wear the beacon - for smaller size)
+Interfaces with Speed/Cadence/Power/HR sensors on the bike and includes GPS data for track and especially elevation/grade. In my fantasy device I'd like an anemometer and thermometer as well, but that's just me. Pretty much everything the Edge 705 does.
+Foot pod for running cadence. GPS/Pod data for distance/elevation. Again, press a button and you're seamlessly in running mode. Maybe someday someone will design a fancy strain gauge insole that will give the running equivalent of power - wouldn't that be cool.
And maybe shoehorn a couple gigs of memory in to do basic MP3 features with wireless bluetooth headphones, since I sometimes carry my Garmin and iPod on runs. It also interfaces with your computer wirelessly via bluetooth or docking/charging cradle. Proprietary operating system with open source application layer so developers can tweak it if desired.
Maybe I just need my own company. Anyone want to invest :p
-Grant-
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
GGehrke wrote:
I agree, though, on the utility of training with HR across the disciplines
I don't use HR in the pool (though I would like to experiment with it)
Have you ever tried to go train without your HRM and develop RPE zones from which to work with? For decades swimmers and runners had but one tool to rely on to tell them if they were going fast or slow, the clock. Time is absolute (the track and pool help with this *known distances*). You either did it "that fast" or you didn't. In regards to doing a brick work out... so you get off the bike... workout says to run 10 minutes at z2 then 20 at z3 and 5 at z2. Head out the door (WITHOUT your HRM as it will be skewed due to the fact that you just got off the bike) and just jog for your first 10 minutes... at perceived long run pace. Then for the pickup it up just a bit so that your breathing becomes a bit more labored. You wont be fighting to maintain this effort but it's still should not be regarded as easy.
A GPS watch can help you calibrate a PE to a pace better than HR can. One day 150 bpms might mean 8min/mile pace... another day it might mean 10 min/mile pace... but metabolically 8 min pace is 8 min pace. It doesn't matter what your HR is doing.
I truly feel that the triathlon societie's dependence on HRM's is holding many people back. As I go from HR to Power/Pace I find myself actually coming to a greter understanding of that which is most basic... RPE
Quote:
Maybe someday someone will design a fancy strain gauge insole that will give the running equivalent of power - wouldn't that be cool.
GOVSS on topofusion pro http://topofusion.com/download.php
Sure it's not real time power but it does give you power upon download and analysis.
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
stewarba wrote:
I am new to triathlon and I have to admit that I have been fascinated by power meters (PM) since I started reading Red5 and his weekly training reports, but there are a couple of things that keep me from making the investment. You mention ROI which is an interesting concept from your comparison with new bike vs. PM, but from a total triathlon investment it doesn't seem to hold true. If I invest $1k in a power meter, what is the measurable gain for that investment from a total triathlon perspective compared to a HR monitor. I know with a HR monitor (even with its perceived shortcoming), that my cost of entry is low and has proven benefit and can be used across all three disciplines. As a triathlete with a budget, it would seem that a PM is reserved for serious competitors but for the average triathlete there is a greater ROI in a HR monitor.
If you can't get into a PM then yes an HR is valuable... but with clients that don't have a PM and only an HR I still like to see track work done on pace as well as in the pool and then trainer work done at mph. Open road bike work is HR based but runs I try to steer the athlete towards RPE... an easy run means... an easy run. If you can learn what z2-5 "FEELS" like rather than using an HRM or GPS then that alone is huge.
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
Triguy98 wrote:
MarkyV wrote:
Bingo... I've seen used ones on ebay go for as little as 400 bucks.And gamble on spending $500 on something that may not work right? Or maybe near the end of its usable life span? There lies the problem with goign the ebay route with something like this.
These things aren't built with planned obselesence to them. I used a PT standard for 2.5 years and put almost 15,000 miles on it. Never had a problem. It's new owner is still very happy with it.
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
kylie wrote:
Ok I'll bite -- what is the recommend way to do base training with power? Is it the same idea of zone but using power zones instead of HR ones? (or do you want that discussion in it's own thread?)
base training would just be... go ride.
no watch, no computer, no sense of time. That's base training.
now for folks with limted time but have been around the sport for awhile... "base" training can mean something totally different.
It's a very individualized question.
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stewarba posted 26 weeks ago.
MarkyV wrote:
If you can't get into a PM then yes an HR is valuable... but with clients that don't have a PM and only an HR I still like to see track work done on pace as well as in the pool and then trainer work done at mph. Open road bike work is HR based but runs I try to steer the athlete towards RPE... an easy run means... an easy run. If you can learn what z2-5 "FEELS" like rather than using an HRM or GPS then that alone is huge.
first things first: RPE = ???? - Rate of Percieved Effort?
I assume that you can get to a point where you know what the various zones feel like, but starting this year, I have been trying to use my HRM to keep my HR in z2 while I run and bike (base phase). I was rather surprised by how quickly, with what I percieve to be little effort that my HR exceeded this zone. After sticking it out for the past couple of weeks, I have noticed some real improvements in this area as my distance over a given time at a HR in zone 2 has increased by a half a mile in 2 weeks, but as it stands right now, I am not confident with my ability to "FEEL" the different HR zones - with the expception of Zone 5 ;-)
I have been trying to follow Mark Allen's principle of HR training with a 12-16 week base phase training with a HR maxed out in zone 2. I guess the concept is teaching your body to rely on fat stores for the bulk of its aerobic energy source. How would something like this translate using a PM?
Brad
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2008 Sprint Tri A race goals
S: 500m in 10:00 – FS Stroke only
B: 22mph avg over course
R: 5K <= 25:00
Place top 50% for my age group
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Triguy98 posted 26 weeks ago.
GGehrke-
While the 305 doesnt offer the power option it DOES offer support for everything else you mentioned. Need it waterproof- stick it under your swim cap- are you REALLY gonna look at it while swimming? Garmin has a footpod and speed/ cadence sensor available at reasonable prices.
Marky- I was refering to the treatemnt that some people subject their bike equipment to. While you and I take care of our stuff, lots of people dont, and I would hate to spend that $$ on something that may or may not have been absued.
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
stewarba wrote:
first things first: RPE = ???? - Rate of Percieved Effort?
yes
Quote:
I assume that you can get to a point where you know what the various zones feel like, but starting this year, I have been trying to use my HRM to keep my HR in z2 while I run and bike (base phase).
...and what i am saying is using HR to gauge those efforts is off base with trying to use a HARD metric that truly quantifies what it is you're doing. As you were able to see in your first few weeks... it (HR) didn't want to stick to any "zone" but I bet if you ran at the same z2 pace you would have been fine. No matter where HR went.
Quote:
but as it stands right now, I am not confident with my ability to "FEEL" the different HR zones - with the expception of Zone 5 ;-)
1-you're bored (you can breath thru your nose almost)
2-long run pace (breating is easy)
3- "a little quicker" call it 20 mile or marathon pace (breathing begins to become more rythmic
4- 10k... yer moving... breathing well... but not "hard"
5- 3k-5k effort.... welcome to deep in/out rapid breathing... where's the puke smilie when you need it
Or make it easy and use pace and from threshold pace you would be able to determine all of these zones
Quote:
I guess the concept is teaching your body to rely on fat stores for the bulk of its aerobic energy source. How would something like this translate using a PM?
first of all... ignore mark... yeah he kicked a lot of ass out there but I can guarantee he did it not by monitoring a ceiling thru the off season but rather killing it in the off season.... he said something to that nature in kona last year. He trained for Oly's from January till August and only then did he start the volume overload necessary for proper IM prep.
So let's destroy the fatburning theory... simply you can't teach yourself to become more efficient (in a timely fashion) at burning fat at a given wattage. If you want to burn a higher % of fat when riding at 200 watts then you have to make 200 watts more relatively easy to whatever you top end wattage is (top end wattage is OBLA/MLSS/LT in this case).
So...
LT is 300 watts... you want to become more fat burning efficient at 200 watts... then you'll need to lift your LT to 330 watts. Because then instead of 200 watts being 67% of LT it's now 60% of LT. You will burn less carbs and more fat at a lower % of LT. There is no teaching the body... it's simply a matter of becoming more fit. And aside from step one (training to train) you get fit by adopting a variable training program... not one that is loaded with isopower z2 training. The amount of training is less important then they type of training that you are doing.
So becoming more efficient on the bike with regards to fat being burned at a given wattage... raise your high end. Ways to raise your high end is a whole other thread within itself.
Hope this has been helpful... the internet medium is not the best for me to covey what I know... sorry.
Ask Kylie... she'll vouch for me. :)
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MarkyV posted 26 weeks ago.
Triguy98 wrote:
Marky- I was refering to the treatemnt that some people subject their bike equipment to. While you and I take care of our stuff, lots of people dont, and I would hate to spend that $$ on something that may or may not have been absued.
I'd still gather that a powertap is going to have a good chance of being in good shape. Dig around to find out who is selling it. Or better yet, they're local. The wattage list may be another place to poke around for some used goods.
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catwood posted 26 weeks ago.
I have a PT that I received in '05 sitting around in my parent's basement. I used it happily for about a year (I'm a math major, and I love stats). Then stuff happened and I got out of shape and transferred schools. I decided not to bring my PT wheel to Whitman because I just needed to base train for a while at first and now mostly because of travel hassle, shipping $, and dorm room size. It went into the pile of stuff that stays in my parent's basement until it looks like I'll be living in one spot for more than 8 months.
While I will probably go back to power in another 2 years when I'll hopefully be in grad school, I think that I am pretty good at training by perceived exertion. I've always had a bit of a knack for pacing my exertion in racing. When I first ditched the PT, I'd let myself get pretty out of shape so it was important that I just get out and ride and not worry about any numbers. I don't use a HRM either. While I feel like I have very little time to train in college, I feel like that amount of time will be even less after college and then I might go back to power. I think that I should be able to keep improving for the next two seasons without it though.
I think training purely by PE make me enjoy it better and I feel like there's less of a risk for midseason burnout. I love the numbers, but most of the time I'd rather train purely by PE and analyze the numbers later.
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342 days
MarkyV posted 25 weeks ago.
catwood wrote:
While I will probably go back to power in another 2 years when I'll hopefully be in grad school, I think that I am pretty good at training by perceived exertion. I've always had a bit of a knack for pacing my exertion in racing.I don't use a HRM either.
If you've got RPE nailed and have a program that can still be written out as 2x20 at z4 and you know what that means and can execute to it then that is MONEY.
An HRM is not going to tell you anything more that RPE would not have already told you. Just listen to your body.
MarkyV Racing and Coaching
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1351 days
catwood posted 25 weeks ago.
Yep, that's what I do. I make my plans like hrm plans, but I don't actually use one - I just know what each zone feels like.
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1016 days
deepbluex posted 25 weeks ago.
I have two specific bike routes that I use to monitor progress - one is a flat bike path along the Los Angeles river that runs for about 5 miles with no car traffic and usually little bike traffic. The other is a mile long ascent on a hilly Griffith Park road. I simply time myself doing those two paths every once in a while. While wind and weather are the only variables that can really throw off my times, I believe this is a cheap way to gauge performance.
I know people on both sides of this coin. I have owned a powermeter for close to 3.5 years now. When I got started rolling with one they were few and far between in cycling and in triathlon they were near non-existent. I have had the chance to learn over the years from own experiences as well as from some of the brightest minds in cycling and triathlon in regards to how power training and racing is applied.
Now that they are becoming more and more prevalent, both at the AG and elite level, I have found that there seem to be 4 camps of people... those that swear by them, those that swear against them, those that wish they could have one, and everybody else.
I am a numbers/stats guy and love that I am able to quantify my training efforts and training stress load by way of this tool. I would ride a 25lbs steel bike with downtube shifters... AND_ a powermeter for training before I saddled up on a 13 pound piece of beautiful carbon.
So which category do you fit under and why?
MarkyV Racing and Coaching
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