Posts Member

I don't have a powermeter either, but would be more than willing to share as soon as you send me yours. I'll be watching the mail. Thanks in advance

Posts Member

[in my best gravelly voice] you're the best! you're a superstar! there's no one that puts out watts like you!! :p

[umm, i don't have power either; just generally jealous of powermeters and waiting to see what others say]

Posts Member

You know what Eddie Merckx says? "Don't buy upgrades; ride up grades."

Posts Member

I've been using my PowerTap for just about 3 weeks.
Most of my rides average 185 +/- 10W.
I've averaged just shy of 200W for 25 miles and just shy of 180W for 50 miles. This weekend I did an easy 4hr/50 miles with my mom and only averaged 102W.
I can hold 250-270 for a few minutes at a time. I do short intervals over 300, but can only hold that for a minute or so. My 5 second record is 975W.

For reference, I've been a sort of serious enthusiast for a few years but have only been "training" hard for a few weeks. I'm 23yr old, 142lb, 5'6" male. I like long runs on the beach. Actually no, that's a lie.

According to one of the charts in the _Training and Racing with a Power Meter_ book, I fall in about the middle-to-low power range for what a Cat-4 cyclist should produce. I'm sure there are a lot of people on the site that average a lot better than I do, and you are quite likely stronger than I am. I am going into my first competitive season, so I can't say where I fall results-wise in racing, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be planted firmly in the "middle-of-the-pack" for my AG. I seldom ride with other people, but I pretty frequently overtake riders who "look" more serious (kitted out on Colnagos and such) and have only been overtaken on the open road twice (once by a guy practice TT'ing on his Cervelo w/zipps and once by a wheelsucker). I'm looking to average over 20mph for my HIM in 2 mo. but training rides currently average around 18mph. I do, however, live in a very windy, very hilly area.

Hopefully a few more people will come out of the woodwork with numbers. I'd be very interested to corroborate my results with others, especially since I don't really know anyone else in person who uses a meter.

Posts Member

Thanks mdd. I guess I don't understand though - wattage should be the most comparable variable we have on the bikes amongst different athletes since its equal to force/distance/time and is independent of external factors like riding conditions gear your using etc. Certainly I take your point about different PM's - and in fact, part of my original post involves my own doubt as to whether my machine records a watt as a watt. But I did read a significant article I think posted here eons ago about someone who tested, I think, the Ergemo, SRL, Powertap and iBike and concluded the first three were all fairly accurate to each other. It does seem a reasonable assumption that watts are watts when measured by properly installed equipment.

I do take your central point - that your own zones are what are really key to your own performance and I've been feeling that power is going to be important to my own improvement. I think one of the reasons that it isn't better understood is because there isn't as readily available information that helps you calibrate where you are to help get your zones sorted out.

While HR data isn't a perfect measure, it is objective, measurable, and has enough data collected that averages are available and it has become quite useful. But it suffers dramatically from external issues and is after all a dependent variable. Power seems to me not to suffer from some of the problems HR has as an indicator. It is an independent variable (except as measured against your will power and ability - both the items you can improve) and if there were data available for measurement, I think it would be a better understood training tool.

So I guess I'm a little curious about your answer, but do respect your overall point. I'm not interested in comparing for sake of knowing if I'm better than someone else, but rather for the sake of knowing where others are at, to plan a training course to get myself there. For example, just seeing GG's post above, I can give up the idea of averaging 1,000 watts for my next 50 miler ;)

I've historically noticed that my own performance can be dragged up by the company I compare myself too, and with so many great athletes here, I might be able to benefit from the same.

Posts Member

I'm not sure that the device is truly accurate
+++++++++ it's not
I'm curious of other's wattages on the bike.
+++++++++ it doesn't matter
what's your wattage? What's your average wattage for a Zone 2 ride? What's your max wattage? What's your average for a ride on a trainer for a Z2 ride and the difference (if any) of when you get out on the road?
+++++++++So much matters here... body weight, coefficient of drag, threshold. The first number that you want to be familiar with is your FTP and use YOUR FTP number... doesn't matter what anyone else's is.
wattage should be the most comparable variable we have on the bikes amongst different athletes
+++++++++ Power/CdA on a flat course... Power/Weight on a hilly course
your own zones are what are really key to your own performance and I've been feeling that power is going to be important to my own improvement. I think one of the reasons that it isn't better understood is because there isn't as readily available information that helps you calibrate where you are to help get your zones sorted out.
+++++++++We have zones... certain % of FTP work well for sorting out different zones L1-L4 however L5, L6 and L7 need to be concretely determined via other test methods as an individuals VO2 and anaerobic capacity can influence them more
While HR data isn't a perfect measure, it is objective,
+++++++++Not really. Aerobic stress is not a good indicator of metabolic stress... which is the measure that you are really looking for. Pace and Power are millions times better at gauging metabolic stress than your ticker

+++++++++Lastly: to some degree announcing one's power numbers can be an excersize in futility, as you have to know so much of the whole picture before that one number can mean anything.

apologies for the formatting.... the tags don't seem to be working

Posts Member

This has all been very helpful - thanks for the responses. In between this last round of posts, I found this link and found it to be a pretty nice primer on the use of power:
http://www.bicyclepowermeters.com/Ergomo_Manuals/Power%20Based%20Trainin...

I really appreciate the point by point addresses above. Between that post and much of the above, I understand much more clearly. I'm off to get a power meter soon - probably headed for powertap wireless.

More fun soon.

Posts Member

Ya - fully aware :) I've been reading his posts with gusto for some time. Unfortunately I don't think he'll make me the deal that I can get on one - I found out a friend of mine owns a shop and will give me the kind of deal we are all always hoping to find... ;)

How do you like the software for the PT? Is there any "training tool" aspect to the computer similar to the forerunner 305? The feature of my forerunner that I really appreciate is the ability to program the workouts into it and follow them. My base training has been really successful and enjoyable partially because it nudges me when I need it.

I downloaded the software from Saris but didn't see any modules for defining workouts - it seemed it was only for analyzing past data. I'll be a bit bummed if I 1.) will lose that aspect or 2.) have to keep both computers on the bike. I've got the FR mounted perfectly in between my aerobars - I don't even have to adjust my head position to read it, and I don't have to move my hands on my aerobars to hit the buttons, so its rather "perfect" in that regard.

I'm willing to change that in favor of the PT computer, but will be sore if I lose the ability to have the programmed workouts.

Posts Member

I figured -- but I also plugged 2 different resources there :) Having a friend with a shop is a good way to go though.

As far as programming in workouts, no, not that I know of. ut I haven't really looked into it -- I never use that in the garmins, either.

The PT computer is much like a generic bike computer in terms of how it looks and how data is stored.

Posts Member

The voice of reason. I second this one. You can really get into trouble when you compare watts. There are so many variables involved...calibration, type of meter, rider weight, ect. It's best to know your own numbers and try to improve them. If used correctly a power meter can really improve your riding!