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what are power meters and why bother?
I keep seeing these for sale online but can't get my head around what they are and why they're so expensive. Please enlighten me someone
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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My new gym has a wattbike with power sensing and HRM.
Really different experience to train to power rather than speed - I only do an interval set on it once a week, but I can feel the difference over doing a HRM set. HRM you will always get 'drift' where your HR goes up at a steady power level, so it can be hard to judge what's going on - Power doesn't let you get away with any excuses like that!
Some of that is being able to actually do a steady amount of time without any traffic lights... nevertheless I really like it. I will even put up with all the gym BS to use it!
Would I spend money on one for my bike? I don't race, so no. If I was a serious racer then I might buy a wattbike instead
well I did my first ever ftp test over 20mins with a constant incline, 2% I think (Wahoo kickr trainer)
ftp 228w
cadence 95rpm
heart rate 98%
These are my base line starting numbers to build from. I am coming back after fracturing my calcaneus(heel), some 16 weeks without cycling 10 weeks unable to put weight on leg. One leg the size of a trunk compared to the atrophied
leg
Software wants me to do another test in 6 weeks and attain 237w ftp
Back to training
I have the Garmin Vector (same as DC - good enough for me !!) and it is bloody useful. If you have the cash then I would definitely get one whether racing or not but for serious training (for me the Alps) ....
To the OP
Power meters are as described above, a very good way to train but unless you are racing or planning to race soon then save your money.
If Sky use Stages, then thats good enough for me!
Agreed that they wouldn't use half-arse kit, but bear in mind that Sky are paid by stages to use their power metre.
'They measure your force/power through deflection in the crank arm'...or other areas of the bike.
'to be truly useful they should measure the output individually.'
for most amateurs, this is irrelevant.
Although they are useful if you're coming back from a lower body injury or suspect one of your legs is stronger than the other.
Training with power is a rich persons game tbh. Even on Spokely we can't find any really cheap ones, and thats saying something!
Quite right. I've got a Stages meter and a Powertap hub system.
I find the Stages (which measures left crank power only then doubles it) can fluctuate a lot more, but to be honest for most training it is absolutely fine.
You don't have to be racing to use one - if you want to improve or just be competitive in a sportive or your club rides then it is worth doing. You'll get more from a powermeter than spending the same amount on new wheels for example.
But, and it's a big BUT, you have to change your training to be completely power based to get the maximum benefit.
If all you are doing is riding as you were before then you've done nothing more than get a new expensive toy that gives you some data to do nothing with.
There are many books and online programs which can give you power-based training schedules, or if you are racing then using a coach may be worthwhile.
But if you aren't prepared to spend a little more to understand it then you're wasting your time.
Magnus Backstedt talked about power meters on the 4 Days of Dunkirque commentry yesterday.
He said that cheaper ones average the output of both cranks and that to be truly useful they should measure the output individually.
I have just started using them on my wahoo kickr. I am coming back from an injury and do all of my cycling on the trainer. You quickly see what power you can hold and what cadence versus pressing harder does to power. I have a stages crank at Christmas but never got use it due to my injury I am going to do my first ftp test 9 Monday to get a base number to work from. Linked to a heart meter you can quickly learn how to get the best out of yourself.
I have just started using them on my wahoo kickr. I am coming back from an injury and do all of my cycling on the trainer. You quickly see what power you can hold and what cadence versus pressing harder does to power. I have a stages crank at Christmas but never got use it due to my injury I am going to do my first ftp test 9 Monday to get a base number to work from. Linked to a heart meter you can quickly learn how to get the best out of yourself.
Good description above power is power it can't be changed due to coffee or a bad nights sleep as heart rate can be its a true description of your effort. Another big part of riding with power is understanding what the numbers are telling you and understanding zones. You need to do regular ftp tests which are 20 minutes of hell. I started training with power over the winter and my on road speed and endurance has really come on. Great device if you want to improve and are time limited. If your happy with your level then I wouldn't recommend one but if you want to prove its the best £ you can spend.
They measure your force/power through deflection in the crank arm. They are a far better way to train than heart rate because they give a more accurate reading in terms of performance gains. You can also see what you're putting out on each leg and then work on making improvements on any imbalances. HR alone is not a true indication of fitness or gains as there are so many variables that can raise or lower your HR on any given day. So using a meter along with HR is the way to go. As a side note you can use perceived effort alongside HR to measure/gauge any gains.