Power meters
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Many, most all pros HAVE PMs. But who uses them to train? Who has published that they look at that power number to determin how hard to go. You will read some that were trying for 500W intervals, but they did not feel so good, so dialed it down and only did 450W that day. That is training to RPE - not power. Race to power and you are not paying attention to the race.
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HR only tells you the rate that blood is getting pumped to the muscles, and it's not the most effective way to train. The muscles are what do the work and drives your bike forward or up hill. Power is a direct measure of the work your muscles are doing. The amount of blood flow can't give you that kind of direct measurement.
HRM have been around since at least the late 70s (maybe earlier?) so we've all used them, but for racing or big events I was always so excited and hyped up at the start of a race the HR was always way way too high, so I stopped wearing it for events because it was useless. The power meter never lies and isn't 'wrong' due to race day excitement or a Krispy-Kreme doughnut.
HRM have been around since at least the late 70s (maybe earlier?) so we've all used them, but for racing or big events I was always so excited and hyped up at the start of a race the HR was always way way too high, so I stopped wearing it for events because it was useless. The power meter never lies and isn't 'wrong' due to race day excitement or a Krispy-Kreme doughnut.
When you are doing 500W intervals and you do not feel up to it, what should you do? Do 500W anyway? I think you will dig yourself into a hole.
HRM are a tool as are pulse oximiters and PMs. What is your morning resting HR? What is your blood pressure, what is your SPO2. All that helps tell you what your body can take that day - and how you feel. A PM tells you how much power you put out, it is not a reflection of your body.
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It's difficult to improve what you don't measure. Runners can use a watch to track progress but cyclists need something other than speed on the flats. You don't need to be a slave to the numbers while training but I don't know how else you determine if a particular block of training is effective. For cyclists who don't have a lot of experience properly pacing intensity of intervals a powermeter can be very helpful and better than RPE or HR.
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Many, most all pros HAVE PMs. But who uses them to train? Who has published that they look at that power number to determin how hard to go. You will read some that were trying for 500W intervals, but they did not feel so good, so dialed it down and only did 450W that day. That is training to RPE - not power. Race to power and you are not paying attention to the race.
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And...how is a PM going to help you be better at either otehr than tuning position and equipment?
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Those that record power decided based on RPE / feel / morning HR that they were going to take it easier. The power meter just recorded it. So what. What will they do differently the next day? Just seeing speed will tell them they are off and they might go to bed earlier, skip a gym workout, or use lighter weights or ride fewer miles. They are not using the power meter to train.
As you believe me...I have 12 years of my kid's PM files and 25 years of wifes PM files and many many comparison's to pros (who are less power as they ride shorter distance). I have the books. I don't see how it helps. Nor does Cam Wurf (Kona 2X record holder) or Tailor Finney.
Show me the pro who publishes they use that power number to determine how hard to work. That is training to power. Their might be some, I can't find them.
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As you believe me...I have 12 years of my kid's PM files and 25 years of wifes PM files and many many comparison's to pros (who are less power as they ride shorter distance). I have the books. I don't see how it helps. Nor does Cam Wurf (Kona 2X record holder) or Tailor Finney.
Show me the pro who publishes they use that power number to determine how hard to work. That is training to power. Their might be some, I can't find them.
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For distance - you generally ride more miles
For speed - a weight program and time on bike
Training for both the above mean knowing what yout body can take and then recover from. Both are measured by speed. Where does power fit in?
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But Wed AM - you do not feel so good. Do you - train to plan, or adjust?
Those that train to plan I am arguing do not improve.
Those that train to RPE improve more.
The PM does record power improvement, but the whole point is speed (I think), so why not measure that?
HR is a better reflection of RPE/how you feel. An elevated morning HR says your are fatigued.
Take your BP sitting and standing. If you see it drop when standing, you are fatigued or dehydrated.
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The latest TdF winners have few years experiance (based on age). Even 2nd place started so late he has a few year's experiance. Do you think it is their coaching or talent that got them there? I doubt it was training to power - or disc brakes.
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This makes even less sense than the previous non-sensical statement you made.
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Nobody on the forum yet - inc racing -33 or general has told me how they train to power in 5 years - Meaning they use that number on the power meter to determine how hard they ride, vs just recording how hard they road.
Everyone with a PM uses it to record. That is not training TO power. That is like a Strava recording.
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Nothing about training TO [sic] power.
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I have a used Quarg crank spider- I think paid ~$400. Have had to fuss with it a few times, but overall good, & only adds 50g to bike weight.
Looking for a Powertap hub or wheel for a 2nd bike, which I hope to get for $100-$150.
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I have PowerTap P2 dual-sided pedals. They were originally P1 but one of them developed a problem where it would stop reporting beyond a certain wattage and SRAM sent me P2 as a warranty replacement. Of course now that they've discontinued selling PowerTaps, who knows what support if any there will be.
I've used the pedals for a variety of things, like pacing up climbs that I'd never been on before while passing others who went too hard and gassed themselves very successfully, doing indoor training on Zwift/Rouvy/etc. before I had a smart trainer, verifying the smart trainer power readings were matching. And of course swapping them between bikes. During the pandemic, I trained to power in order to do a vEveresting by focusing on long high-Z2, endurance riding on the weekends and shorter sweetspot sessions during the week. Knowing my upper-limit Z2 power was critical in pacing, as many start out too strong (even Phil Gaimon did on his first failed attempt this year) otherwise.
I've used the pedals for a variety of things, like pacing up climbs that I'd never been on before while passing others who went too hard and gassed themselves very successfully, doing indoor training on Zwift/Rouvy/etc. before I had a smart trainer, verifying the smart trainer power readings were matching. And of course swapping them between bikes. During the pandemic, I trained to power in order to do a vEveresting by focusing on long high-Z2, endurance riding on the weekends and shorter sweetspot sessions during the week. Knowing my upper-limit Z2 power was critical in pacing, as many start out too strong (even Phil Gaimon did on his first failed attempt this year) otherwise.
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I went with Favero Assioma pedals because they were relatively inexpensive compared to others, and also because they're the most convenient to move between bikes. I was a Shimano SPD-SL user, so I was initially apprehensive about switching cleat systems, and the standard cleats bundled with the pedals didn't give me any confidence at all - I nearly slipped at the shop immediately after putting them on! Fortunately I switched to the version with rubber grips and they've been great; in fact I've already switched pedals and cleats on my other bikes and shoes for compatibility.
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I have a Quarq on my road bike and a Stages on my TT.
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I have a Quarq CF crankset on one bike and a Stages left sided on another, both are good, reliable (well, do replace batteries in a timely way) and read very close to each other and our indoor trainer. Wife has Assioma pedals which also work great although she had issues clipping in and out from the gate (fiddling with tension and a little oil and it works).
It’s a brilliant tool for training and also for pacing long sustained efforts, in general. I would rather ride a bike with 105 and a PM than a bike with Ultegra and without.
It’s a brilliant tool for training and also for pacing long sustained efforts, in general. I would rather ride a bike with 105 and a PM than a bike with Ultegra and without.
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Many, most all pros HAVE PMs. But who uses them to train? Who has published that they look at that power number to determin how hard to go. You will read some that were trying for 500W intervals, but they did not feel so good, so dialed it down and only did 450W that day. That is training to RPE - not power. Race to power and you are not paying attention to the race.
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