NoWhammies

I have done maybe half a dozen or so rides with my power meter and I have two observations

1. I hardly ever look at my speed. Every ride I've done, I've been focused on watts and keeping my watts above a certain threshold. So much so that I'm considering removing the speed field from Garmin screen.

2. Knowing my watts output can be disheartening. By that I mean I'll be riding my bike, thinking I'm putting out good wattage as I'm moving along at a good clip, only to look down and see I'm hardly putting out any watts at all. I'm either on a small slope, or the wind is pushing me, or whatever. And here I thought I was just crushing it.

That said I'm enjoying the use of the power meter. I'm still not dissecting my rides in Golden Cheetah or anything like that yet. But it is fun to ride with.

That is all.

RChung

Here's what I tell everyone once they get their very first power meter:

Just ride normally for a couple of weeks on your usual rides. Record every ride but for now keep your usual training log (you do keep a regular training log, right?). Record your RPE for every ride -- that will help you figure out how it feels when you're going hard(er) and when you're going easier. Learn the button functions so you don't have to fumble or look down while you should be watching the road. Make sure you know how to zero the torque. Download every ride but don't obsess about the data yet. Sprint if you want (everyone does). Try and set a max if you want (everyone does). Look at the pretty graphs if you want (everyone does). But don't change anything -- you don't yet know enough to change. You're just trying to get some baseline data so you'll be able to retrospectively evaluate your past rides. If you start changing what you were doing before you got a PM, you won't be able to compare with your (years of) old data.

After 10 rides or two weeks or so, you'll start to have enough data to understand what the books are talking about.

jadocs

I don't focus on speed either. Effort is what matters when you are training, or trying to manage your output in a fast group ride.

My main riding screen has:

1. Real time watts (I don't do the 3 second average. Real time/instant watts will make you pedal more efficiently/smoothly)
2. Power zone (Real time zone, not a graphical visual)
3. RPM (cadence)
4. BPM (HR)
5. Speed
6. Distance

Edit: You need to take an FTP test if you haven't already so you're zones have meaning.

firebird854

Keep the speed value on your garmin and use it to increase your aerodynamics. Take a look at your power for a given speed on a flat, then try to increase your speed by using the drops, changing position, etc.

mgopack42 

for normal riding, i display everything.
for training, i use the Garmin connect IQ app that shows me desired and actual watts, and interval times
For time trials (which i do for fun(?)), i display 3 sec power, instantaneous power (so i can see if i am going up down or steady, and HR ( i chose not to know my speed or time, i want to concentrate om my output only

cthenn

You'll notice just how little power you put out just cruising on the flats. Then when you try to match the power output on the flats that you do on climbs, you feel like you are going to die.

Seattle Forrest

2b when you ride into a headwind and move at a crawl, you look down and see you're actually doing well.

Hiro11

Yep, love this.

I recently got a power meter as well. I'm definitely ignoring speed and looking at power. When you combine the data with heart rate data, I find the power curve, relative effort and intensity measurements on Summit pretty useful, especially after the system starts to acclimate to your level of fitness. I also enjoy comparing my stats to the pros' stats and realizing what a tremendous weakling I really am. Left / right balance and pedaling force vectoring both seem useless, maybe it's me.

base2 

It's just a tool, nothing more.

I have one on every bike I own. Predominantly I use it to meter my efforts, keep track of speed, distance, cadence when indoors on the trainer. When outside, I know I can do "x" effort for "x" time. So I usually pace my effort on climbs, so that I can power on when everyone else burns out before the top.

A cool side benefit is actual VO2 ml/kg values & more accurate calorie data.

It is cool to know I put out 2-3 times as much power as a skinny & short person. It's not cool they are still faster with less effort.

It's just a tool. When your power is low & your heart rate is high, it's time for a rest day. But listening to your body already told you that.

Sojodave

I did a recent 75 mile race. When it started out, all the riders shot out like a rocket. I was drafting off the lead pack. I noticed we were going 26 mph at 400 watts, on a 3% grade into a headwind. I decided there is no way that was sustainable and dropped off the back. My power meter saved my life that day.

My power meter has taught me to climb hills smarter. I used to charge into them and hope I could sustain it until the top. I now pace hills much better and it has made me climb faster and ride smarter.

Carbonfiberboy 

I don't have a PM, but have been using HR for 20 years or so. I watch cadence. HR is interesting and I watch that too, but cadence really helps. Watch that vs. power vs. HR. I never watch speed and seldom distance. I have grade on my display. That can be helpful.

rubiksoval

Not paying attention to speed while using power is a massive waste. There can be a lot of insight gained there. Races, group rides, strava segments, etc., are never won by the person putting out the most power, they're won by the person going the fastest.

rubiksoval

You sat up at the beginning of a race and let the front group ride away from you?

That's not how races work.

jadocs

Yes speed matters...Power allows you to optimize it which is what I think you are saying here.

WhyFi

One of the things that I've learned is just how easy it is to conflate power necessary to accelerate to a given speed with the power necessary to maintain that same speed. I'm still guilty of putting in a good (for me) effort getting up to speed and then "maintaining," which can actually be a significant drop-off in effort.

Sojodave

Ha, it was a race for some, it was a ride for me...

NoWhammies

How are you comparing your data? I know some people on here recommend Golden Cheetah. I've only loaded one ride in to the software and played around with it a little. I found the whole thing to be confusing to be honest. Maybe I need to spend a bit more time playing with the software to try and figure it out. Also, how do you compare your stats to the pros? Are you riding the same courses?

How have you gone about this? Are you focused on keeping your watts in the same bracket for the climb? I have some hill climbs coming up this summer and am trying to determine how to best use the power meter for this task.

One interesting in thing I noticed on my last ride is that while I achieved an average watts output of X, my cadence was lower than I normally like. I don't know if that means I was mashing the pedals as opposed to spinning it out or what. But watts output vs cadence seem to be at opposite sides of the spectrum for me.

Carbonfiberboy 

Yes, my point. It's helpful to find the cadence that will allow you to deliver consistent power on long climbs, etc, whatever that is. For weenies like me, it's ~80 climbing. For strong riders, it's more like 95. That said, cadence responds to training rather well. You get better at doing whatever you do, no surprise.

jadocs

It's a personal thing. Once you are familiar with your metrics you can control how fast your matches are burned based on what you have in front of you. You can surge or sustain based on your capabilities or limitations. It will also let you know what gear you should be in ....how long can you hold 300 watts, 400, 500, 600, 700 and still have something left at the top of the climb? It's all personal based off your own metrics/riding style and how you may be feeling that day.

Hiro11

Nothing so complicated, I'm just using Strava Summit and Garmin Connect's tools. Many pros use Strava and you can just pull up their rides and races and compare power curves. Also, the beauty of power is you don't need to be riding the same course in the same conditions, output is still a very valid comparison.

jadocs

Yeah... I used TrainingPeaks for a while. Now I just use the analysis provided by the Wahoo Elemnt companion app. It's actually very thorough and interactive.

Cyclist0108

I've decided for mental health reasons to keep my default Garmin display on clock (tells me the time of day and displays my Viagra radar signal) and only look at the other stuff when I am not riding. If I really need one of those numbers in situ, I can toggle to a different screen.

base2 

Viagra radar? Tell me more!

Sojodave

I have my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt setup for 7 Power zones. We have a climb near my home that is about three miles at 6%. I keep my power at zone 5 instead of 6 or 7 and blow up before the hill is over. I've noticed I climb the hill faster, feel better, and don't have to resort to my lowest granny gear.

Voodoo76

Along these line one of the more profound observations when I first started with power was shifting up more on down hills when solo. I had a tendency to just spin/soft pedal & was giving away a lot of easy speed.