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power meters

  • 10-03-2009 11:49pm
    #1
    bananamansgay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 99 ✭✭


    hi folks...

    did one sprint last year, doing 2 sprints this year, possibly an olympic. im trying to take my approach to training a lot more serous and i was reading the triathlon bible.... some of you may be familiar with it....

    well im going to purchase a heart monitor and was looking at getting a power monitor for the bike too.... has any one any views on them? or recommed where to get one?

    cheers


Comments

  • #2
    pgibbo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,377 ✭✭✭pgibbo


    I have never used one myself. A colleague here at work has won a few triathlons and also races a lot at category A or B and he swears by power meters. He was using one that goes to your hub (a powertap I think - restricted to Mavic wheels also I think) but recently upgraded to the entry level SRM. They are pretty expensive too. It's a big chunk of cash for just 2 or 3 events a year. Some of the Tacx trainers come with them too.

    If I recall correctly, tunney is a big fan of power meters.


  • #3
    bananamansgay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 99 ✭✭bananamansgay


    thanks pgibbo. the bible also bigs them up alot. i can see the reasoning behind it too in that it trains your muscles to give a solid output. i saw one online for about €200, coupled with a heart monitor you looking at €300 minimum. not cheap but i think it may be worth it....

    maybe tunney can share some info??


  • #4
    tunney
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,584 ✭✭✭✭tunney


    bananamansgay wrote: »
    thanks pgibbo. the bible also bigs them up alot. i can see the reasoning behind it too in that it trains your muscles to give a solid output. i saw one online for about €200, coupled with a heart monitor you looking at €300 minimum. not cheap but i think it may be worth it....

    maybe tunney can share some info??

    €200 will NOT get you a power meter. You are talking about a iBike. They are muck, don't work.

    I wrote something about power meters before (http://phoenixtriclub.com/blogs/tunney/?p=33)

    Basically SRMs or Powertaps are your only options. They are expensive. €2000 minimum.

    Now for the reality check........

    * Are you coached? If not do you have the expertise to self-coach to a level to get value for money from a power meter?

    * Are you at the level that a power meter is a must? Would structured training be enough?

    * Are you willing to ride mainly by yourself? If your session is 3 hours easy at 240 watts or whatever are you willing to ride on your own as riding with a group is pretty out if you are going to train by numbers.

    * Are you willing to do the work? A power meter isn't going to make you faster. You are by sitting on your bike and doing the miles and hurting when you need to hurt and going easy when you need to.

    * Finally and most importantly - are you buying a power meter now with the goal of guiding your training for this season? If so I'm sorry but its too late. Its March and if you are only starting back now or only getting serious now then its pointless getting a power meter. It will take you a month or so to get used to it, know your levels and plan your training. As it is its too late to start taking your biking seriously never mind in a month.

    (Before I get hammered for saying its too late to be starting your training the OP has asked about a power meter and "taking training seriously". )


  • #5
    hunnymonster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,365 ✭✭✭hunnymonster


    good post Tunney, as for getting hammered? You? never! But, while the op might not get the most out of a PM this year, whould he delay getting one just because of that? I wouldn't have thought so, even if it will only pay dividends next year unless (s)he is planning a serious "peak" this year due to a very structured plan.


  • #6
    bananamansgay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 99 ✭✭bananamansgay


    thanks for the feedback guys.

    €2000 is well out of my price range, and yea it was an ibike that i saw @ €300

    im not coached, but im trying to come up with a well structured plan that will see me go on from next week, and peak in late june (skerries sprint) and then again in late july (kinsale sprint). id like to do the olympic athy one on May 30th but not sure if its too soon for me (think it might also be too much to do 3 in 3 months).

    im getting through the triathletes bible at the moment. theres alot of info there to take in, but im sorting through it and just looking for info on how to structure my training effectivley. last year im pretty sure i over trained for kinsale and while i did it in 1.32 i know i should have done better. especially on the run, i was totally spent after 5 mins.

    I think i took the 'do as much as possible as often as possible' route last year. doh!

    i guess i saw the power meter as a way to improve my bike leg (which when done properly im sure it would do), but @those prices it is now not an option. im sure i can make improvements with out one anyway. i think il use my (€500) budget to either buy a new set of wheels or a trainer (i can only get on the road at the weekend and feel i should be doing some bike during the week) and il defny be getting a heart monitor.

    thanks again for the feedback guys (tunney especially).


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