Training with a power meter ?

killalanerr

I have just aquired a power meter more by default than desire as it was on a set of wheels i have come by,i have just about got use to using heart rate for my training. Can you people what know about this stuff give me a quick run down on working with a power meter and if you would be so good to point me in the right direction as to who i should be reading to educate myself

couerdelion

"Training and racing with a power meter" by Coggan and Allen seems to be the main resource.

Friel also has a book out but it offered nothing new from my reading of it.

lennymc

training and racing with a power meter is the bible when it comes to training and racing with a power meter.

golden cheetah offers free software for analysing the power files.

fortis

Loads of resources on the web on how to train using a PM but they all centre around the same concepts espoused in the Coggan book

Basically determining power thresholds, identify weaknesses, train accordingly, retest, repeat. Has to be used properly or it's just another toy on the bike.

Great tool, doesn't make training or racing any easier mind!

fat bloke

killalanerr wrote: »

I have just aquired a power meter more by default than desire as it was on a set of wheels i have come by,i have just about got use to using heart rate for my training. Can you people what know about this stuff give me a quick run down on working with a power meter and if you would be so good to point me in the right direction as to who i should be reading to educate myself

Quickest way to get started if you know your heart rate zones is to match watts to bpm. So do your training as you've always done to a desired heart rate and make a note of what wattages those zones correspond to. That'll give you a good indication of your training zones but in watts instead of bpm.

harringtonp

Agree that training and racing with a power meter is well worth a read, lots of useful info. One thing it doesn't give you though is a complete program, though there are lots of sessions you can do.

If your typical training time is about 6 hours a week spread over 3-4 sessions I'd go straight for

http://www.amazon.com/The-Time-Crunched-Cyclist-2nd-Ed/dp/193403083X

read the core chapters, do your field test and follow one of the programs. Given you race I'd start with his Experienced Competitor. There may be better stuff out there but his programs are concise and easy to follow while you are looking around. This will get you up and running quickly.

pprendeville

Trainerroad is your only man IMO. Just started using it and it has practically every workout you could think of. Given your collarbone injury, the turbo would be a good start. I've done 48 sessions on the turbo this season and I'm actually used to it now once they don't go on for more than 90mins. But the good thing about TR is you can filter workouts by time, intensity, etc. Also has training plans.

Ryath

Introduction to Coggan's Book
http://www.peakscoachinggroup.com/Archivedarticles/Power_Training_Chapter.pdf

Couple of other interesting articles on the site as well.

killalanerr

Many thanks guys plenty there to keep me busy,the only bit i understand after the first read is
"Perhaps more importantly, representing the data in this manner is too complex for routine use."
but ill stick with it we will get their in the end.

duffyshuffle

Just get out riding it, go hard for a few seconds, a few minutes, a few times, do some climbing or racing, then upload it and play around with the data, I found it way easier to interpret it from my own rides rather than the books data, I do reread the book a good bit for refreshers, in it it has testing protocols to establish where you're strongest. Once you've done a few rides, it'll generate a critical power chart which you can then use to predict what watts you can hold for different times!
I use golden cheetah as can't do wko+ on a Mac, and also now just use strava premium as basic power analysis.

harringtonp

duffyshuffle wrote: »

Just get out riding it, go hard for a few seconds, a few minutes, a few times, do some climbing or racing, then upload it and play around with the data, I found it way easier to interpret it from my own rides rather than the books data, I do reread the book a good bit for refreshers, in it it has testing protocols to establish where you're strongest. Once you've done a few rides, it'll generate a critical power chart which you can then use to predict what watts you can hold for different times!
I use golden cheetah as can't do wko+ on a Mac, and also now just use strava premium as basic power analysis.

+1 Golden Cheetah, free, fast (it is a local application) and great analysis. Critical power chart and performance manager particularly useful

pprendeville

How's your training with power going Killanerr?