Tell me what I need to know about power meters??

imurdaddy

Hi Folks,

I'm fairly clueless about power meters but having done some research I can see the advantages and benefits! Last time I looked at the available range there was only one or two units on the market, but now there's loads of options hubs, crank arms, pedals even cleat, I also noticed the price has come down dramatically! So with a few quid remaining out of the new bike budget what are the best options? and which to avoid? Also what head unit is recommended? Something like a Garmin?

Thanks

diomed

I have two in my garage. Now and again I take a reading and send it in to Electric Ireland.

lizzylad84

imurdaddy wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I'm fairly clueless about power meters but having done some research I can see the advantages and benefits! Last time I looked at the available range there was only one or two units on the market, but now there's loads of options hubs, crank arms, pedals even cleat, I also noticed the price has come down dramatically! So with a few quid remaining out of the new bike budget what are the best options? and which to avoid? Also what head unit is recommended? Something like a Garmin?

Thanks

from my limited current eperience, stages crank based power meters are the best (cheapest) option if buting new. althought some more serious people prefer gramin vector pedal based pm units due to the fact that you can measure both left and right leg power.

Lusk_Doyle

You don't need one is all you need to know.

comete

What is your itended use for it?

Do you race? Have you gotten as much benefit as possible from training specifically with your heart rate monitor?

07Lapierre

Buy new wheels instead.

harringtonp

In this forum this thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=88422727

is the power meter gospel. I'd suggest going through it as time consuming as it may be. Lots of useful titbits there.

johnk123

+1 on above thread...



Then read up on DCrainmakers site. I agree with him when he says that nobody can tell you what power meter you need or what one will suit you best. Only you can decide which will best fit, and only by understanding the pros and cons of each type will you figure out which might work for you.

1750W

Don't bother getting one unless you intend to use it as an effective training tool combined with the use of a reputable coach with experience of interpreting and prescribing workouts such as A1 coaching or Digg deep coaching.

1750W

As for makes if you have the money bu an SRM I find my SRMs are far better than the power 2max which are infinitely more reliable than stages or pedal based Power meters.

DirkVoodoo

Do I need a power meter is distinct from do I want a power meter.

Lots of people want power meters without really having a need for it. Having something that tells you a few numbers isn't any use unless you apply it correctly. Being able to say I've an FTP of 360W is great, but if I'm getting dropped or struggling with recovery then it's just an expensive notification tool.

Get a power meter if:

1) You are able to interpret the numbers and develop an effective plan to help you improve
2) Are able to also afford to get a coach to help make sense of those numbers if you can't
3) Find your time limited for high volume training and need to get quality training out of every hour spent
4) Understand that's a power meter is a means to an end, it's a tool to get a job done. The job being developing and sticking to an effective plan.

A power meter will tell you how hard you're working, it won't do the work for you. A lot of guys seem to think that simply buying a power meter is going to add 30W.

Lumen

Forget about transferring between bikes, it only complicates things. It's nice to have at least one bike that doesn't bleat about your inadequacies.

I've used Powertap, Quarq and Power2Max. Of those the Quarq is by far the most reliable; even that cut out in heavy downpours, although maybe that was the Garmin. The only one I wouldn't buy again was the Powertap. I would tend to favour crank power meters over other types because they are low maintenance.

Buy a PM if you want one. Get a coach if you want one. It's all just consumption and amusement.

imurdaddy

Thanks lads, i must have a look at DCrainmaker, id looked at Stages single side and Garmin Vector,

lennymc

I've got a powertap and use it in all weathers, and have done maybe 25k km or more on it. I changed the bearings once using a guide posted by Doozerie and havent had a single problem with it. I even raced a cx race with it for the craic. Very easy to switch between bikes - as easy as changing a wheel.

imurdaddy

Folks the reason im looking at power meters is due to a big year in 2016 im hitting a milestone birthday and have several big goals! Yes I can afford a coach but im lucky that a close friend is a cycling and tri coach involved with some great athletes in the UK and Europe, now I dont expect free coaching but hes giving me mates rates and also undertaking some of the challenges next year! I personally have no idea about the data they supply but im keen to learn! Cost not been a pro/having a full time team of trainers is irrelevant to me, I wouldn't buy it just to look pretty it will be upto my coach to guide me and go through the data, ill just provide the sweat!

I appreciate all the advice! And understand there are guys who buy PMs for no good reason, but at the prices they are now I can justify buying one to see if it helps my preparations.

If anyone is interested in the challenges im taking on let me know,

harringtonp

As always advice varies and its worth reading the other thread to get a good balance of views.

I'd offer the opinion that

1) training with a PM is not much more complex than training with a HRM

2) you don't necessarily need a coach as a good book or plan will suffice

3) it is handy to be able to transfer it between winter and summer bikes.

1750W

harringtonp wrote: »

As always advice varies and its worth reading the other thread to get a good balance of views.

I'd offer the opinion that

1) training with a PM is not much more complex than training with a HRM

2) you don't necessarily need a coach as a good book or plan will suffice

3) it is handy to be able to transfer it between winter and summer bikes.

You should have started with point 3 and stopped there.

Beasty

1750W wrote: »

As for makes if you have the money bu an SRM I find my SRMs are far better than the power 2max which are infinitely more reliable than stages or pedal based Power meters.

I've had 2 sets of Vectors and find them unreliable and difficult to set up and keep properly calibrated. Other than on this site I've heard nothing positive about Stages. I've had a few Quarqs and find them no problem. Similarly Powertaps are reliable but the problem is you are stuck with the wheel

Only had an SRM and also Power2Max on the track bikes this year so they have little exposure to the elements, but I am finding them absolutely no problem so far

ballyharpat

Ive been using power taps since 2006, never had an issue with them-the early cpu's used to be a problem, but now I have a joule gps, much better setup for power than a garmin, IMO. If I were going again, I'd go Powertap all over, reliability, consistency, ease of use, ease of service and ease of maintenance.

fat bloke

ballyharpat wrote: »

but now I have a joule gps, much better setup for power than a garmin, IMO.

Why, so, because?

As a matter of interest like. I've a powertap and a Garmin. Wondering what I'm missing out on

ballyharpat

fat bloke wrote: »

Why, so, because?

As a matter of interest like. I've a powertap and a Garmin. Wondering what I'm missing out on

I may be biased, but I think there are more set ups/screens that I can choose from to make whatever data I want at the forefront.
Also, the new joule is capable of uploading straight to strava etc, I believe.
I like the backlight and look of it better as well.

DirkVoodoo

harringtonp wrote: »

2) you don't necessarily need a coach as a good book or plan will suffice

I beg to differ. Even with a power meter and a book, people can still end up with unexpected results, because they can't tweak the plan as circumstances change. Check out this guy (:)):

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=94016319

A coach is just a guy at the end of the phone who can make sense of the numbers, tailor your plan to your goals and make changes if you feel you aren't getting the performance you think you should be.

It's not going to involve Ivan Drago levels of lab equipment and analysis and saying "I have a coach" doesn't mean you're looking to Rio 2016.

equivariant

I am also thinking about investing in a PM. Are they useful for base training or are they more useful for higher end stuff? I am wondering if I should wait given that this season is nearly over?

DirkVoodoo

equivariant wrote: »

I am also thinking about investing in a PM. Are they useful for base training or are they more useful for higher end stuff? I am wondering if I should wait given that this season is nearly over?

Everyone is different. It's handy to record the data during winter, and look at it after, but I would be a fan of turning off everything and just riding by two metrics over winter:

1) Time
2) Feel

harringtonp

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I beg to differ. Even with a power meter and a book, people can still end up with unexpected results, because they can't tweak the plan as circumstances change. Check out this guy (:)):

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=94016319

A coach is just a guy at the end of the phone who can make sense of the numbers, tailor your plan to your goals and make changes if you feel you aren't getting the performance you think you should be.

It's not going to involve Ivan Drago levels of lab equipment and analysis and saying "I have a coach" doesn't mean you're looking to Rio 2016.

As a starting point for a newbie with a PM I could suggest Strava premium and follow one of their 4 weeks plans. They take you carefully through the field test and how to get your training numbers from it

PowerToWait

Got me a Powertap couple months back on recommendations of people I take seriously.

Also got the 'Racing and Training....' book. Maybe I'm missing something, but it doesn't appear that you need to be a sports physiologist to grasp at least the basics.

I've trained with HR across multiple sports for over 20 years but I can safely say the PM is the way forward:)

I now just watch power (3 second av), cadence and HR. In that order. I know for certain I've made gains I wouldn't have in training with HR.

Personally I find it a great motivational tool.

Looking forward to the next 9 months of watching that ftp climb upwards :pac:

ballyharpat

I have used a coach with my power meter, it was the best thing, but I have also used my power meter with the training bible and training with a power meter, not as good as using a coach, but it is better than not using a power meter. Coaches are a lot more expensive than a power meter and if they are not able to read power numbers, they are less than useless with a power meter.
My advice, get a power meter, use it at the end of the season to get the hang of it, and set your base power/basic numbers. Once you have those, you can build and do the workouts you need to in a limited time. All of your workouts can be beneficial to training-especially if you are caught for time.
I use my power meter at the moment, but I have no intention of going back racing, it does give me nice graphs and numbers though )