6 Reasons Why You Need A Cycling Powermeter
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2017
- Matt & Dan are in the Dolomites in Alta Badia and have 6 reasons why you should invest your money in a powermeter for your bike.
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Let us know your experience of training and racing with a powermeter in the comments below 👇
If you are totally against them, let us know why too 👇
Fitness Gains - Having a powermeter is going to lead to huge gains in fitness. You will be able to use the data to formulate a training plan specific to your needs.
Segment Times - You can set a power PB instead of time PB's. Particularly important as wind can massively effect a timed segement of riding.
Dealing With Headwind - A powermeter can help you deal with headwinds. Knowing that you can keep a good even tempo and not worrying about speed.
Go Faster - A powermeter makes sure you don't go into the red to soon, and "blowing up" followed by a miserable rest of your ride.
Use As A Reference - A powermeter gives you a reference against yourself. Allowing you to see how your efforts number up on roads you may be visiting compared to local roads
Test Yourself - Testing is training, and training is testing. A powermeter allows you to train on the open road and test your fitness
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Watch more on GCN...
How To Pace A Time Trial Like A Pro 📹 gcn.eu/1VvX7Tu
How To Do A Functional Threshold Power (FTP) Test 📹 gcn.eu/FTPtest
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Leave us a comment below! - Спорт
I'd rather avoid these. With power comes great responsibilities.
You mean great investments
With great power comes great responsatilerence. Draxx them pedals sklounst.
Friggin brilliance
@@MilanSmore great expenses
I'd love to see a video about left-only vs left+right power meters
I'm 68, retired, and trying hard to remain fit and healthy, and avoid injury and illness. My powermeter is essential to those goals. When I was working, I could ride, hard, every chance I got, and not overtrain. Not that many chances to ride. Now that I can ride all day, every day, I need a tool to help me know when it's time to take a rest day, or ride at recovery pace. Not every retiree will need to use a power meter this way, but for those of us for whom endorphins overpower good judgement, it's absolutely a godsend.
“Endorphins overpower good judgement” well put.
Are endorphins real? I’ve never experienced this.
How many years have you been using a power meter and have you noticed if your power has gone up or down as you have aged?
I like how they drop everyone on the climb lol
they humiliated them, i Love it , Like Toatlly (in Donald´s voice)
Drafting behind a camera vehicle obviously has its gains
DigiKunt hood point but they weren't fierce close it going fierce fast so it surely wouldn't make a huge difference if any?
They actually made a video about that. IIRC 10m behind a camera bike, not car, still showed significant performance gains. but that indeed was on a flat, not on a climb. :)
DigiKunt - That's not an excuse for getting dropped! You can jump on their wheel and get the exact same (very small) benefit.
I have been riding with a powermeter for the last 10 years. I could not even imagine riding without one. It does improve the performance, helps with the pacing and not getting too much into the red. A number of times I manged to drop people because of the meter. ride close to my 4 min max and never dip in the red. Then a short sprint is enough to drop people. I have a power meter that also shows pedaling efficiency it is great to see how efficiently I pedal and if position changes do improve this. I agree with the fact that riding should be about the fun of it. For me the numbers have made it more enjoyable. I only care really about 2-3 numbers now : power, m climbed and time
Training / Riding with a power meter has changed the way I ride. Prior to using a power meter I relied on cadence and HR to judge/monitor my effort on a ride. However, there are many factors that can and will affect ones HR on any given ride. After purchasing my first power meter and training to power I soon noticed that my ability to ride longer distances and attaining a higher average speed were achieved. I don't race, though I am a competitive person my nature. I'm also not a numbers cruncher either. I don't dig into the numbers of a ride and try to determine where I could have shaved off a few seconds here and there and where I could/should have ridden at a higher power output. What I do do is use my power meter to maintain certain wattage throughout a ride and when I need to dig into my power reserves I know my tank will not be empty. Riding with a power meter also allows me to better enjoy each and every ride. On a closing thought. I will admit that I regularly do a FTP test. And since starting to use a power meter my FTP has risen by over 10% (actually closer to 15% but whose tracking - LOL).
Cheers!
What type of power meter did you purchase? I.e pedals,crank arm, hub etc? Cheers
I'm training with a HR and cadence sensors and using HR to pace myself... When you use PwrMtr to be the main pace,,, what role does the HR do in the setup? I'm learning about pwr-mtr usage.
@@blizzbee track whether your efficiency has improved or not I suppose?
3:48 miseed opportunity for "a Watt is a Watt, no matter What"
"Isn't that right watt?.. I mean Matt"
Whatever....
@@sausageseggandchips you mean wattever?
I love the thrill of passing all the riders with their super-expensive bikes as they blow up on the climbs. My cheap bike has a power meter and that pacing tool is how I beat them to the top.
Ah another fred making up fantasies.
I love how they're just nonchalantly dropping people while talking to each other
Well yeah they're both ex pros on super lightweight bikes and the best equipment .
Since I first got my Powertap C1 powermeter back in April of this year (2017), I've increased my FTP 95 watts!
Before that, I'd only been riding for a bit more than a year.
First FTP when I got the powermeter gave me a 155, a month later by using zone training my FTP went up to 193 (+38 watts), as of the beginning of July 2017 I'm now up to FTP 250 watts.
Another increase of 57 watts in about 3 months!
GCN, through many of their info videos has helped me become a stronger, more resilient rider.
Do you need a powermeter? No.
Does a powermeter assist in your cycling? Absolutely!
My altimate goal is to do triathlon at the half Ironman distance.
Cycling was the first (easiest) discipline for me to start training in.
The powermeter and various zone training videos has been a phenomenal assistance for me.
Well done, just proves the point the GCN guys were making. Good luck with the swimming and running as it seems you have the cycling cracked :)
Not putting a downer on your progress (well, i might be) but i was in a similar boat.
Broken leg in Aug 2014, started cycling in Jan 15 and carried out my 1st 20 min FTP in Sep 15, once fully healed and back running properly. Gave a low FTP of 136, my last one in Apr 17 It was 220 and i hadn't done any proper training, just going out on my bike when i could for rides of varying lengths and effort with a couple of races thrown in as well.
I put that down to my legs being now conditioned to cycling instead of running and that the power "gain" was soley down to that. Also being able to better pace myself with the 20 min FTP would have improved the result by a few %
I think my next big purchase will be a power meter but only after i have implemented and stuck to a proper training plan, as i am still seeing gains (albeit slower) with what i am currently doing.
Mac McDade no worries on the downing my gains...
I'm a big fella... Over 260 pounds.
Weight lifting and all the rest.
Cycling is for my goal / triathlon training...
As a novice, you improve a lot by just riding and a bit of training. Your progress is likely not related to having a powermeter. Unlike Dan's, who has been pro for a couple of years before getting one. I wonder, which team was he on?
(Sorry for replying to a very old thread) Of course a power meter would help but it’s not the only reason for your improvement. Not exhausting your muscles by too hard sprints but rather keep the average speed is quite a common knowledge after a few tries, you will definitely feel it. The power meter readings just visualise this. I improved my average speed a lot just by remembering this. And using clipless pedals.
I got a powermeter mainly to help pacing a sportive I did last year - staying within known limits really helped on unfamiliar climbs.
have been training to power for five years now. Really helps me prepare for a race I do every year in CapeTown, South Africa. There are climbs in the race but I live on "pan" flat roads in Saudi Arabia. The power meter helps my coach, who lives 7500miles away from me, to prepare my training based on my FTP and my goals for the race. We even use Zwift (to power) to simulate the hills I will face in South Africa
Let me get this right....two men kitted out with fantastic bikes, fantastic GCN gear riding in the most beautiful part of the world while talking to each other and the video equipment while dropping other riders! Some people have everything....and here I am in Arizona, USA with a broken bike and broken dreams. Another great video, chaps! #GCNROCKS
Used to use one for training and racing but my performance started to suffer, and would be more and more tired afterward, despite the numbers remaining constant. Then I realised that the passion was gone and all I had left was a focus on data. Put the power meter and bike computer back in their boxes, passion and performance came back, with the racing results to boot. It's now two years since and do not regret my decision for a moment! And for what it's worth, Warren Barguil seems to agree, according to an article which has just appeared on cyclingnews.com!
If it's the P1 and you sell them sort of cheap. :)
Interesting point. Just bought a power meter after using a basic speed unit which I’ve found useful over the years. I guess the point is not to be over obsessive and use it a another marker to help you enjoy the ride...
Seems this may be old content these days, but then again I spend most of my time behind the trend-line, so I'll add my tuppence-worth.
Obviously, as a kid, I rode every mile of every ride like I was in a bunch sprint on the final straight on the Champs Elysee. Advance several years and I started using a heart-rate monitor. To be honest though, I never really used the data it provided and still measured success by my average speed (the 'hero' metric as I like to call it). One day I got my hands on a cadence sensor and I started to pay attention to what it's telling me.
I started pacing by cadence - especially on the hills - and I saw a benefit! My endurance improved, though on 100 mile rides I was still blowing-up a little early. I was also still using my Hero metric, but now aimed to get a shelf-like profile from my cadence.
That's how it was for over 10 years until the big day came when I bought a power meter - specifically the Garmin Vector 3 pedals - and for the first few rides I didn't know what I was doing with the data, but I keep collecting it. After a few months, the power curve of a ride started to make sense and I was actually making decisions and plans based on the data.
Now I can look at a ride in advance for both length and terrain and determine a power level to ride at. I can complete the longer rides with something left in the tank for a sprint(ish) at the end. And as I get stronger (or weaker) I can see it. I can target specific areas for improvement too.
From my experience I would say that if you are going to have just one measure, it should be a power meter. Next would be cadence (though you'll like get cadence rolled up in your power meter anyway) and then heart-rate. My reasoning is simple, it's easier to measure and understand power. If you are going to ride 10 miles you might say, I can average 24mph for that distance. The reality is though that it depends on how hilly the terrain is and the weather (the wind can help or hinder a rider) - you'd likely struggle to hit 24mph at any point on Alpe D'huez. However, power is absolute, and you can aim to maintain a power output up a hill, on the flat, into a headwind... power is the result of your cadence , your gearing, that strip of road and it's gradient and you can control it using your gears. you know when your putting out too much - or too little - and can dial it up and down as needed; and by doing so, you can stop yourself blowing up early, or returning home without a sweat to show for your efforts.
I don't use a power meter simply because of their price. I train regularly and use my breathing and cadence to maintain a steady tempo along with my heart rate. If I ever plan to race I might invest in one. Train on feel. If you are feeling good go hard. If you are not then just tempo and maintain consistency. My cadence average is anywhere between 90-100 rpm depending on the day, the wind and terrain. But no matter what, I always try to keep it there. If it's super windy and I can't turn a particular gear I drop it down and raise the cadence and try to keep the same speed. Obviously in the hills or mountains speed will be different and so will cadence. But I find what cadence I can tempo and match my breathing pattern to go uphill. Training on feel is also so much more free! The way riding a bike is supposed to feel. Either way, do what you feel is most comfortable for you and use what you can afford.
: )
Power meter + the LEDs on and wahoo bolt makes training to power easy! You can look down and quickly and easily see what power zone you are in. Just completed ride London which I knocked 1hr off my previous time, just by knowing if I was going in to the red and easing off a bit.
I was a road marathoner who lost the road running bug over the years. I then ditched the roads and fell in love with trail/mountain ultramarathons where time and splits and everything is irrevelant. Its primal and made me connect with the inner me. I recently had a few injuries and finally caved in and bought an endurance road bike for the first time in 30 years. I go on GCN alot to learn about cycling as I am a complete beginner. My maiden voyage on my 2019 Cannondalw Synapse was a 30 miler and I averaged 18 MPH with sneakers, wearing regular shorts a t shirt and a backpack. I hate saying this but bikes come across as such snobs. They are in love with their gear and for some reason come across as elitist. I'm enjoying biking but the people in and around the bike shops and bike trails are more smug than golfers.
Tell me about it. I’m a golfer and I feel intimidated coming into this sport.
Golfers are kind.
Another great use is Aero testing. If you find a straight road you can make body position adjustments and see if speed goes up while pushing the same Watts.
Thank you for the tip! I never thought of using the wattage for pacing myself.
Also useful when coming back from injury to keep below limit. Also right to left balance is useful if you injure one knee etc.
Since getting a powertap I'm guilty of watt watching, but seeing your power go up or heart rate go down is a great feeling and keeps me very motivated rather than just racing results or segment times. I chose my power meter over an expensive bike or race wheels.
Would love to see this updated with option, prices and best paired accessories
Thanks for the feedback Brad!
at the rip old age of 57 my power meter is my heart and lungs, when they struggle I tend to slow down ! My golden training rule never cycle past an open pub
Yesss. I bought one yesterday and needed this video to justify buying it
I bought my powermeter in 2015 and it was great at first, did a few races, it was fun analyzing the data but I think it was the one thing that really killed my love of riding. A year and a half later and I'm hardly riding as much I used to (maybe 500mi/year as opposed to 2000-3000mi/year before) and still trying to get back to the joy I had on my bike before I bought it.
Back in my day there was no such thing other than a basic computer and h/r monitor ( just ask Matt). How one felt was really
the only way you could determine one's performance. Having a powermeter over the last couple of years has really helped my
training and performance, giving me my real output of effort in actual time, and most of all, learning to conserve energy when
I need to.
I've had a P-meter for a few weeks, not done an FTP or anything training specific yet, but using it for pacing & getting a feel for my numbers, I've already taken some substantial gains on local climbs & segments.
I have quarq power meter and I am working within the different power zones defined by Coggan. It allows me to focus on areas of weakness and spend my time effectively. A good bike is nice but quality training is invaluable. Given the cost of coaches and the simplicity of Coggan and and websites like Trainerroads I would recommend going for a portable (and consistent) power meter first,
I've had a PowerTap hub for a few years. Not good enough to be racing, but I like seeing all the numbers. Have had to get my wheel rebuilt several times from crashes though. Thinking crank-based might be more durable
I started using an Avio power meter a little while ago - dirt cheap at £249 factory fitted to my campy crank and I LOVE it. Its slightly annoying that you have to zero offset before every ride and then wait ten seconds, but at that price its a bargain compared to the alternatives!!
Heart rate monitor gives you most of the mentioned benefits. Plus, if it's not a cycling specific, you can use it for other sports, where none uses power meters
You can check your powerage by doing some tests in the local gym on a decent turbo trainer.
HRMs are still relevant, but a very different tool. Especially in cycling, HR is not that good of a performance indicator, even in running, HR is slowly replaced by run power or pace for training purpose. However HRMs are great for measuring your fitness, recovery and so on, so power meter + HRM is the way to go.
I would be interested to know your review on Powerpod as an alternative to a direct measurement power meter.
Powermeters are brilliant but I'd say for young riders don't invest in one because it's not good to get into numbers too much. Just enjoy cycling and do your hard training then when you reach a serious level start using one
RodGU yes you should enjoy riding but if you are serious about it, a power meter will be a huge help.
RodGU I got a power meter last year and, yes, it has changed the way I experience rides. But I love all the feedback and analysis that I know are making me a stronger rider. Personally, my FTP went up 15% in 12 months of using it.
As a 15-year-old junior, I disagree. I train and race with a power meter and am professionally coached.. all my workouts are power based. Also in a race, I find it to be very helpful to be able to look down at my power if I attack a climb and need to gauge my effort while off the front. It is almost essential in a TT.. doing a hillclimb TT without power seems rather ineffective...
Rishav Kundu In a hill climb TT, power=VAM, you don't really need a power meter (unless you are climbing in very windy conditions). if you repeat the climb several times, what do you need the power for? What matters is how far you are from the KOM on Strava.
I see why a powermetre is beneficial but what is true is you don't need a powermetre or good equipment in order to be the best. The proofs in the pudding most of the greats now had nothing just a functional bike for training
I don't know if I really need one for every ride, but I'd definitely need it for training, at least to synchronize between feeling ( have been using this method for 2 years ) and actual numbers, so at least I could grasp how much my power that I produced without looking at power meter...
btw it is a long road for me because I don't even have cyclo computer, only Cateye Strada Cadence.
Good and clear information
August 2019: retired on a tight budget. What’s a decently reliable, lowest cost PM I can buy (new)? I already have the Garmin HRM Dual. Prob will end up with a road bike using Shimano Claris crankset.
I like watching my wattage on the exercise bikes at the gym as I watch television--I like to set a wattage goal and maintain it for a specified length of time and keep an eye on my output. It is great for training, no question, but I have to yet to do the same out on the open road and that's probably a mix of not really being able to afford it and thinking what more do you need than an Avocet computer?
"because power is absolute" Epic.
Ugh! I just need the purchase of my home to go through!! All cycling related spending is on hold till we've got the keys- hubby's orders :(
I've waited AGES for a power meter, and am building up a new bike that will include one. However, the hills around here are so steep that I may not be able to use it while also having a 1x setup. I mean, what's the use if you're grinding? Either way, I am totally excited about this. There are trails that have long moderate sections, and maybe that's all one needs for testing. Those 20-30% grades either need more gears, or just more power (grinding). And the steep sections aren't very long anyways.
I can understand a lot of the benefits in looking at numbers and how they relate to performance, but ultimately, if you are not racing, what is the point of spending a good bit of cash on a power meter? I'd venture to guess that a good majority of bike riders are recreational, and they are just out to have fun and get exercise, so having all of the stats at your disposal probably isn't the highest priority. Maybe if you were filthy rich, sure. I can understand if you are racing, those benefits are clear.
Jonathan Minnick Doesn't matter. Who doesn't want to become fitter and faster. Buy a power meter before spending on an expensive lightweight bike; better value.
I am strictly a recreational rider. I don't race nor do I do group/club rides. And I honestly have no idea what my FTP is (nor do I really care). I ride for the health benefits and because I truly love riding my bike. While I do not have a power meter, I still track some ride data. Why? Because even though I ride solo and for fun, my data motivates me. Seeing my heart rate lower on a long climb or an improved average speed on a tough loop gives me tangible feedback that, yes, riding is making me healthier and stronger. And quite frankly, actually seeing that in my numbers feels great and helps motivate me to keep riding. So I could see how someone like me might like another data point, even if the numbers don't really matter.
Erik B You can ride by feel and get fitter and faster. You don't need a power meter just for that. And in the climbs you can estimate power pretty well just from the V.A.M.
I ride with a club about once a week. Riding with a (disciplined) club will improve your fitness and overall riding style. You'll learn things you won't learn riding by yourself. Well worth the effort and piles of fun, too.
I'm with you. Strava gives an approx power which is close enough for rec riders to gauge av power or even power per segment. This won't help for pacing in real time but if you are not a pro then so what?
Loved you Powermeter video - What do you think about the Velocomp - Powerpods as power meters. Are the pedal mounted untis better than these handlebar mounted units
I'm 67 and I'm also interested in your question. I was hit from behind by a pickup truck (Sept 12/20) while training for my 5th triathlon, I did $3000 USD to his pickup truck!. I'm having to replace everything and I want to include a PowerPod handle bar powermeter as it fits my budget nicely. Why did you ignore the Powerpod? I think a powermeter could be a great tool to get back on track once I heal enough to start riding. I should be walking by January 1, 2021
I bought an powermeter four years ago at the age of 57 ... I didn’t use it properly the first year, then I bought a book about how to train peoperly with one ... I am going faster and getting stronger every uesr since .. well I think I soon will hit my limit because of my age, beside byuing an bicycle, byuing an powermeter is the next best thing ... for me ☺️☺️
I have a power meter of sorts. I look around at the other riders faces. If they aren't grimacing, then I need to put out some more power. If I look around and everyone seems to be dropped, then I am making a PR. Best part: no batteries required!
Also you can use Zwift with only simple analog turbotrainer+powermeter in addition to having power readings on the road
How long was it before Dan was able to design training plans and rides from when he got a power meter? Thanks
I would love a power meter and might get one since I have the Edge 1030.... maybe the vector 3.... I’m not fast or even a killer on hills but I’d like to be able to look down once in awhile and see what I am doing. Figured the exercise would be good a month out after having open heart surgery....
I have none. And moreover, my speedometer also gave out.. and so did my new one. Basically I've had no speed numbers or know how many KM I've done in over 2 years. So... pretty clear that for me there is no NEED for it. But do I want to have one? Hell yeah. For pretty much all the reasons mentioned in the video. It's clear it will help me reach another level, or at the very least validate my progress or lack of. I just don't want to be the "addicted" kind that everything revolves around stats and putting numbers for people you don't know on the web that don't care. But yeah, the video really states why it's on my bucket list!
Really doesn't matter if there is a point😊 I am a self confessed MAMIL!! I love going out on my roadbike and churning out the miles as fast as I can without killing myself and I absolutely love my garmin with all the numbers. I haven't got a power meter yet and want one so I have the full set of performance metrics. I will never be a competitive athlete or win a time trial so you could argue there's no point, but I find the numbers interesting whether they are awesome or mediocre and like the idea of maybe improving them. It doesn't spoil my ride, it enhances it. Sometimes it's good to embrace the tech. The kit and the bike bling🤔😂 I often get slagged for being the way I am by the riders who just want to enjoy the scenery and also by the all out performance riders who say there's no point in me having the kit. On both levels I think we may be taking it all too seriously. However you ride, enjoy it. Enjoy the scenery, enjoy the bling, enjoy the tech. Enjoy the race 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
I bought a sub £1k bike on the cycle to work scheme. Instead of upgrading with wheels and fancy bits I bought a power meter (powertap pedals). It's the best thing I could have done, it's enabled me to get stronger and ride smarter so I'm able to be more comfortable on the social rides and know when I can push. I'd rather upgrade myself than blame the bike and drop money on aero wheels etc.
I've been training for the last 19 weeks, 12 weeks 2 1/2 hours a week with swift and virtual power. The first 12 weeks I brought my 20 min ftp up by 36 watts from 191 to 227. The last 7 weeks was outside mostly and no power and only 2 or 3 sessions on swift when the weather was bad, but still increased my ftp up 10 watts even though I was there for endurance only. I will never buy a power meter that costs more than a cheap £300 bike to buy. Yes they are good training tools, but if you don't mind indoor training with swift or programme like it, it is cheaper. 1 year on swift costs £96 uk. If you train right, 1 to 2 years on swift will get you very strong indeed. As for pacing up hills, I go on heart rate as it is steady enough for long climbs to pace with.
Could you make a video on chainring vs cassette what should you upgrade?
Worst decision I made was not getting my first PM sooner.
I'm curious about the music at the start of the video. That's some good tunes there.
A HRM does the job as well and costs a lot less. I think most gcn viewers ride with them instead of an expensive powermeter. Maybe more videos on that subject?
Main difference is... there are so many variable those impact the HR numbers such as caffeine, amount of sleep, food, hydration, temperature, mood, a lot more but the PWR number is just one thing,,, it is the pure power you put into the drivetrain no matter the conditions above. A very direct-meaning number.
What if i cant afford one? Should I sell a kidney?
i hear the market is good for kidneys these days
Absolutely! You only need one kidney to live. However, if you already sold one to buy your bike, then you better not sell another.
Just wait, rivalry can't alow sell us product with prime cost less 100 usd for 400+
"Chinese workers" also want to eat - so they start sell they own power meters.
just try and save up. I'm still in secondary school, my only source of income is my lunch money and through some time later I managed to saved up and bought a power meter. It depends on how badly you want it
Oliver Pattison OMG! 🤣
hi gcn!
please make a review of the Mavic Mektronic!
thanks!
I personally use my Garmin Forerunner 235 Watch and the Garmin Speed + Cadence Sensor to evaluate
1) Speed
2) Cadence
3) Altitude
4) Heart Rate + Heart Zone
All for under $300 and in this case i use my watch for Cycling + Track/Cross Country(Running) instead of having my watch only for Competetive Running and Having a power meter for cycling which would Triple or Quadruple my total investment into the sports; as if Road Bikes + Gear arent already expensive.
Although in the end i would rather increase my overall fitness by Lifting, Competetive running and Swimming to get those "Free" gains instead of spending $$.
I don't and won't have a power meter for the same reason I won't go on Strava. I'm a 68 year old, A-type personality, with a true competitive streak. I use a HRM so that I don't repeat the heart attack I had 24 years ago while winning a cross country ski race. I know that if I can improve my average speed on a set course, year over year, then obviously, my power output is getting better. I ride for the joy of it.
3, 4, 5 and 6 are helping me with a powermeter in the Netherlands
Are there any major differences training with a single sided vs a dual power meter? Is the additional cost worth it?
I did invest in the Garmin single side power meter, which I find gives me a good indication of my overall power and other power values. I still however have great difficulty understanding the numbers and relating them to a training program. Even though it only does one side, was it still worth getting it, or should I have kept my money? I have watched all your videos on power meters but still just can't understand all the data or relate it to my training. I have even tried training peaks which only added to my confusion.
I like the concept, but my style of riding is more "pick a spot on the map and ride to it." I often pick a café or some entertainment venue around town, so I'm not a big fan of having a lot of expensive stuff on the bike that could go missing. I would hate to come back to the bike and discover that my $1,200 pedals had disappeared.
I'm convinced! So.. where do we have to click to win one?
Saving up for a pwoermeter at the moment. Has anyone had experience with the Sram Red quarq dzero?
miss these old vid's with Matt
Do you have any videos where you show, describe how to train with a powermeter?
János Pintér they have, you just need to search "GCN power meter" on this platform.
Niels Heldens Thank you!
I train with a powermeter. I train with one for only 3 months but I notice the positive sides. It gives me more insight in traininginput and helps me to ride faster for longer. It is a big investment but for racers I think it's worth the investment.
Hi, Dan,
You said that you got into racing when you ~13 years old. I'm 14 so I'd like to know how to get into races. Thanks
and? did you? :)
Id love get my hands on a power meter, but at the moment the price is still to much for me to justify getting. It would be nice to see what I am pushing, rather then go off "feel". Id like to see the data on bad days like climbs, head wind etc
I've been subscribed for a pi g time keep it up
If it was between wheels 150grams lighter or a powermeter which would you choose
Well I mean I think it's just a matter of 'use case'. - I ride primarily for fitness (and fun), and by fitness I mean keeping myself at a good weight and a good level of endurance. I'm not in competition with anyone. I don't enter competitive races. If I did (depending on level) then the gains you mention would certainly become relevant, certainly as regards proper pacing during events (I can only imagine the level of fine tuning that power meters allow pro teams to achieve).
There's no doubt that, for my use case, having one could prove in some way useful, but more importantly perhaps it could also make things a little more interesting? But there again, am I prepared to pay the kind of prices that these things go for, for the very limited final difference it would make to what I personally do? And even though I could afford one if I really wanted one? Still nope. In fact I'd say it'd be a little silly for me to do that. Perhaps even a little pretentious.
If they could produce one at a more reasonable price someday (perhaps dude to economy of scale or even a trickle down effect?), at a price that didn't make me feel like I was pretending to be something I'm not, then yeah, I'd probably buy one.
Sorry for the wall of text, but yeah, that'd be my answer to the question.
- Cheers for all the vids guys. They help keep me on my bike! Much appreciated.
@3:49 Torque is Torque, but a Watt is not a Watt, unless it is at the same cadence (rpm). 35Nm of torque at a 60 cadence (rpm) is 220 watts, the same 35Nm of torque at 120 rpm is 440 watts and half that torque (17.5Nm) at 120 rpm is 220 watts. I really get tired of people trying to compare wattage without knowing the supporting data.
Would power meters make commuters faster? If so, it can encourage biking to work. I like the idea of less junk miles.
Now do we need a dedicated cycle computer (Garmin)? Or strava on my phone will do fine.
6 reasons why you don’t need a power meter:-
1. You’ll spend too much time looking down and not looking where you are and enjoying the ride.
2. You'll spend endless amounts of time trying to work out what you have to do in each gear to maintain a given power instead of just riding your bike at a "comfortable" cadence and speed and enjoying the ride.
3. If you’re not racing why do you need one? If you can maintain a given speed in a given gear at a constant cadence then things are probably OK power wise.
4. You can gauge your effort by your heart rate, breath rate, cadence and fatigue levels.
5. Just another set of data to stare at and wonder what it all really means!
6. If you are over a certain age you are not going to improve so just enjoy the ride and ditch the data.
I had always waned a power meter and eventually took the plunge. After a month I took it off as it ruined my rides and I never really looked at the figures in the end.
Found myself concentrating on watts rather than riding.
Some times less is more.
someone up on the thread said they would buy it off you for £100
That would be me - I chose to stay watt-ignorant because I WILL become a data junkie. I have only added cadence recently because I understand the need to spin to generate power, which helps me do less damage to my legs and knees as I have a tendency to "crush" gears and I want to break that habit.
Colin Latter No garmin no rules!
Man, that was beautiful
It sounds like you don't want to improve your performance on your bike and just enjoy your ride. I was there the first year - no problem. If you want to improve your performance, a power meter is an amazing tool. and #6 is BS, you can always improve, you can't win races vs 20yo sure but you can always improve.
I've just got a power meter because I'm crap at climbing so the pacing will help. it's interesting to see the negative comments, having seen power trained riders cycling up the second highest mountain in Thailand it made me realise that you can unlock a riders true potential very quickly. putting one on your bike won't instantly make you a pro level rider but you'll learn very quickly how to smash those experienced riders that have never trained with power ;) it's all good fun.
Have you used the 4iiii at all? #torqueback
PM help to overcome boredome and set your mind on headwinds. With PM you can track your effords to the dot. It does not take away the joy of cycling as you do not have to ride looking at it all the time and frankly if one says PM takes away the joy of cycling he does not see the big picture: cycling is about joy, excercise and number can spice it up. For non pro PM is nice thing to have, it pricey (even S1) so it sits some way back in cycling queue but when you take Zwift into account and ability to compare hometraining with RLC I would say its worth the money.
Knowledge is power.
The Vector 3 are rated to 230 lbs, 104.4 k, but I am closer to 238 lbs 108K. Is that a problem? Will I still get an accurate power reading?
I have one, and I don’t need it as power meter but i use it as cadence meter :) since I train with HR zones data of power meter are absolutely not interesting and why should they be..
I'll probably buy one if/when you can pick up a half decent one for about £100
what did you pay for your bike?
Hi! Power meter vs cadence sensor, difference???
I use cycling to prepare for my mountaineering expeditions. I started using a powermeter and structured program and gained 80 Watts in my FTP in 6 months. It also got me to the top of Mount Elbrus. Powermeters are a must have for proper training.
I'm totally sold on the benefits of getting a power meter.
Having done the research it seems that crank-based ones are the best. However, this has launched me into the terrifying world of BB standards.
Do I go for a Stages (Gen 2) and just swap my left crank arm? But if I upgrade my bike in the next couple of years I might go from my current BB30 to BB386 EVO or BB86 (Shimano Ultegra), so my new power meter won't work.
Do I upgrade my crankset, it could probably do with it, if so which one do I choose? If I went say for the new Ultegra this might then limit my choice of new bikes, or mean I was riding around with an adaptor (and creaks) on both my current bike and the new bike.
I've wasted hours understanding all this so far. Would I have better spent that time riding? Probably.
Pedals.
Powerpod. Easy to switch between bikes. Mounts on handlebar.
Apparently pedal based power meters are much less accurate, particularly in sprints. Bike Radar did an in-depth review.
Interesting, I hadn't come across the Powerpod. How would it compensate for your position on the bike? Also how accurate would it be in gusty winds?
It cannot and does not compensate for your position or other variable factors, such as tyre pressure or roughness of the asphalt. Go for Stages gen 2, hunt for a deal on a used one ebay for several weeks, and it won't depreciate much when it comes time to sell it and get another one for a new bike.
#Torqueback If you are relying on powermeter information too much, don't you risk losing the ability to ride on "feel"?
I respect what you say about powermeters, but I have used toe clips and natural feel and know what my legs are telling me: do I need to lessen off, or am I feeling strong and can push harder?
Hasn't let me down thus far, and I can witness that I ride on my road bike in the top drive gear around the 4th (middle gear) at the back... Going in to 5th when I want to accelerate, and dropping to 3rd when I want to climb. I rarely use the bottom 1st or 2nd gear, and the top 6th and 7th gear.
All this I do on "feel"... So surely this is what people need to learn?
My opinion: I have used a power meter for years but just recently starting using it in conjunction with a coach and training program. I can usually tell my current wattage, within 5-10 watts, without looking at my bike computer. I have to reset my feel-to-watts every month or so because what was hard 2 months ago is now easy.
What do you guys think of creatine monohydrate?
Anyone know where they were riding? Looked gorgeous!
Did anyone notice the guy in black from 1:13-2:03 trying to maintain the pace with Dan and Matt?
A Power Meter would be nice, I'll likely replace the stock wheels first though. That is of course after two kids are out of college.
For running I understand it’s a little more straightforward. There are online calculators that determine your power based solely on distance, time, body weight, and elevation gain. I guess having an instantaneous readout could be interesting. My bike speedometer/odometer/pedometer is more useful for me I think.
I need one for my automatic shifter to make it fully automatic. Taken on the challenge of making my own, not going to cost me much but is definitely a challenge.
Ed R hmm a home made power meter would be interested in how you are planning to go about that. To me making a power meter sounds like quite the journey
Don't plan on getting one ever, if I do structured workouts (not group ride) heart rate / speed / time is enough for me. And I like riding solo for the sake of riding without structured training, if you think you needed that watt number to get the improvements then so be it but I think if you try various time / various threshold workouts you can get the same results...
The way I keep consistent power is my legs hurt.
you guys need to make more hour+ workouts!!
If they ever drop to sub £200 I may get one but I can't justify getting one as I'm not a competitive cyclist, I just ride for the enjoyment of being out there. I do use sim-Watts when turbo training but I can't correlate that to actual outdoor riding
Here's hoping the IQ2 powermeter(s) will hold true and release this year... powermeter that are affordable, competition is good in this market i think ;)