Training with Power meters vs Heart Rate.

I look at how cheap power meters are now from when I spent 2k back in 2009. Its so good for the consumer. They are becoming lighter, more accurate and cheaper with more head unit options.

I bought a powertap and got a heavy discount and it was still 2k. Today you can get the same unit for around 600$ online.

Training with power has let me cut down my miles drastically yet have more fitness than Ive ever experienced on the bike. It sounds gimmicky but what Ive learnt with wattages is how important early nights, hydration and sufficient carb intake are.

Training with NO power data is like going to the gym and lifting weights with no numbers on them. Are you strong or weak today? Are you improving or over training? Do you need more recovery? Did you get dropped today cos the pace was harder than normal or because you glycogen tanks are empty? Are you starting this climb too fast or slow?

Training by feel is so subjective. Training with power is objective. I love going riding with people that say 'Im not that fit! Im riding easy!' and they are banging out high watts per kg but they dont believe you until you show em.

Power meters let you determine EXACTLY what an easy day is and what a hard day is. They leave you fresh so you can go hard when its time to go hard. They teach you instantly what your optimum cadence should be and what is the best style of climbing for you.

I remember my first weeks having a power meter. I was riding up NS on the back of Rohan and Jack and just struggling to maintain contact. I said to myself 'bro! your really suffering today! maybe your getting sick or something! your HURTING!' and then I looked down at my power meter and it confirmed I was pushing out the most watts ever and thats why it felt so bad! That changed my state instantly and I lasted another 5 mins at that wattage before I totally popped. Without the data in my face I would have pulled the pin instantly and made up some self limiting excuse. But with the data I turned it into a game of how long I could last at this wattage.

I dont follow a militant training programme. Ive actually only cycled 15km this week lol! But when I put in some effort, I like to do it right so I get the right results. One reason I can train so little is that I know exactly what it takes me to get into solid form via using a power meter.

One thing I can guarantee people is that they will pb their local steep climbs. Just ride it once with a power meter as hard as you can. Then get the average watts for that clmb. Then next time you do it, hover around those watts and in the last km step it up a notch. Instant pb in the bag vs going out way to hard like most people do and going over lactate threshold and the legs totally blowing up and you lose mega time in the last half.

The book I rate is called 'training & racing with a power meter' by Hunter & Allen. Get the latest edition. Use grade 3 maths to enrich your cycling lifestyle. :)

Tags: power tap, srm, training with a power meter

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Permalink Reply by Alasdair McLellan on February 7, 2012 at 14:56

I also rate this book. And if anyone wants a QuarQ with 175mm cranks I'm selling one when I get a pair of Garmin Vectors in March. :)

Permalink Reply by Frank on February 7, 2012 at 15:15

The quarQ runs off the bottom bracket is that correct and can link to Garmin etc?

What you be looking at?

 

Do you have to calibrate every ride?

Permalink Reply by durian rider on February 8, 2012 at 14:33

Calibration is quick and easy Ive found.

Its a bit like checking your tyre pressure before you go out. I do cos I dont want to stop 3k later to fix a slow leak that I could have fixed by throwing in a spare wheel and fixing it later at home with the track pump.

Permalink Reply by Alasdair McLellan on August 23, 2012 at 15:37

I completely forgot to answer this. No, the QuarQ doesn't have to be calibrated before every ride although it's nice to get into a habit of doing so. Also, you can calibrate on the fly with 5 backwards revolutions and a pause...

Permalink Reply by durian rider on February 8, 2012 at 14:37

I like to see how minimal I can train and how fit I can be. Most people dont believe how little I train but Ive kept a diary for over a decade now so I can objectively say lol!

When you train smarter, you dont have to train harder.

30mins a day for HARDCORE age group cardio is realistic. Unless your doing 24hr races or running ultra marathons which require not more fitness but more postural strength that only comes from longer sessions.

Permalink Reply by Baron Von Thierry on August 22, 2012 at 22:20

Just saw this..   very interesting, especially for those of us without $1000+ to spare...

http://www.cycleops.com/en/products/power-meters/powercal.html

 

Permalink Reply by Martin Turner on August 23, 2012 at 7:52

Can't see how this device can possibly be any where near as accurate as a power meter taking torque readings directly from the drive chain.

Permalink Reply by Baron Von Thierry on August 23, 2012 at 8:11

They admit it isn't, and I have reservations regarding HR creep..  eg riding at a steady speed/power setting on a trainer, my HR would be significantly higher at the end of a session than at start. Nevertheless at $100......

Permalink Reply by Alasdair McLellan on August 23, 2012 at 15:40

That would depend entirely on how much power you're pumping out. If you're way below aerobic threshold this shouldn't happen until muscular fatigue sets in.

Permalink Reply by Baron Von Thierry on August 23, 2012 at 21:26
Permalink Reply by Alasdair McLellan on August 24, 2012 at 11:15

Is this on a trainer? Cooling issues are almost certainly having an impact on HR here...

Permalink Reply by Baron Von Thierry on August 24, 2012 at 19:04

Yea it was..  got a fan now..

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