Numbers.

[Boreen bimbler]

Not sure if I'm in the correct section for this thread but I'm interested to hear people talk about "numbers". As in training numbers, watts ect and also sizing numbers for crank lengths and stuff.

So to start things off. I'm personally not a numbers man. I've tried power meters, cadence sensors and had a go at a few different types of training but never really caught the bug. My cadence is naturally pretty spot on anyway and power didn't really help me because I only ever trained for Everesting and the only number I cared about was elevation gain. So all I needed to do was be able to ride up and down hills all day. As I was always pretty keen on that sort of thing I didn't mind what most cyclists think of as torture and it obviously helped me in all aspects of my cycling at the time except maybe out and out speed.
I'm not up to much now cycling wise due to health problems but like to keep a track of my rides so still use the bike computer.

I know some people love the numbers side of cycling and obviously think it really helps them (understandably for racing especially on limited time) so I just thought it would be interesting to hear different opinions on the subject.

Hopefully theres a few replies and I look forward to enjoying reading them.

 

[Greg S]

Full confession: I'm a data geek.

I've tracked pretty much all relevant stats all my life. I was a competitive runner for a long time (10k PR of 29:10, long, long ago) and adopted HRM's as soon as they became generally available. I currently track power, HR, avg speed, distance and probably other metrics I'm forgetting.

Although I don't race, I do find it useful to go back and look at the numbers and do that on a fairly regular basis. For example, I've recently returned to the Cruzbike with a V20c after previously owning an S40 so comparing my current performance against what I did on the S40 several years ago gives me insight as to what I should expect. Further, looking at the S40 data from when I first started shows my progression and once again gives me a reasonable idea of where I am in the journey.

As an additional example, see my post in the "Steady Climbing" thread where I was able to compare the data from two rides on the same route, one on a DF and one on the V20c.

So does that change anything? To use the hackneyed phrase, my performance "is what it is" but I find it interesting nonetheless. YMMV and all that.

Edited to add: I'm a scientist by training (PhD) and spent my career in R&D so data collection certainly fits my analytic nature.

 

[orind]

I track a lot of data--power meter pedals, heart rate, speed, distance, cadence--and have for years--I find it interesting, and I do look at average max HR over a year, past years, power-----now--I can't say I actually change anything about what I am doing, but I do find it interesting. I noticed my average HR decreased about 10bpm when I switched from uprights to recumbents. I watched my average power output and thus speed increase when I swapped from trike to S40--but, I have not used the data to develop training plans or anything like that.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I am sure you can do a lot more with the numbers than I can, which is just look at them and hope they get better lol. I like looking at the power meter data, my CdA, speed and distance, but that is about it TBH. For a while I was intent on getting my FTP above my roadbike's (247 watts) and I was finally able to get up to 257 watts on my V20 earlier this year. I've lost quite a bit in max power output from 1106 when I first got my 4iiii power meter, to 880 (front wheel slip test) a year or so later, then 780 earlier this year (same day I hit 72.6kph with 713 watts later in the day). I hit 713 again watts last week or so, but I gotta get back into the gym to get those max numbers back up again.

 

[Boreen bimbler]

TBH I completely forgot about HR. The one thing I did keep an eye on but more for medical reasons as a doctor once told me my max HR of 187 at my age at the time was impossible. He obviously hadn't heard of strava KOM hunting.

 

[Frito Bandito]

Yep. HR doesn't count for KOMS. You either get the KOM or die trying. Priorities