Power vs HR and what power meter

[bazzawill]

Hi guys,
I was going to hijack Rojo's thread about the 24 hour record but though this best discussed in the correct forum.
I am interested to hear from people going from monitoring HR to monitoring power. I understand some of the benefits but would like to hear it from you.
Also what power meters are people running, I am lusting after the Power tap P1's but they are way out of my price range which to be fair is $0. Just wondering if it is worth considering something cheaper and if the benefits are really worth it.

 

[RojoRacing]

I've successfully raced through and up to the Pro level using just a HR monitor for years, I only just got the power meter this year. Stick with the HR monitor and get comfortable pushing beyond your comfort zone all the while noting the variances in your HR as you go. The end result is understanding what you body can dish out and the best way to do that is for your to listen to it via feeling it out. Start over thinking what you can do and try to define those limits with a numeric value and you probably limit your growth. Today was the first time I really used the power meter to set a pace and hold it, every other ride or race I glance at the number and think "huh, interesting" as I continue to push and listen to my body.

HR can have varied values based on several factors like air temperature but with a few months of experience you can learn to predict your range for any given conditions with great accuracy.

 

[LMT]

If you enjoy riding your bike with the odd training ride thrown in then get a HR monitor, these are okay for pacing ime and this is what I used to pace myself around PBP last year.

If you are serious about training and want to go onto some sort of training plan for an event then you need a power meter. There is no substitute for training with power and nothing better. Tiredness, being ill, being cold, being hot and stimulantes can all have an effect on HR but nothing effects your power output other then you pedalling slower of faster. Having this constant also enables you to look at your HR responds to given efforts and making adjustments where needed.

To get the most of a power meter you do need to do the test i.e FTP test and you do need to stick with it, but a well structured training plan with power can potentially reap huge rewards.

I run P1 pedals, they are good, easy to set up and swap between bikes. Although I think in the new year I may go with a crank based system as I like the free float of Speedplay pedals.

 

[snilard]

I have Powertap G3. I like it but I don't like fact that It locked me with rim brakes. But this is not a big issue for me because of price of switch to disk brakes.
It is nice tool for training but if you are just riding It is just toy. I bought it mainly because of pacing on long rides but also because I love numbers.

EDIT: If price would not be issue I would buy Power2Max NG now. I need BLE support and It was not available from Power2Max at the time U I was buing my PT.

 

[Don1]

i do more climbing than most(not as much as some of youse!), i use power meter to balance hr, cadence n power with gear in use. sometimes going to a higher gear lowers hr(and lacate buildup) rather than lowering the gear to spin more. im a data junkie so if there is data to collect ... i want it! anyways if you can afford it get one, great training/pacing tool. i guess i you do a group rides and social rides it'd be a waste

 

[RojoRacing]

i do more climbing than most(not as much as some of youse!), i use power meter to balance hr, cadence n power with gear in use. sometimes going to a higher gear lowers hr(and lacate buildup) rather than lowering the gear to spin more. im a data junkie so if there is data to collect ... i want it! anyways if you can afford it get one, great training/pacing tool. i guess i you do a group rides and social rides it'd be a waste

I used to have a trail running buddy who was nearly my exact weight and build as well as very similar HR zones. The winner of our runs was the guy who had the high averag HR at the end of the run. This meant if one of us was have a good day that person would have to do a short hill repeat to keep the group together and keep their effort up. We'd randomly ask the other what their HR was at any given moment to see if one of us was slacking. When you realized you HR was lower it would motivate you to work harder. If your friends HR zones don't match your set you watch to display % of Max.

The same could be done with power meters but at this point I'm a bit too fast to compare with my local friends.

 

[LarryOz]

The same could be done with power meters but at this point I'm a bit too fast to compare with my local friends.

You could just fill the frame of you Vendetta with water (or better yet - lead) - that might level the playing field a little bit. :0

 

[RojoRacing]

You could just fill the frame of you Vendetta with water (or better yet - lead) - that might level the playing field a little bit. :0

I stopped riding the V with the groups because it's too fast.

 

[ratz]

I run P1 pedals, they are good, easy to set up and swap between bikes. Although I think in the new year I may go with a crank based system as I like the free float of Speedplay pedals.

Don't know if you tried the 6degree of float cleats but they help.

As for crank meters hold tight it won't be too much longer before you will be able to use 30mm cranks which triples the number of meters you can select not to mention shorter factory cranks. It won't be tomorrow and I can't elaborate, but I suspect it will be soon enough that you would be mad if you compromised a month or two early. I'll let you extrapolate as that's pretty transparent. New bike not required.

 

[super slim]

Don't know if you tried the 6degree of float cleats but they help.

As for crank meters hold tight it won't be too much longer before you will be able to use 30mm cranks which triples the number of meters you can select not to mention shorter factory cranks. It won't be tomorrow and I can't elaborate, but I suspect it will be soon enough that you would be mad if you compromised a month or two early. I'll let you extrapolate as that's pretty transparent. New bike not required.

Is it the Wattteam Powerbeat Power Meter?

 

[ratz]

Is it the Wattteam Powerbeat Power Meter?

Nope.... Cruzbike specific changes that address compatibility.

 

[DavidCH]

Why not buy one of these to help one of your buddies keep up?

You could also use it on your V when checking out a race route and then you would have 100% stamina for the next day?

 

[LMT]

Don't know if you tried the 6degree of float cleats but they help.

As for crank meters hold tight it won't be too much longer before you will be able to use 30mm cranks which triples the number of meters you can select not to mention shorter factory cranks. It won't be tomorrow and I can't elaborate, but I suspect it will be soon enough that you would be mad if you compromised a month or two early. I'll let you extrapolate as that's pretty transparent. New bike not required.

You're right and they do but they don't feel the same as Speedplays.

Is a 30mm BB not compatible with the current Vendetta?

 

[RojoRacing]

Why not buy one of these to help one of your buddies keep up?

You could also use it on your V when checking out a race route and then you would have 100% stamina for the next day?

Nah I'd rather use the tow rope idea so I get a better workout and we can go as long as I have a supply of Mexican food stops along the way.

 

[RojoRacing]

I use garmin vector pedals that come with 6 deg cleats. When I tried shimming the cleats the shims bound with the pedals and killed the feel of the float. Then after fixing the shim problem I focused on my float and realized it not nearly as smooth or fluid as one would expect for it to be neutral on your knees. I had also just received some 9 deg Keo cleats to replace my worn out garmin cleats so I swapped to the 9 degs but the float still felt sticky. So I smeared a dab of grease on the little rubber pad in the middle of the cleat and presto, completely effortless side to side float action. I can't imagine frogs feeling any smoother without being loose and wobbly(I've never used frogs). Just don't forget your shoes on and walk into the house or your wife is going to kill you for oiling the carpet.

 

[DavidCH]

9 deg Keo cleats with a dab of grease

That's what I do. Great idea... I luv it

 

[hamishbarker]

Don't know if you tried the 6degree of float cleats but they help.

As for crank meters hold tight it won't be too much longer before you will be able to use 30mm cranks which triples the number of meters you can select not to mention shorter factory cranks. It won't be tomorrow and I can't elaborate, but I suspect it will be soon enough that you would be mad if you compromised a month or two early. I'll let you extrapolate as that's pretty transparent. New bike not required.

sounds great! As an engineer, I can imagine a couple of ways to achieve this, one maybe would be replacement chainstays or perhaps some sort of screw in cups that can take a 30mm bottom bracket. Or a combination of both.

Clearly the vendetta clamping on the bottom bracket cups is a solution which had some possible weight and drivetrain stiffness advantages, but also limitations on BB selection.

Looking forward to it - wonder how far backward compatible it will be for an old V1.5 (not expecting it, nor urgently needing it, but interested nonetheless!