Power Meters

[Kevin Alexander]

HRM is the right way forward, I still haven't gone to a power meter and I'm at the more "serious" end of the cycling scale.

Somewhere amongst Ajax and Kevin's tiff is a few things worth knowing;

1. wrist based HRMs are notoriously less reliable than chest strap ones, so don't go chasing a high heart rate.

2. Max heart rates vary significantly between people and not only due to fitness and age, some people just have faster or slower heart rates.

3. There are many, many ways to calculate heart rate zones, many people will disagree with me here, but unless you are training for races I would only be concerned about your aerobic zone.

4. If you are embarking on a significantly taxing exercise regime, I dunno like say an ironman event , or if you have a condition of concern, then by all means consult your GP first. Otherwise get out there and enjoy the sunshine.

No tiff here haha.

Personally I think if you have the money and like numbers and gadget a power meter is a good thing.

HRM for me are questionable if they are accurate but most of the concerns are around wrist based ones so maybe a chest strap will be more reliable.

 

[BSRU]

I do not race or ever intend to race but I have power meter as it is the best way of objectively quantifying my rides.
It's not required but I like having the information.

 

[Kevin Alexander]

I do not race or ever intend to race but I have power meter as it is the best way of objectively quantifying my rides.
It's not required but I like having the information.

Its a luxury item.
I have them on both my bikes

 

[jdtate101]

You only need a power meter if you are competing at a high level, eg national level and know how to use the data. For everyone else it's just some bling kit.

Completely disagree here. Training by power is one of the best methods of making sure you are getting the most from limited training time. Sure they are expensive, but if you use them correctly, will be one of the best investments you can make. However that being said, they are not for your everyday cyclist, that's complete overkill. If you race, TT or have a coach and are looking to improve then absolutely, if you just do the club runs and enjoy getting out once in a while, then no. They are a tool, nothing more, and won't make you faster just bu being on your bike...you need to invest the time in learning what the data actually means.

 

[Ajax Bay]

wrist based HRMs are notoriously less reliable than chest strap ones

In my comments above I am referring to a proper HRM: ie one with a chest strap (I have used one since 1908ish (an early adopter)). Imho the new fangled wrist things are, as has been said, notoriously unreliable and more a life style activity monitoring play thing (how many steps have you done today) as opposed to an aid to effective training eg when doing intervals. On the bike I use mine mainly to control overdoing it when I'm intending to ride for a few hours but also to flag up (to myself) that I'm loafing and need to put a bit more effort in.

Everyone's heart rate and zones are individual to them. Personally mine, when recording, has never been below 28 (on waking up aka 'resting HR') or above 207 (hard sprint (running) at the end of a race (aged 40+)). On a long ride earlier this month it reached 169 on the final straight wall climbing over Hardknott Pass (310m in 2.2km). I do my running interval efforts at 160+ and start the next interval when my HR drops back below 140. Finally bear in mind that you get HR drift as your body warms up, of perhaps 10 bpm, for the same level of exertion, so an even pace/effort in a race should allow for one's HR rising from (say) 170 to 180.
Agree with @jdtate101 regarding both power meters (and by extension HRMs) "They are a tool...you need to invest the time in learning what the data actually means."

 

[jowwy]

i thought this thread was about power meters??????

 

[Ajax Bay]

thinking of getting a power meter . . . do I really need one?

i thought this thread was about power meters??????

It's titled that but see the OP's question (above): which leads on to the advice, which she's taken, not to, and get an HRM instead.

 

[jowwy]

It's titled that but see the OP's question (above): which leads on to the advice, which she's taken, not to, and get an HRM instead.

my answer would be YES you do, as a cyclist you need everything to do with cycling, its irrelevant if you need it

 

[fossyant]

Completely disagree here. Training by power is one of the best methods of making sure you are getting the most from limited training time. Sure they are expensive, but if you use them correctly, will be one of the best investments you can make. However that being said, they are not for your everyday cyclist, that's complete overkill. If you race, TT or have a coach and are looking to improve then absolutely, if you just do the club runs and enjoy getting out once in a while, then no. They are a tool, nothing more, and won't make you faster just bu being on your bike...you need to invest the time in learning what the data actually means.

That's more or less what I said but it's no use unless you race. If you are doing 25 plus minute 10's then a meter is just an expensive bit of kit, you actually need to ride more.

 

[Hacienda71]

That's more or less what I said but it's no use unless you race. If you are doing 25 plus minute 10's then a meter is just an expensive bit of kit, you actually need to ride more.

Yeah, but if you are doing sub 25 minute 10's you are more than likely not a "National level" rider.

 

[fossyant]

Yeah, but if you are doing sub 25 minute 10's you are more than likely not a "National level" rider.

I was trying not to upset folk. I'd say to get the best out of a power meter you still need to be riding at a high level. There are folk who think they are the next Bradley Wiggins but can't crack a 25 min 10, more like 21 mins !!

 

[Hacienda71]

I was trying not to upset folk. I'd say to get the best out of a power meter you still need to be riding at a high level. There are folk who think they are the next Bradley Wiggins but can't crack a 25 min 10, more like 21 mins !!

I have to disagree. If you are at a competitive level i.e. not getting dropped in Cat 4 races and able to post a 24 minute 10 then you are exactly the type of rider who will benefit most from a good power based training plan. I have seen people go from average to good amateur level (as defined in Coggans tables) using power training. There are at least two riders in our area who come on here who have transformed by using power as a repeatable measure of their performances. Don't get me wrong the pro's like to be analytical with their approach to training and Chris Froome is a product of monitoring his power amongst other variables to dominate, but mid range riders can and do see massive improvements by structured plans, probably substantially more in % improvement terms than the top level pros who are already near the peak of their performance.
Whilst the op may not benefit yet and needs to ride her bike more there is no doubt that a power meter is probably the best potential training tool/advantage a competitive cyclist can get there hands on if used correctly.

 

[Kevin Alexander]

I would personally say if you want a power meter it doesnt matter what level you are. I dont race but enjoy commuting to work and going out on rides at the weekend and I enjoy coming home and looking at the data on strava.

Who cares if your an average rider, if you feel a power meter will benefit you and you have the cash bash on You might just want one to review your own improvement and see how your now pushing more power than you were 6 months, 1 year, 5, year, etc etc. You DONT have to be a top rider or in clubs, races etc to justify something youve bought.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I would personally say if you want a power meter it doesnt matter what level you are. I dont race but enjoy commuting to work and going out on rides at the weekend and I enjoy coming home and looking at the data on strava.

Who cares if your an average rider, if you feel a power meter will benefit you and you have the cash bash on You might just want one to review your own improvement and see how your now pushing more power than you were 6 months, 1 year, 5, year, etc etc. You DONT have to be a top rider or in clubs, races etc to justify something youve bought.

I agree. We don't NEED carbon bikes or GPX tracks or a great deal of other flim flam. We could all trundle round on cheap lumpy bikes and get just as much (if not more) exercise benefit and practical utility.

When I had access to a Wattbike I used to really like seeing how many Watts I was doing. I didn't have a clue what it meant really, and I wasn't doing a structured training program, but it was fun.

However, that said, power meters are blimming expensive optional extras.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

However, that said, power meters are blimming expensive optional extras.

Define expensive. I'd say mine was cheap