Some truths or problems with power meters.

[2IT]

A watch is the best value for measuring improvement. Had a simple Cateye for timing, mileage, mph, avg mph. Trained hard to beat previous bests and the simplicity was it's strong point.

Bought a power meter because some advice is to get a power meter if you want to improve. Maybe my mistake was the power meter is recording my decline as I age. Perhaps power meters are better for the up and coming rather than the already fit and aging.

A power meter won't make you faster unless you have the potential to improve and work.

A better investment could be bike, wheels, kit, etc. up until a $2000 mark before buying a power meter. A power component plus the computer goes for $900 - $2000 which for many would be a good bike. Would not spend money on recording watts if the bike was in that same price range.

Power meters are not perfect or accurate. Have had to invest time off the bike to translate all the data including calls to their help line. Some days it works fine and other days it is glitchy. Still going through a learning curve after six months. Because my device lacks an on/off bottom and works on motion or HR, it is hard for me to use it time trialing so I rely on my watch too. Was kicking myself until I read of problems with other brands too.

On the other hand, after months of data, a minute or seconds here or there mean very little over an hour of riding. If I edit out dead time that I don't want to include little changes as far as watts, kj, etc. So I am not racing my training like I did with the watch. This probably makes for safer riding as I'm no longer training on the edge as if time trialing.

Is a power meter a panacea? No a power meter can be a pain in ass.

 

[jiberjaber]

Sounds like you may have missed the ideas on how to use it?
I don't understand how you can not use it for TT, have you heard of FTP (Functional Threshold Power), knowing that should help you pace for your TT I would have thought ?

This is a very good book to help on the learning curve:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Training-Racing-Power-Meter-Hunter/dp/1934030554

Accuracy is less of an issue as long as it is consistent and reliable, i.e. your training, measuring and riding are all on the same device. Though that said I think we are all still beta testers for the suppliers of these things (speaking from a Garmin perspective! )

HTH

 

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

Sounds an awful lot like you don't have a clue how to use a power meter. Was it a powercal by any chance?

 

[2IT]

Sounds an awful lot like you don't have a clue how to use a power meter. Was it a powercal by any chance?

It's the powertap C1 chainring with powertap joule GPS.

Yes - it could be me, the user. Or the devices are not that user friendly. Still making up my mind which one is the issue.

Sometimes the HR monitor doesn't kick in, or cadence, or watts or satellite and then on the following ride it will be OK. Just have to accept what comes as I don't have time before rides to figure out whatever needs fixing. Again, have used it for 760 miles so maybe in another 800 miles, I'll get the hang of it.

Power meters also have a delay between when you put out the effort and when it appears on the screen. This is true for speed, watts, grade, etc.. No instant gratification. So it's not like playing music. It's more like hearing echoes as one goes down the road.

Power meters could be a young person's game. If you're good with electronics, like to download, upload and spend time with this rather than riding or drinking, have at it. For those who have topped out physically, it's a rather expensive way to measure a slow down.

Why not put that money into the bike or wheels with a simpler Cateye like devices that measures time, distance, mph and avg mph with an on and off button? Now once the bike is worth more than the device...

 

[jiberjaber]

Most devices have some delay in them as they average the value over a period of time, that might be fractions of a second to a few seconds depending on the settings. Having instantaneous power is nice but not really useful, I tend to use a 3 second averaged power reading alongside my FTP % display.

Most power meters and their display units have 'rituals' you need to do before they are ready to work, sort of praying to the gods of Joule and GPS... . On the Garmin for example I need to wake up the power meter by rotating the crank, then un-clip and perform a quick calibration. I need to do this when I do not have a route running. When I power up the display (Edge 1000) it needs to find some satellites to get the GPS lock and also the other devices on the bike need to be activated so they can connect to the display. This is all only a couple of minutes or so.

There's probably similar rituals for your Powertap equipment. Do you know what all the various fields on the display are, I first started off with having them all turned on so I could get a feel for what they really meant, I then gradually turned off the ones which I thought didn't add to what I wanted and I now have something I am happy with. I suspect that needs a good handful or more of rides to settle on.

There is a fair bit of info out there on the internet which might help fill in any gaps you feel might be there about how to use the devices...

Reviews, but good info in the comments sections usualy:
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/12/powertap-chainring-review.html
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/11/cycleops-joule-gps-in-depth-review.html

And how to use them...
http://www.triradar.com/training-advice/how-to-use-power-meters/
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/product-news/power-meters-everything-you-need-to-know-35563
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/fitness/training/how-to-ride-with-a-power-meter-187592

Videos also:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKoLdOTdtac


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeBVnkQa2Qk


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zik0opabRm8


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrzvzmtU50A




Sounds like you might still have some rides to do to find out if its for you, but at the moment, from what you've said, it sounds like you might be better off selling the gear and sticking to what you feel more comfortable with...

 

[smutchin]

Coaches like power meters because they can test you to find out objectively what you're capable of, and then tell you to go out and train at X watts. They can then re-test you as training progresses to objectively gauge your development.

If you haven't been tested and don't know what the numbers mean in relation to your own ability, and how to use them to guide your training, a power meter is probably a waste of money.

If you don't have a power meter, a coach will guide your training by feel (perceived effort). This is perfectly adequate for most riders.

A heart rate monitor gives you a more objective measure than 'perceived effort' but isn't always a reliable guide since heart rate will vary depending on many other factors.

 

[2IT]

Most power meters and their display units have 'rituals' you need to do before they are ready to work, sort of praying to the gods of Joule and GPS... .
Sounds like you might still have some rides to do to find out if its for you, but at the moment, from what you've said, it sounds like you might be better off selling the gear and sticking to what you feel more comfortable with...

Thank you for your help and advice. Yes, it does feel like a ritual. Wasn't expecting this much of a ritual nor was I expecting the glitchiness or fickleness of the device. If I had known...

Was thinking of selling, at a loss and with some more effort on my part, but decided against it in the hopes that some day I might find it easy and reliable.

Things I like if the worked 100% of the time without minimal ritual.

Screen 1 - real time (3 sec avg) watts, grade, speed, cadence, time, temperature, distance and kj.

Screen 2 - averages of watts, speed, cadence, watt/kg

Screen 3 - intensity factor, training stress score, 20 minute max watts average

Don't really use screens 4 or 5 for mapping. Definitely under-utilizing those.

When it all works, pretty pleased. The absence of a straightforward on and off button is hard to understand as the device will begin before I want and keeps recording after I stop. When I delete these beginning and end time extras, there really isn't a big change in the numbers. It's just peeving.

When I was selling myself on the idea of spending nearly a $1000 for a device, I wasn't aware of the rituals and time involved. Now that I am, thought I would mention it to others. If you are improving, good at gadgets, have the money and a high quality bike, then I could see how a person would like one.

Again, thank you for the resources offered. I did check those out beforehand and still refer to them.