Powertap - in race wheel or training wheel?

keef_zip

I'm wondering whether to get a PT 2.4 built into a wheel I can race with, or put it in a training wheel.

I'm a triathlete/timetrial rider and have a planet X 101 rear already which I'm thinking about putting the PT in.

I'd appreciate your advice/experience.

Thanks

Garybee

In the training wheel would make the most sense to me. I think you will be riding to a specific power output more often in training than racing.

Kléber

It's a training tool, so yes in the training wheel, which you can use for lesser races too. You can always rebuild the 101 rim onto an another Powertap hub.

Down the Road

stick it in your RACE wheel.

Wattage is the key to a fast time not heart rate. You can always use your race wheel for the occasional training ride but race day is when it counts.

BeaconRuth

LOL! Two completely opposing answers, both with good reason. I guess that's why you asked the question?!

My two penn'orth would be to put it in the training wheel. The real benefit of a powermeter comes from capturing data from as much riding as possible, and presumeably you will train for a lot more hours than you will race. If you want to collect data from racing you can always race on your training wheel in some of your less critical events - but personally I'd baulk at riding my best racing wheel a great deal in the middle of winter.

Put it another way, what you do in training will have far more impact on your race performance than the fine-tuning of your pacing on race day.

Ruth

bahzob

If it only has to be the one then would agree with Ruth. You will get a lot more benefit from it being in a training wheel.

However you will lose some of the benefit of not having the option to see your power when racing. Exactly how much will depend on the types of races you do. One benefit of a powermeter is that it lets you pace yourself even when riding courses that are unfamiliar and/or conditions (like wind) are very variable. However even as big a fan of powermeters as me can see there are obviously some races where the last thing you should be doing is looking down at your handlebars and so a powermeter in such would be a complete waste.

For me I have a powertap which I use on all my bikes.

However if I was thinking about getting a powermeter now I would wait another few months or so. At least one more product will start being available from next year
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/interbike-quarq-power-meter-real-bike-computer-12672

This is interesting for a few reasons:
> Because its on a crank it gives more options in terms of bikes to use it on
> It looks as if it will be compatible with a wider range of cycle computers
> As more products become available prices will likely fall, including for second hand SRMs and the like.
> There is chatter (not sure if true) that some of SRMs patents will expire shortly. If true then I guess even more products will appear. (Eventually I think we will reach the stage where every racing bike will have a choice of power sensor as a standard option).

If you do decide to wait the option exists to rent meters from some sources. You could then try before you buy.

dennisn

For what it's worth, racing in mass start events is not the place to be watching a
power meter readout screen. Too many things happening to have your mind and eyes distracted from anything but the race going on around you.
Maybe for a time trial.

Dennis Noward

scherrit

I'm with Ruth- you may use your training wheel for your "B" races anyway, and gathering data there is sure to be useful.

I have a track PT and use it for everything except champs, when I use a disc. If your 101s are clinchers the you could put a heavier tyre on for training...... or what about a more compromise orientated rim?? Then buy a second hand disc for "A" races??

Good luck!

aracer

I'd suggest that if you're training properly with a power meter rather than it simply being a toy then you should be able to pace yourself on heart rate rather than power when racing, as you should be able to analyse the data from training to determine what that heart rate should be. If you use it only for racing and occasionally for training then it will be simply an expensive toy.