I'd like to try a Power Meter.

Anonymous
Anonymous Posts: 79,667
edited January 2009 in Training, fitness and health
Hi.


Bit of an odd post.

Anyone round Manchester have a power meter or something that they would be ok with me having a try with? Basically I'm really interested in finding my max power output sprinting and over say a 10-20min time. They seem very expensive from what I can see and cant really afford one at the time.

If anyone could let me have a go with one please let me know.


Thanks
Will.

Comments

  • pinkbikini
    pinkbikini Posts: 876
    You do know you can hire them, right? Works out at about £8 per week - once you've tried one, you will probably want to use it again. What's the point of knowing your power output for one session and not being able to see if you can improve on it with training...
    http://www.cyclepowermeters.com/powermeter-rental-24-c.asp
  • phil s
    phil s Posts: 1,128
    I'd like to add, at first it will seem like a load of random numbers and maybe a bit of a hassle but once you get the hang of it and start learning what the numbers mean and associating them with particular efforts/rides that is when you will see how good a PM can be
    -- Dirk Hofman Motorhomes --
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Yes, rent one.

    In fact, just buy one you won't regret it!

    Other than a bike that fits it's the best cycling tool in the world ever.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    How do these work? You just replace the hub with it?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    You can do or you can do what I did and buy the whole wheel ready made from Cyclepowermeters
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I can only afford 80-100 quid on a wheel tbh and it has to be a rear wheel, on Mavic Open Pro rims or better. Don't think I'd be able to buy a powermeter for that price on those wheels.

    I don't fancy renting one as you have to mess about posting it back :\, rather buy one or do without tbh.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Do you really need one? I've seen the SRM being used and yes it's good but only if you use the figures correctly. On a normal ride a powermeter would be of no use to me and I'm faster on the flat and uphill than those I've seen using them but then I'm not working to a goal. However, if I raced or was looking at improving performance for a specific purpose then I can see the advantage. It's not dissimiilar to the carbon wheels syndrome. Do I need a pair of £2k Lightweights? i don't and most people don't but if you can afford them and think you can justify them then get them.
    M.Rushton
  • Toonraid
    Toonraid Posts: 126
    Another option would be to buy a VDO z3 cycle computer that has a built in power calculator - advantage is the price which is very affordable and ease of use - dis-advantage is that it does not take into account the wind factor which means that the reading will be out on those windy days.
  • Alex_Simmons/RST
    Alex_Simmons/RST Posts: 4,161
    Toonraid wrote:
    Another option would be to buy a VDO z3 cycle computer that has a built in power calculator - advantage is the price which is very affordable and ease of use - dis-advantage is that it does not take into account the wind factor which means that the reading will be out on those windy days.
    :lol:
    RST Sport : Coaching - Training Plans - Powermeters -- My blog -- AeroCoach Australia
  • pinkbikini
    pinkbikini Posts: 876
    willhub wrote:
    I can only afford 80-100 quid on a wheel tbh and it has to be a rear wheel, on Mavic Open Pro rims or better. Don't think I'd be able to buy a powermeter for that price on those wheels.

    I don't fancy renting one as you have to mess about posting it back :\, rather buy one or do without tbh.

    To be honest, if the idea of organising a collection for a parcel is too much for you, you're unlikely to be motivated to use the thing. Prob best to see if you can borrow one from another rider in that case, but the faff of setting it up for a single ride makes it (I think) almost worthless.

    Why don't you go down to a gym and see if you can use an exercise bike that measures power for an hour?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    pinkbikini wrote:
    willhub wrote:

    Why don't you go down to a gym and see if you can use an exercise bike that measures power for an hour?

    This is what I did before I got my powertap, even if it's not really accurate, it's consistent, which is very important, as I used that same exercise bike for all my measurements...
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Toonraid wrote:
    Another option would be to buy a VDO z3 cycle computer that has a built in power calculator - advantage is the price which is very affordable and ease of use - dis-advantage is that it does not take into account the wind factor which means that the reading will be out on those windy days.

    Which means it's almost a total waste of money since there is almost always wind!!
  • Toonraid
    Toonraid Posts: 126
    I wouldn't say that - you can still use the HR, ODO, Calorie, Gradient, Cadense, Altimeter ... etc functions for every day use which at 160 quid is great plus you get a power reading for your monthly FTP30 test free of charge - this of course you would do on a day that's not windy!

    There is of course the 2800 quid SRM set!
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Find a cycle coach who can get your max.power output for you if they have the kit? As stated above, it's not a cheap or easy route. You have to know how to read the figures and work out what they mean in relation to you and each other. A coach could probably do that for you and you could come away with a programme that you can work on and go back to the coach in 6 months to see if there is any improvement. Of course a cheaper way is to ignore the kit and press harder on the pedals for longer :wink: This method worked fine for Hinault, Robert Millar,Reg Harris, Jacques Anquetil etc
    M.Rushton

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