New wheels or a Powermeter

peppern123

Hi, I am looking to start doing some time trialing with my club and was thinking about getting some deep section wheels and some tri bars for my road bike. To cover the cost of these I was thinking of selling my Powertap pedals which I have just had replaced so are brand new.

Would I see more benefit with the wheels and tri bars or by using my powermeter to pace the rides and train?

Any thoughts welcome.

Thanks.

timothyw

Almost definitely keep the powermeter, although the fact that you have used a powermeter previously and are now thinking of getting rid of it is making me wonder.

The absolute best case savings from new wheels is something like a minute over twenty five miles, but that largely depends on your existing wheels being particularly un-aero (so 32 spoke box rims, basically).

If you already have a low spoke count front wheel then the savings are much less pronounced.

The average rider will get much more from sticking to a proper power training regime, but you need to actually do the training - if you don't, then you might as well get the wheels.

fenix

If you train properly you'll do better with the powermeter I'd think.

You can always get a discwheel cover for your rear wheel anyway for less than a hundred. I'd do that.

peppern123

Thanks for the reply. I have been training with power for the last year with a coach doing the plans. I am no longer working with him as I had my target race last month. I am looking to plan my own training going forward so was thinking about using HR and then getting the wheels etc.

Sounds like it is better sticking with the powermeter then in terms of benefits as I have some light wheels already that have a fairly low spoke count that I brought for climbing.

I will have to save up instead

timothyw

Get the Tri-bars first. Assuming you can get a good position with them on your existing bike, they'll do much more for your speed than any wheels could.

See the final stage of the 1989 Tour de France for a demonstration.

supermurph09

The wheels will make you faster initially but think of the long term effects a powermeter can bring if used correctly.

bristolpete

Using myself as a case file I ran a Madone 9 with Zipp 404 and a P2M power meter which was an expensive bike to run as only riding it once a week.

I sold the Madone, sold the Zipps and ran my Giant TCR with the giant in house wheels, 30mm deep. Last week I was 2 min 20 faster on my 27 mile 'Fast Tuesday' netting a PB for 1 hr 16 mins, 20.6 mph average on a rolling road with 1800 feet of climbing. The TCR does not 'feel' as fast as the Madone, but my fitness is monstering along as using power, and older and wiser. Along with a foam roller, a power meter has been my best investment and all the chat makes sense. I now know what a proper 'recovery ride' is.

What I would say is power meter is an incredible tool for developing your riding and understanding of why things can get hard/ grippy as you can decode a ride where as in reality unless you are as everyone says holding 25mph + on the flat the wheels will not have a massive effect. Deep swooshing wheels look the dogs however and usually help pull women if you cycle past nightclubs

Vote Powermeter.

WhiteSocks90

As above, power meter if you train accordingly with it, definitely the long term option. Clip ons can be had cheap enough, too.

peppern123

Thanks guys. Going to get some clip on bars and stick with the powermeter.

thomasmorris

You will gain far more from doing aero testing with the power meter than anything else (assuming you well training already, but even then most fitness gains can be made without a PM).

If you're wanting to improve you're time trialling, then a power meter is the ultimate tool: not for improving training, not for improving pacing, but for improving aerodynamics.

DavidJB

peppern123 wrote:

Powertap pedals which I have just had replaced

WHAT a surprise :roll:

burnthesheep

bristolpete wrote:

Along with a foam roller, a power meter has been my best investment

Explain the foam roller? Post ride muscle massage or something? What does it physically do to aid in recovery? Assuming this is what you mean.

bristolpete

burnthesheep wrote:

bristolpete wrote:

Along with a foam roller, a power meter has been my best investment

Explain the foam roller? Post ride muscle massage or something? What does it physically do to aid in recovery? Assuming this is what you mean.

Yes, exactly that ! I roll the legs daily and a huge difference from before the roller. I felt heavy legged and fatigued before I bought one two years back and it transformed me to a point. Certainly something I cite as a massive change. Takes a bit of getting over the initial pain stage but worth every penny.

jmm434

Foam rollers are great. Anyways, Id say keep the powermeter and keep training hard. Then get some wheels maybe down the road and you'll fly.

darkhairedlord

Hills, ride up lots of big hills.
Save the money for tyres, the most important part of the bike (speed-wise).

daniel_b

Deffo keep the power meter, especially as you have a years solid training behind you, and now know how ot do it.

Alternatively, could you sell the P1's and get some Be Pro's for around £500, and use the difference for a wheel?

Out of interest, as someone who is traiing seriously for the first time this year, but using Trainerroad, what kind of gains did you see from your original FTP, or first FTP, and come the end of the year?
How many hours roughly did you commit to per week?

penski

Interesting that about the foam roller. I've just had my first session with one (along with stretching for the first time in my life over the last 3 days) and at football I felt amazing..nimble and atheltic. Usually I am fast, but feel a bit..unrefined/bulky.

Would also be interested to know the answers to Daniel B's post..

philbar72

Powermeter. definitely.

daniel_b

Penski wrote:

Interesting that about the foam roller. I've just had my first session with one (along with stretching for the first time in my life over the last 3 days) and at football I felt amazing..nimble and atheltic. Usually I am fast, but feel a bit..unrefined/bulky.

Would also be interested to know the answers to Daniel B's post..

Spurred on by this, I re-engaged with my thicker roller last night after a 90 minute turbo session - didn't hurt as much on my thighs as I remember, which is good, as it must mean they are less knotty (Technical term there) but I also tried it on my calves, and that hurt like a B@stard - think I need to go with less body weight on them in the future.
Legs do feel a little better and less tired this morning which is good, as I have another 90 minutes scheduled in for this afternoon.

peppern123

Daniel B wrote:

Deffo keep the power meter, especially as you have a years solid training behind you, and now know how ot do it.

Alternatively, could you sell the P1's and get some Be Pro's for around £500, and use the difference for a wheel?

Out of interest, as someone who is traiing seriously for the first time this year, but using Trainerroad, what kind of gains did you see from your original FTP, or first FTP, and come the end of the year?
How many hours roughly did you commit to per week?

Over the year I saw gains of around 50 watts, I was doing around 2-3 hours per week and some longer club rides at the weekend. I am looking to break 300 watts this year (currently at 289 FTP) by doing 3-4 hours per week.

cruff

Keep the powermeter. I'd buy a spaceman helmet and/or a speedsuit if you want to get decent gains - both much better value than a disc/deeps IMO

If you're at 289 at the moment, 300 is a realistic goal for you - I went from 260-odd to 315 over a good winter on the turbo, with the only competition at that time being Zwift races (if it's competition that motivates you). Two good sessions of over-unders or FTP intervals and a longer ride with tempo efforts would be a good plan