Do power metre's remove the 'romance?'

sgt.pepper

Wayne Plunger wrote:

Can the admin on this site introduce a section for people who just want to ride a bike without harping on about power meters, climbing / descending massive cols, slamming their stems, "when I'm racing" (yeah right), I'm faster than you, I know more about wheels than you, I've got more seat post showing etc.

Every post on here is like a "one up fest" I am just waiting for one of you to say "my brother is a fireman"

Not sure how my post was any of that.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

I must have great restraint, I am capable of going out for rides like yesterday afternoon where I don't have my gaze fixated on the power numbers. Perhaps it's partially due to doing most of my commutes without the stem x-lock mount on the Voodoo, so I have my Lezyne Super GPS in my shorts pocket.

But then on other rides like sometime over the coming days, I shall try not to cry while looking at my power numbers while climbing some cat4s, due to how much power I've lost while not being able to train since 2nd March due to lurgy... I did the Zwift Giro stage 1 TT on Saturday and climbed the hill from just before that right hairpin with 274W, back on 2nd March I did 326W over the same time duration (~14min30secs).

jgsi

Just like getting on the bathroom scales , power meter data is there to mislead you into thinking you are a contender when actually you are a donkey. No romance in that.
I challenge anyone to come on here and say that their power meter got them a top 3 finish in a BC/TLI or LVRC road race.
Testers need not apply as most seem fixated on their stems.
My Garmin only shows distance and time when racing and only speed when timetrialling.
The power data afterwards is merely amusing to see me win a bit of money (aka enough for a decent Barolo) with a 20 min power output of 245 watts as it did on Sunday.

Alejandrosdog

JGSI wrote:

Just like getting on the bathroom scales , power meter data is there to mislead you into thinking you are a contender when actually you are a donkey. No romance in that.
I challenge anyone to come on here and say that their power meter got them a top 3 finish in a BC/TLI or LVRC road race.
Testers need not apply as most seem fixated on their stems.
My Garmin only shows distance and time when racing and only speed when timetrialling.
The power data afterwards is merely amusing to see me win a bit of money (aka enough for a decent Barolo) with a 20 min power output of 245 watts as it did on Sunday.

The power meter doesn’t get them those positions but it certainly helps get you ready to get there. ( NB I only got one after I was a contender loool)

mrfpb

Wayne Plunger wrote:

Can the admin on this site introduce a section for people who just want to ride a bike without harping on about power meters, climbing / descending massive cols, slamming their stems, "when I'm racing" (yeah right), I'm faster than you, I know more about wheels than you, I've got more seat post showing etc.

Every post on here is like a "one up fest" I am just waiting for one of you to say "my brother is a fireman"

It's called "Commuters"

Realistically, people who just ride their bike don't feel the need to come on an internet forum and try to dazzle complete strangers with the great achievement they believe they have accomplished by riding their bike.

david7m

"My brothers a fireman"

amrushton

for me they have no place in my riding (think dog/rubriks cube) but I can see why some people have them and others perhaps should just ride the bike. Had they been available in Hinaults/Millar/leMonds time then the power meter would have been used as would lower gears. Technology just hadn't delivered it. Armstrong was one of the first to get into it I think and he was using Lightweights which he bought (as did Ullrich) so the 'romance' was already going. The Spring Classics still require that old-school riding tho'

FatTed

I have a power meter, usually use it to see how inadequate I was. The only time I really look at it is when I ride into a strong head wind

step83

I use it as a training aid really, gives me heaps of useful data which has helped me things like pedal balance and cadence as well as seeing power changes.

Main thing is yes you may have one but its not the be all and end all. The main page I have on my Wahoo shows the time, temp and speed thats it. I have a page with all the details but its not needed unless I'm actually going out to train, it records it none the less so if you do want to look you can.

daniel_b

Step83 wrote:

I use it as a training aid really, gives me heaps of useful data which has helped me things like pedal balance and cadence as well as seeing power changes.

Main thing is yes you may have one but its not the be all and end all. The main page I have on my Wahoo shows the time, temp and speed thats it. I have a page with all the details but its not needed unless I'm actually going out to train, it records it none the less so if you do want to look you can.

Likewise, I'm not glued to it when out on the road, though if there is a climb I am familiar with, or for a hill climb, I have a power figure in mind I am looking to try and average throughout, and for that it is a massive help.
I don't have speed or average speed on my display, just stuff like (lap) cadence, power, hr, elapsed time, and distance.

PhilipPirrip

Do power meters remove the 'romance'?

I would suggest not to get romantically involved with a bicycle in the first place. Many of them have STIs, the slags.