Power Meters / Powermeters (SRM, Powertap, Quarq, Ergomo, Vector, Stages, power2max, P2M, 4iii, InPower, Cinch)

That only works if you're slow, isn't your 25mi PB like 50min or something? Get out there and do the extra 10min you lazy fucker. ;)

I used a MAP test to get my zones, did it with a coach though and would find it hard to do myself. 20 min ftp test sounds way easier to do on your own on turbo or the road. I also found it hard to get a definite way of getting my FTP from the MAP test results, there didn't seem to be a definite formula I could find

I have a 30min long 7% hill near by. Not sure I could get a good result on the flat.

Mentally its pretty easy. I spin to the base, and then Climb to a signpost at the start. I have my garmin showing 'Lap average Power, 3s Power, and 'lap time'. Click lap at the signpost, try and maintain my target lap average Power, click lap at 20mins.

A 20min Climb is far far Shorter than a 20min turbo interval.

For me a MAP test would be pretty short. Like six minutes or something. lolz

I could be tempted to try that on the turbo.

P2M turned up today.

Standard procedure of ordering wrong BB type. Classic.

eh? do you have to order it with a BB or specify what BB type?

4 months of base miles, 3x 3hr MTB races and a couple of 20minute FTP tests.

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5 and 10sec power from first FTP test => how much of gain 4 months later due to better pacing....

They sell all the bbs so just convenient ordering from one place. Plus pound euro is good. But I ordered the wrong one!

Is it worth investing in any of the training with power books that are available, namely the Coggan / Allen, or Friel one? I have a feeling I may not get through it; I get kinda bored of techy books.

I read plenty online about training etc, but was wondering if I'd get more from an actual book.

Yes

If you have time to read books you are doing it wrong, unless you were a track sprinter where you probably have too much time for everything.

I'm 3/4 the way through 'Training and Racing with a Power Meter' and can highly reccommend it for all you insomniacs out there.

If you can stay awake though, it is really useful and has helped me understand the basics of what I should be doing for now and will be a resource I can return to as the months and years pass. It's worth having a copy in my opinion.

Sounds like it's time to go buy a very boring book and make myself read it then.

Like being back at uni only without the spliffs and less booze....

It's not boring just overly detailed in some areas. You can skip the chapters on choosing a power meter etc and get stuck into the testing regime etc. It's worth it alone for the workouts alone.

I found I could get most of what I needed from the SRM PCV manual. Germans are thourough etc.

But yeah it's good to have a copy kicking around.

Most people I know with PMs haven't read Coggan's book and don't really know what they're doing.

But, you know... more numbers...

^ exactly. Just seems mad to spend all that money and not spend some time understanding how to use it. Otherwise it's just a dick measuring ruler and you may as well spend that money on something fun... Or a coach.

+1 for the workouts - although some of them seem like they may be guesswork, e.g. 'microbursts'.

I read the book and decided I didn't need a PM :-)

I really rate his workouts though. Although pretty tough. ... I'm thinking of Hunter Allen. I rate his.

Crit races and CX feature lots of hard short efforts which that workout would mimic. And London commuting.

I bought the book a year before I bought a PM.

Yeah, but @owlz has never ridden crits or cx.

Oh.

Maybe I should be doing more microbursts to improve my commuting?

To those that use TP / Golden Cheetah or other power data software, and make use of the Performance Manager, what kind of value is your TSB on a typical day / week?

I track all my rides bar commutes as they're only a 12-14 mile round trip, and my TSB is typically around -40 to -60.

As I've only been using a power meter for a few months I don't know if this is typical long term, but my training schedule is roughly what the same intensity as it would be all year. I ask as i felt particularly shitty over the weekend with achey legs and no motivation, and was wondering if that was my body just screaming out for a rest, and if so, how that relates to the TSB numbers.

I know it's all relative (and I seem to be quite a slow recoverer), but would be interesting to see what numbers work for others.