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

ftfy.
Second time I've done that. :(

Pretty sure I asked this before.

But 970 euro P2M S-type vs 770 euro P2M?

I was bloody close to ordering the S-type. It looks a lot neater, it'll work with Aero rotor rings, and its a few grams lighter. But I just couldnt justify the 200 euro extra in my mind.

What will make you happier? 200EU in your pocket for something else or a slightly faster crankset?

I'd spend the 200 euros on beer, cigs, and brioche. So yes the more expensive one would make me faster. But happier.....?

power2max Type S orders starting Tuesday 3rd December 10:00 CET

The time has come! We are starting to accept orders for the new Type S starting Tuesday 3rd December at 10:00 CET. You can make sure to be one of the first to receive the new Type S power meter. We will accept orders now and confirm them in January, with more information on the delivery date. Deliveries are planned to start in February. Type S orders will be filled on a first-come first-served basis and demand is high. So the earlier you order the earlier you will get your new Type S!

Order in.

Massive buyers remorse not really setting in. Maybe when the bill comes.

Does largely depend on what you do with it once it drops onto your doorstep.

In my case, virtually nothing. :'(

Well if it comes in Feb. It'll go striaght on the Turbo.

In my case, virtually nothing. :'(

Why?

Work 'n' that.

Ah booger.

I recently bought a Stages Rival for a TT bike project. Still waiting on some bits to get it built, but realised that it would fit the Omniums on my Langster, so decided to give it a whirl today. 170 on the Stages and 172.5 on the Omniums, but I couldn't really notice it on the road.

I have to say, I'm really impressed with it. Easy to install, easy to pair with the Garmin and easy to set the zero off set. The readings seemed pretty stable (even in real time power display, but even more so in the 3s average mode) and consistent with what I'd expect from the powertap I had a few years ago. As far as I can tell the only real downside is it's reliance on the overall power extrapolation from the LH only, but this isn't a concern of mine. Even if I'm not 50/50 balanced, the readings will be consistent from one session to the next and that's all I really care about. I love the fact I can swap it between bikes easily and doubly so that it can also be used on the fixed gear. I think a minor issue that would only affect the fixed gear is that it dropped the cadence reading momentarily when I was "soft pedalling" at high cadence on a steep descent.

My opinion, for what it's worth: at <£600 I'd say it's a bargain.

http://www.strava.com/activities/99181847

Okay, I'm following the Allen & Coggan book and I've just completed the power profiling stuff.

I have a 'fair' 5s and 1min and 'very good' 5min and FTP. Great, confirms my suspicions, but what do I do now?

My uneducated impression is that I should be concentrating on super short intervals?

Or should I just forget ever leaving 4th cat and go and buy a TT rig?

What are you training for, and when is it?

If it's next summer then working on top end power/speed right now might be less useful than building your aerobic base up/working on overall FTP.

I am sure Skinny will be along presently to issue proper advice!

LOL!

What were your numbers?
How did you test?
What PM you got?

Numbers are all good. Anyone can win a 4th cat race. Just race to your strengths. I've the 1min power of a weakling. So I attacked and rode away once everyone had got tired and no one had the incentive to chase me. So you just got to know how you can win and do that. Not try to beat other people at their game, play yours.

OK, here's some numbers (from a P2M, combination of profiling test and some 20min efforts)...

Interval - Power (W) - P:W (W/kg)
5" - 803 - 12.35
1' - 441 - 6.78
5' - 326 - 5.02
FTP - 267 - 4.11

Would like to move up the rankings in cross (although the season's nearly over!) and do better in bunch races next year.

So you just got to know how you can win and do that. Not try to beat other people at their game, play yours.

Sounds like good advice (for circuit / road races).

I have just opened Training Peaks for the first time since ROTFL.

I may be turning the corner on this "can't bring myself to do anything" business.

For intervals reverse periodisation = go fast first, then learn to go faster for longer.

Ooh, get Dr Tim Kerrison here.

Bunch racing you just need to learn to suck wheels and then hit the gas at the right time. The right time is hard to pick, you can make the time right if you're strong enough, or suck the wheel of the person who is. It's a art. One I'm not very good at.

You've some headroom to move up FTP under your current ability. But i'd focus on riding tempo right now. Depending on how many hours a week you have. And then longer rides when you cna. Not easy rides though. Longer rides, where you feel like you have to push on, but not pushing on at tempo. You need to concentrate. And then when you feel fitter, ride tempo at the end of those rides too. Not full gas, but trying hard, and it'll be hard to ride tempo after 2-3h rides.

Don't go smashing yourself for 1m. It's pointless. Just do 10-90 min efforts at varying intensity. At tempo. And do them consistently. You'll improve.

Your FTP will give you a seat at the table and you shorter duration power will give you the cards to play. You need a bigger seat. So you've better cards. You can only get a better cards by a better seat. So work on a better seat with tempo.

Oh and going by your number, you should be able to win a 4th cat race, for sure. A hilly one though, would be easier as you're only 64kg and you can use that to your advantage. Not a flat brute force race. But that's the problem round the south, all races are 1min man sprint finishes.

And for cyclocross, I'd suggest buying the classic Cyclocross: Training and Techniques and following the training plans. Adapt them to your weaknesses, which I suspect might be skills, given your FTP W/KG is way above mine but I'll still finish in front of you :p

But in the long term you'll need to keep working on FTP and hard endurance power.

I missed the cross bit.

Best way to get better at cross, is race cross and watch better people race cross. And have a massive AWC. Basically being able to sprint - recover - sprint.

I don't have a clue, never ridden it. But Andyp races it.

Best way to get better at cross, is race cross and watch better people race cross. And have a massive AWC. Basically being able to sprint - recover - sprint.

This is how XC works. I find it to be 'engage legs, recover + engage brain, engage legs etc.' Then sometimes you need to engage your legs and brain at the same time. Which is when I fall over.

Re: Dammits trainingPeaks comment.

I feel my data logging is a mess. I'm not racing or anything. I'm just a nerdy MAMIL, who likes to push himself. I cycle (on and off-road), and run (on and off-road) + plus I do a lot of turbo work. Currently have:

Garmin connect - Never use it.
TrainerRoad - Awesome for turbo trainning both during and after analysis.
Strava (free sub) - Great fun. But not much analysis use.
TrainingPeaks (free sub) - Without paid subscription its basically just a diary.

Thinking of going premium with either Strava or TrainingPeaks. Just want everything in one place. I suspect TrainingPeaks is a better technical tool. But the simplicity of Strava appeals. Does anyone with a powermeter use Strava premium? It seems the simpler option to me.

I subscribe to both, training peaks is an analytical tool, Strava is a social ride diary - there is overlap but it's very small.

But if I go premium with TrainingPeaks. Why go premium with Strava?

Unless I need that to create segments. Which is pretty vital to my plan to own the KOMs on every local lake, when they've frozen.

Whats TP like for turbo trainer data?