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

Ta :)

Been interesting getting back on a bike with a power meter again after ~6 months without.

Went out with Brixton this morning for a brief 40 miles, NP was 237 watts - my FTP from a few years ago.

That's my FTP now

@60kg

I'm 28% heavier than you, but 27% more powerful- you win.

Depends if there's a mountain involved

Frontal area?

My ears are huge, for example.

Yeah I'd suspect you'd demolish me on a flat / rolling course, but on a significant climb I might stand a chance.

If yesterday's ride was anything to go by (essentially desperately trying to hold on to Benjam's wheel for 100 miles)

My riding bud and me both had a 277w FTP last year.

He was 7kg lighter than me. But I'm notably more aero.

It was interesting competing With each on rides. No matter how we fought each other. We never beat the physics of it. The sad truth is that holding onto someone With a better w/kg, on a long ride is brutal. Even if you are more aero. You just cant steal the energy back on the flat.

Howards watts/kg is better than mine, I'll hide behind him.

Thats the problem.

The guy with the better w/kg wins the Climbs, where Wheel sucking is least effective. Then the aero guy hits the flat, and needs either a Sharp hill or a sprint effort to drop the climber guy. Then you need to keep the hammer Down to prevent bridging. I managed it once on a glorious 800m descent over 28km, singlespeed, with a broken rear mech. I've never managed it since.

/csb

My riding bud and me both had a 277w FTP last year.

He was 7kg lighter than me. But I'm notably more aero.

It was interesting competing With each on rides. No matter how we fought each other. We never beat the physics of it. The sad truth is that holding onto someone With a better w/kg, on a long ride is brutal. Even if you are more aero. You just cant steal the energy back on the flat.

Doing it wrong.

If the tempo rider tags behind the climber on hills, he gets less help than when the climber tags behind the tempo rider on the flat or downhill.

From which I deduce that he should carry my fecking water.

But probably doing it wrong too.....

FTP isn't everything - did you test his ability to recover from multiple attacks?

Anyway I don't see how you can deduce much from rides where you were intentionally staying together. Do you also have the same 5 minute power? Do you notice that he never eats or drinks on the bike and so might fall to pieces after 3 hours? How does the skinnier guy handle strong side wides? What about cadence? If he's pushing massive gears all the time you might be able to get a gap. Shit, you could just do the old "pfft pfft pfft" thing and see if he looks to check his tyres... yeah take that FTP you ain't shit.

FTP isn't everything - did you test his ability to recover from multiple attacks?

Anyway I don't see how you can deduce much from rides where you were intentionally staying together. Do you also have the same 5 minute power? Do you notice that he never eats or drinks on the bike and so might fall to pieces after 3 hours? How does the skinnier guy handle strong side wides? What about cadence? If he's pushing massive gears all the time you might be able to get a gap. Shit, you could just do the old "pfft pfft pfft" thing and see if he looks to check his tyres... yeah take that FTP you ain't shit.

To be honest we're just fecking around. Testing how the number relate to real riding, if not real racing.

I've droped my FTP focus this year anyway. I have to ride nearly 4 times further than, up untill a few weeks back, I have ever ridden before. So I'm all about efficiency and what cakes I like to eat best.
I'm happiest when I'm moving well but showing low watts, and low bpm.

Is it possible to create a piece of software, coupled with a phone accelerometer to calculate power?

I am not a physicist, engineer and my physics is rusty at best but is this the applicable formula?
Power= [mass x accel x distance]/ time?
So taking the rotational acceleration of the leg, the time taken for a set distance, and the weight of the rider and bike it should come up with at least a good estimate of power?

No. It would be fine in space, but completely fails to take account of aerodynamic drag, which accounts for up to about 90% of cycling power.

is this the applicable formula?
Power= [mass x accel x distance]/ time

It is an equation in which both sides are denominated in power, but it's meaningless for any practical application.

Could I have torque meters inplanted along the soles of my feet?

As I now mainly do barefoot style running now. All the force of both running and cycling starts at the ball of my foot.

I should get accelerometers implanted too for cadence.

Having Power for running would be awesome.

OK, so Powertap arrives today.

Idiots guide to power meters? Should I use training peaks etc?

By coggans book if you haven't already, it's a pretty practical guide, make sure you have a notebook and a cup of strong coffee though!

I have this one and really rate it. I read it cover to cover for background, and now use as referance material. A lot of good info in there that will help you get the most out of your PM.

Training and Racing with a Power Meter: Amazon.co.uk: Hunter Allen, Andrew Coggan: Books

OK, so Powertap arrives today.

Idiots guide to power meters? Should I use training peaks etc?

I find the Training Peaks very handy, it's worth it for the PMC/calendar I think.

I rode my new bike with a PowerTap this morning, which I calibrated before I set off.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/491220383

I'm not sure that I agree with that average power however, any thoughts chaps?