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

Do you think that's because of HR spikes or powercal just doing it wrong?

Not sure, maybe a combination?

The Powercal has always done this- but maybe my HR goes up unusually fast?

I'd prefer it if there was a way to delete those spikes, as otherwise it does a pretty good job of registering average power for a ride.

Yesterday was 1,059 max SRM, Strava has just gone down for maintenance but I recall the Powercal figure being around 1,400

1,607.

So, more accurate (in very loose terms) yesterday.

I'd basically ignore any short period data from the Powercal, essentially.

I think maybe mine is more inaccurate when I am ill.

I have this horrible idea that the maths is based on a perfectly rythmic heart beat, and that the further you are from this, the worse the algorithm is.

So all the poor results I've been getting of late, are just a prelude to my approaching painful death.

In all seriousness though. I have my Garmin set to show 3s average, and its OK. I tend to watch it for a bit, and mentally remove peaks and dips. Might try 10s.

Its allways 25 to 30 watts low as far as I can tell. Which, so long as it remains consistent, is fine.

Neil you could just 'Cut' them from the ride in WKO or TP and I think in WKO you can smooth them out.

It's not surprising max power is way out for the powercal, as I can't see how it works it out, if it works out power from HR.

This is all true, however I'm vastly lazy and would like it to do it for me, by magic.

I dont care about the peaks, and the less than ideal realtime performance. The fact I can wear no matter what bike I'm riding. With exactly the same hassle as chucking on a HR belt. Makes it awesome.

Cant think of any options that can so easily transfer from road - fixed - SS MTB - fatbike.

But with the large peaks, and valleys screwing IF, TSS gets screwed, and the whole thing falls down somewhat. I grown quite found of TSS.

But that's because it is a HR belt, not a powermeter.

The Garmin should be as simple, nearly. If it's good.

And TSS is the bain of my life. I have a metal breakdown looking at a falling CTL!
I record daily TSS but just ignore CTL now, it causes me to get worried about nothing.

But that's because it is a HR belt, not a powermeter.

The Garmin should be as simple, nearly. If it's good.

And TSS is the bain of my life. I have a metal breakdown looking at a falling CTL!
I record daily TSS but just ignore CTL now, it causes me to get worried about nothing.

Totally. Its all smoke and mirrors. But as long as your getting reliable data elsewhere. Its still a great tool IMHO.

I will not be cycling across frozen lakes on my fatbike, wearing road shoes clipped into road pedals any time soon ;)

Could get the SIDI goretex winter road shoes. Then you could. But yes, not the most appropriate footwear. But would give you proper power.

Thats the genius behind PowerCal though. It gives enough data, of decent enough quality, for folk to part with a few pounds. But it doesnt replace the 'need' for a proper powermeter. If anything it increases the desire.

Having a nice shiney powermeter in the road bike, and a powercal for the rest. So I can have loads of fun power data on my performance bike, and logable data on my other bikes. Would be great. But then powercal would need to give decent TSS, or at least TSS I can correct.

Thats the genius behind PowerCal though. It gives enough data, of decent enough quality, for folk to part with a few pounds. But it doesnt replace the 'need' for a proper powermeter. If anything it increases the desire.

This ^

Why not use HR calculated TSS then? Pretty accurate. And essentially the same thing, without having to buy a PowerCal.

And if you ride with a powermeter, you should be able to figure mentally TSS for a ride pretty close. Unless it's a race, then just set it to a similar previous race.

Not saying the Powercal isn't good. But just being an annoying tosser.

Why not use HR calculated TSS then? Pretty accurate. And essentially the same thing, without having to buy a PowerCal.

And if you ride with a powermeter, you should be able to figure mentally TSS for a ride pretty close. Unless it's a race, then just set it to a similar previous race.

Not saying the Powercal isn't good. But just being an annoying tosser.

I think I should point to Dammits answer of being lazy here.

I do use the power reading when climbing. I aim for a powercal reading of 200+ watts (which ist roughly 230watts), and balance that with heartrate.

The clever thing is. I've done some horrible climbs of late while real ill. My heart goes up to 165. Which is kinda where I want it. But the power is way low due to illness, which matches performance. So it may only measure HR. But its more than just a HR belt.

Again. It provides a neat addiction step, for those that would usually not dream of spending out for a proper powermeter. SRM et al should pay Cycleops a small fee for each one they sell.

Aren't Cycleops hoping you'll invest in a PowerTap rather than a rival product?

With the price drop, they should be selling lots to people that have ummed and arred about it.

Aren't Cycleops hoping you'll invest in a PowerTap rather than a rival product?

Well yeah.

But I guess once folk have the bug. Their money could go anywhere.

Having said that Hippy is right. The PowerTap is still priced to make it the next logical purchase step.

So if HR is abnormally high the PowerCal gives inflated power readings? As it's based on HR?
Genuine question, not shit stirring.

The DC Rainmaker review might shed some light on that.

As I said upthread the Powercal is providing figures within 5 watts of my SRM for average power for ~3 hour rides, that's quite impressive I think.

However the peaks will be messing with IF as SF points out.

AH will see the DC review then. Didn't know he'd done one. But should have assumed!

And yes that is good and it does sound like a clever product. Though it's still not power data. And if you simply want it for TSS then why not just use HR TSS and call it that. If you want crude power data then okay. But if it works well on sustained periods of constant HR, then HR would work just as well. And be HR.

You could also used PE, though PE is good in the moment, but you'll forget what it was. So I use HR for this. I can look back and see how 'hard' and effort was based on HR. It gives a good rough indication.

I just don't see why it's needed. It's essentially HR, so just use HR and call it that. And if you want TSS, use HR TSS algorithm, which is and equally accurate estimate.

Honest answer? It's easy.

Strap it on, Garmin recognises both an HR strap and a Powermeter, off you go.

For commuting I use a Wahoo ANT+ key in my iPhone, recording ride data to the Wahoo application.

At the end of a ride you can upload the ride straight from the phone to both Strava and Training Peaks.

Strava logs the miles, gives you the segment thing if that's your bag and TP has the PMC.

Yes. I just manually add in town rides. Horses for courses I guess.

So if HR is abnormally high the PowerCal gives inflated power readings? As it's based on HR?
Genuine question, not shit stirring.

No the opposite is true.

I've had times of elevated HR due to being a bit crook. Where the powercal showed a, not unexpected, poor output. While I've had times when on form that show a better output for the same HR.

Must be done with magnets. You cant explain that.