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Power meters for cycling?
PETE GLADDEN
Pete’s World
Published: March 26, 2018
“Should I or shouldn’t I” has to be the biggest question associated with the use of power meters in cycling. And it’s a question cyclists and multi-sport athletes have been asking ever since this fancy training device became available to the public some 30 years ago.
I believe the use of a power meter for cycling does offer significant advantages in training accuracy and analysis, but I’m also going to temper that statement by adding that it’s not for everyone. So before you spend several hours surfing the web for any one of a slew of different devices, I’d like to offer some important questions you should consider first.
1) Will this device improve training and racing results?
From the get-go, understand that the power meter is just one of a number of potential training aids - heart rate monitor, O2 analyzer, cyclocomputer - so it alone is not the the key to becoming a better rider.
Its advantage lies in the fact that it, just like a heart rate monitor, can help to motivate the athlete by displaying tangible feedback with respect to intensity/exertion levels in real time. In the case of the power meter, one can view power output levels during training and racing.
Some coaches believe the power meter can “coax” an extra 5-10% effort from an athlete when compared to RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) alone, and I’m in total agreement with that notion. I believe it’s far more precise than simply relying on “gut instinct.” But I don’t subscribe to the supposition that the power meter can elicit that same 5-10% improvement when compared to the heart rate monitor. Quite the contrary, I think when used in tandem, the power meter and the HR monitor provide two sets of data that are of equal importance.
I will say the power meter is much faster than the HR monitor in providing that real time feedback, especially at higher exertion levels. Sometimes it can take a minute or two for your heart rate to initially rise to the level you’re aiming for. This fact is crucial when you’re training at high intensity/short duration intervals. Such slow changes in heart rate can create periods of time when one is putting in either too much or too little effort.
Also consider the “garbage in/garbage out” aspect of the power meter. The information provided by the power meter, just like the HR monitor, is only as good as the testing which was done to establish training parameters. You can have the best power meter or HR monitor on the market, but if the testing’s flawed, then the training parameters are useless.
2) What’ s your price point?
Newsflash…power meters are expensive. And in my opinion, you’ll be very disappointed with devices that clock in at under $600. If you’re determined to make the purchase, then for goodness sake spend the extra money for one of the higher rated devices. Here are a few of the major brands I’d recommend, from most expensive to least expensive: SRM, Quark, Garmin Vector 2, Power2max, Power Tap. Now understand that none of these devices are perfect, each has its own set of pros and cons, but the more expensive models do have specific benefits and greater degrees of accuracy.
3) Are you patient, comfortable, and eager to work with formulas, numbers, & computer technology?
If you’re not willing to spend time learning how to use the device, understand its functions, and calculate your training zones properly, then the power meter will be of little value to you. What’s more, if you’ve no technical aptitude, and you grumble about working with your cell phone and laptop, then purchasing a power meter may be a stretch as well.
Finally, and I tell athletes this all the time: Don’t become a slave to your training devices. There’s a problem when the HR monitor and/or the power meter becomes your eyes, ears, and brain. Don’t feel lost without them. In my opinion, the purpose for using these devices is to learn to race on the “feel” your body’s memorized from training at specific parameters.
Yes, a power meter can be a valuable tool for improving performance…but it’s not the magic bullet. In the end, you have to decide if you’re compatible with it.