VIDEO: Training With A Power Meter, Part 1 of 3 - Introduction

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In part one, you will learn the fundamentals of power training and the benefits of training with a power meter.


By Jason Gootman and Will Kirousis

Tri-Hard Endurance Coaching


Filmed on location at Fit Werx 2 in Peabody, MA

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For both triathletes and cyclists, the most useful benefits of training with a power meter are:

  • Accurately testing your current ability and tracking your progress over time,
  • Accurately testing your current physical response to riding (for setting intensity zones), 
  • Accurately capping intensity for aerobic workouts, 
  • Accurately and instantly selecting the appropriate workout intensity for anaerobic workouts (“intervals”), 
  • Accurately training at race intensity during workouts, 
  • Enhancing motivation (having a carrot to chase), 
  • Improving the quality of indoor workouts, 
  • Improving the communication with your coach regarding your rides, and
  • Enhancing your ability to experiment and fine-tune the aerodynamics of your position and your equipment. 
The following is really a warning and not a training method.  Often when presented with lots of data, we want to focus on the data and become slaves to it instead of training our best. Power meters provide you with more information, but staying mindful, and using perceived exertion to help train, and sticking to the spirit of a workout VS being a slave to the numbers remains very important.

The spirit of the workout means training with the workouts zones or goals in mind, but not being afraid if you go a little high or low numbers wise through out the workout.

A power meter gets you focused more quickly than other intensity measuring tools.  It should not however take you out of the training equation.  Use the power meter to focus your efforts and monitor your efforts, do not let it turn you into a robot!

Once you have your power meter, what are the basic things you can do to start using it to help you train well?
  1. Acclimate to using your power meter.
  2. Test your fitness and establish training ranges.
  3. Execute workouts and races 
  4. Assess those workout and race performances
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Intro to Power Meters Part 1 (895 downloads)

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date: March 18, 2011

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