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2006-05-07 7:47 PM

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Long Island, NY
Subject: Powertap
Anyone out there with a powertap on a set of their wheels. I've been told that they are awesome for training puposes. Can anyone explain to me how the whole thing works?


2006-05-07 8:12 PM
in reply to: #417123

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Powertap

triwor - 2006-05-07 6:47 PM Anyone out there with a powertap on a set of their wheels. I've been told that they are awesome for training puposes. Can anyone explain to me how the whole thing works?

 coredump just got one.  he should be able to shed some light.

2006-05-08 10:13 PM
in reply to: #417123

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Subject: RE: Powertap
Had mine for two weeks and love it.

- I'm a data nut and the level of detail that you get is unbeatable. Really helped me nail some things down - making my training more effective
- By far the best way to pace intervals - HR has you setting off two hard (both first interval and spike at start of each interval) and dying later - but you don't notice. PT allows much better quality of work
- My pacing on hills and racing now also much better. Keep steady efforts up a hill - so lose to people at the bottom but start rapidly overtaking them about 60% up and keep the momentum over the crest so hit the down much harder. Gain lots.

But at the end of the day, like everything else - you need to get on the bike and ride it to get better at cycling! If you're riding a couple of hundred km a week without one you're still going to train better with a HR monitor than someone who rides 75km with power....
2006-05-10 8:27 AM
in reply to: #417123

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Pro
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St Charles, IL
Subject: RE: Powertap

It's fairly simple, but it does require a bit of work to use it.

It has sensors built into a special rear wheel that measure the force you are exerting ( IE, your power ).  This is transmitted via little cable to the CPU unit which mounts on your stem/handlebars just like any other bike computer.

Where it really comes into play is when you download the power data from the CPU.  It will record data every second for your ride, so you can track Heartrate, Cadence, Power, Speed on the same timescale.

You get something that looks like this:

 

If you're a data geek, it's good fun and lots of different analysis can be done on the data.

If you're into a long course racing ( 1/2 IM or longer ) then it is a very useful tool for ensuring you pace the bike leg properly.

One thing to keep in mind is that since it needs a special rear wheel, you may have to buy two wheels unless you want to use the same wheel for training and racing.

I'm very happy with it so far, and the data it gives me lets me pace the bike better than just going off HR alone.

-C 

2006-05-10 11:14 AM
in reply to: #417123

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Subject: RE: Powertap

I have two PT's, one on my race wheel and one my training wheel.
I can't believe how much my bike has improved since I started training with power a year ago.
If you want to improve your biker and you are disciplined, training with power is the best way to get there.

A watt is a watt, it dosent matter wether your going up hill, on a flat or going down hill, the person who finishes with the highest ave watts wins.


Geoff
2006-05-10 1:18 PM
in reply to: #417123

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Long Island, NY
Subject: RE: Powertap
Great. Thanks for all the info. I'm definately going to look into a powertap.

2006-05-10 2:16 PM
in reply to: #420033

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Powertap
Don't bother buying two wheels. Get the PowerTap and have Rich at wheelbuilder.com build it up for you and get a disc cover from him at the same time. Now you've got a PT training wheel and a disk wheel with a PT built in for races.
2006-05-11 10:16 AM
in reply to: #420114

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Coach
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Subject: RE: Powertap
dgunthert - 2006-05-10 2:16 PM Don't bother buying two wheels. Get the PowerTap and have Rich at wheelbuilder.com build it up for you and get a disc cover from him at the same time. Now you've got a PT training wheel and a disk wheel with a PT built in for races.

What he said... Plus, if you are planning to buy a PT I would recommend you to really learn how to use. By this I don't mean knowing your avg watts for each ride. A PT can provide you with a LOT of great training information to learn about your strengths and weaknesses as a cyclist. I’ve met more than a few people “training” with a power meter and they have no idea how to utilize the data and benefit from it…

2006-05-11 11:08 AM
in reply to: #417123

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Orangeville, Ontario
Subject: RE: Powertap
I agree,if you like to use disc. Once you have the PT installed do your MAP (maximal aerobic power) and establish your training zones/thresholds. Your may want to checkout http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com.They have great tools available.

But like I said earlier, to get the most out of your power tap training you have to be disciplined and consistent.

Good luck

Geoff
2006-05-11 1:13 PM
in reply to: #419869

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Coach
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Boston, MA
Subject: RE: Powertap
geoffs - 2006-05-10 11:14 AM I have two PT's, one on my race wheel and one my training wheel. I can't believe how much my bike has improved since I started training with power a year ago. If you want to improve your biker and you are disciplined, training with power is the best way to get there. A watt is a watt, it dosent matter wether your going up hill, on a flat or going down hill, the person who finishes with the highest ave watts wins. Geoff
I think that a watt is almost always a watt. The good thing about a power meter it that keeps you honest and the little gadget will tell you whether you are having a good or bad session. Unlike a HRM the training is by dose and not by response. IOW the real work that you are doing is reflected in real time, while with a HRM you get a response of the work you are performing. But I don’t agree that the person who finishes with highest average wins... i.e. I did a TT a few weeks ago and even though I didn’t win, I did finished 2nd and I beat other friends with higher power avg. for the same TT. The difference was: the power to weight ratio…
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