"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - No Powermeter, no HR Monitor, no nothin'

Hi all. So after enjoying my first year of racing (and mostly serving as pack fodder), I'm gearing up for next year. I do not have a Powermeter and it is not in my future. I also do not have a HR Monitor; I have been following Friel's training bible by estimating my RPE (rate of perceived exertion) while training. This has seemed okay since finding the correct zone for aerobic base rides seems pretty easy, and I think I do pretty well in targeting my other workouts to the correct zones, at least roughly.

I haven't bought a HR monitor because, well, it's just one more freaking gadget to fool around with, and I get tired of dealing with stuff. So here's my question: am I fooling myself by thinking that I am training just fine without out? Should I get one? Opinions?

It's a personal decision. Certainly, great cycling training has happened without these gadgets, as they did not exist commercially before 1989. The power meter is an excellent tool and HRMs are now pretty cheap and are also good tools but I think in the end these are gadgets for understanding what your body usually already knows.

I would think only those with gross deficits of self-knowledge absolutely require a power meter to become the best cyclist they can be.

The concepts associated with training with power are useful and everyone, those training with power and those who aren't, should know them.

I own a power meter and love it but I also enjoy riding without seeing any displays as I find that reading them during a race or max effort can distract me from attending to how I'm actually feeling.

The only use my heart rate monitor is for is when I look at my powertap data after a crit and say "Jesus, my heart rate was too high.".

It's a personal decision. Certainly, great cycling training has happened without these gadgets, as they did not exist commercially before 1989. The power meter is an excellent tool and HRMs are now pretty cheap and are also good tools but I think in the end these are gadgets for understanding what your body usually already knows.

I would think only those with gross deficits of self-knowledge absolutely require a power meter to become the best cyclist they can be.

The concepts associated with training with power are useful and everyone, those training with power and those who aren't, should know them.

I own a power meter and love it but I also enjoy riding without seeing any displays as I find that reading them during a race or max effort can distract me from attending to how I'm actually feeling.


That's a good response. Although no one on BF would ever believe it, there are lots of folks who win races without using a powermeter.

You should get a Power Meter just to feed the BF Power Meter Feeding Frenzy.

Workable HRM can be had for $50. If you're following a heart rate driven program, I think it is well worth the investment. Heck the book you bought is half that.

Power meters are nice, and I believe helpful, but the economics aren't quite as clear cut.

You're doing fine without either. I've been training with an HRM, but I can't actually use it to drive my effort -- I only use it to confirm. "I think I'm a bit over LTHR here... hmm, 181, I was right!" I never use it to decide how hard to go. I don't avoid it, but I find I do a better job of that on my own.

You need to internalize pedal pressure and actual output. I have gotten very good at pacing myself for whatever situation I'm in.

That said, I hope to be able to train myself into a non-incremental performance gain when I get a power meter this Christmas. As it is, just training by feel, I am doing great in SM35+ and Cat 3 racing, and continually improving.

Just tell everybody here on BF that you own a PT. Problem solved.

Just tell everybody here on BF that you own a PT. Problem solved.

I can provide graphs for a price.

I can provide graphs for a price.

More proof that BF is the Answer to All Bike Weenie Needs.

Graeme Obree didn't use a power meter or HR monitor. Chris Boardman did.

I'm reasonably sure E. Merckx didn't know what a HR Monitor or Power Meter was.

I'm reasonably sure E. Merckx didn't know what a HR Monitor or Power Meter was.

And Chris Boardman did.

I'm reasonably sure E. Merckx didn't know what a HR Monitor or Power Meter was.

:roflmao:

Hi all. So after enjoying my first year of racing (and mostly serving as pack fodder), I'm gearing up for next year. I do not have a Powermeter and it is not in my future. I also do not have a HR Monitor; I have been following Friel's training bible by estimating my RPE (rate of perceived exertion) while training. This has seemed okay since finding the correct zone for aerobic base rides seems pretty easy, and I think I do pretty well in targeting my other workouts to the correct zones, at least roughly.

I haven't bought a HR monitor because, well, it's just one more freaking gadget to fool around with, and I get tired of dealing with stuff. So here's my question: am I fooling myself by thinking that I am training just fine without out? Should I get one? Opinions?

fwiw - i use mine mainly to gauge my effort. the only times that i actually work off of it is when i'm on rest days (where i back off) or when i'm doing long and intense efforts (pulls during training, or long climbs) where i'll back off.

i NEVER use it when i'm racing.

Graeme Obree didn't use a power meter or HR monitor. Chris Boardman did.

obree is a nutter, boardman isn't. what's your point?

Rumor has it that one of our own forum members who upgraded from a 5 to a 2 in a single season (Truckin') doesn't use a computer of any kind. Ever.

--Steve

Rumor has it that one of our own forum members who upgraded from a 5 to a 2 in a single season (Truckin') doesn't use a computer of any kind. Ever.

--Steve

yeah well... some people have natural talent, and some have to work for it.

steve, OT question, any chance on using a new avatar? your plate & bolts are kinda freakin' my superstitious fat ass out.

steve, OT question, any chance on using a new avatar? your bolts are kinda freakin' my superstitious fat ass out.

You like that, eh? I promise you those bolts feel worse than they look. If I put my hand on my collar bone I can feel the individual screwheads under the skin. It's really neato.

--Steve

You like that, eh? I promise you those bolts feel worse than they look. If I put my hand on my collar bone I can feel the individual screwheads under the skin. It's really neato.

--Steve

Exactly why I don't really want to see it.

I use a heart rate monitor when I am bashing away on a stationary trainer. I can dial in load and heart rate and rpm and play them off against one another. It relieves the boredom. I find it much harder to judge percieved effort while stationary than when I am on the road.

steve, OT question, any chance on using a new avatar? your plate & bolts are kinda freakin' my superstitious fat ass out.

Agreed. I don't think any of us need reminders of past broken bone days.

I'm reasonably sure E. Merckx didn't know what a HR Monitor or Power Meter was.

Divinci didn't use penicillin.