Training & Nutrition - How important is heart rate if you have a power meter?

The title pretty much says it all. I am trying to decide between buying a powertap with a heart rate monitor which will put me in the used powertap market, which I am less sure of due to my lack of knowledge of the history of powertaps, or buying a brand new wired comp model that does not have any hrm function. So please throw out some opinions on whether or not I should delve into the more sketchy used market to power and heart rate, or go with the more reliable option of power with no hrm info.

Thanks in advance.

If you are used to training with HR then it helps to have it during the transition to power, mainly as a reference point. It is especially useful for helping to pace your first ftp tests. If you have never used HR then it won't do you any good as a reference point, so don't worry about it.

By the way, according to Competative Cyclist at least, the Comp model will do HRM, it just doesn't come with the chest strap.

If you are used to training with HR then it helps to have it during the transition to power, mainly as a reference point. It is especially useful for helping to pace your first ftp tests. If you have never used HR then it won't do you any good as a reference point, so don't worry about it.

By the way, according to Competative Cyclist at least, the Comp model will do HRM, it just doesn't come with the chest strap.

Thanks. I saw that too, but then other sites seem to either not mention hrm with the comp or say it does not have that option. On the saris site it mentions that the elite is upgradeable to hrm but it does not mention it for the comp.

thanks again.