cedricbosch
02-02-10, 10:22 PM
I recently found out that the powertap head unit can smooth out your power display for better pacing in TT efforts. I was just wondering what the right amount of smoothing is for TT-style intervals.
"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Powertap users- Power smoothing on head unit during TT / intervals?
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waterrockets
02-02-10, 11:23 PM
I've been happy with mine at 10" for everything.
Nate552
02-03-10, 05:34 AM
I tried the smoothing for TT's but didn't like it and went back to instant power.
waterrockets
02-03-10, 07:25 AM
I remember NomadVW often just puts his on average power for TTs and long intervals.
Grumpy McTrumpy
02-03-10, 07:35 AM
I leave mine on the default 1.26 seconds or whatever it is
umd
02-03-10, 07:37 AM
I've found that for my intervals I like seeing average power and 3" at the same time. The Garmin doesn't give many choices, it's either instant, 3", 30", lap, or total, so I don't know if slightly longer than 3" would be good or not. Sometimes it seems that the 3" is too much so I probably wouldn't want to go much/any more than that.
brianappleby
02-04-10, 02:44 PM
For any interval longer than 1min, i just look at avg power. It always starts high, but after about a minute, it settles in to the number I plan to hold for the rest of the interval.
TT's included. If you see your avg rising, you know you're above it, and vice versa if it's falling. I suppose if the TT had varied terrain, a different smoothing would be appropriate, but I haven't ever come across that...
TT's included. If you see your avg rising, you know you're above it, and vice versa if it's falling. I suppose if the TT had varied terrain, a different smoothing would be appropriate, but I haven't ever come across that...
cedricbosch
02-04-10, 05:29 PM
Unfortunately the powertap computer doesn't support that. It only shows avg power for the entire ride.
Plus, say you're doing a 10-min interval, and you're at minute 8. You can drop significantly below your target power, and the average will only reflect it by 1 watt, after about 15 seconds or so. So it seems like you'd be doing alot of work above and below your target, instead of right on it.
Plus, say you're doing a 10-min interval, and you're at minute 8. You can drop significantly below your target power, and the average will only reflect it by 1 watt, after about 15 seconds or so. So it seems like you'd be doing alot of work above and below your target, instead of right on it.
mattm
02-04-10, 05:31 PM
I leave mine on the default 1.26 seconds or whatever it is
Me too. WKO+ can do all the averaging later I figure.
Me too. WKO+ can do all the averaging later I figure.
brianappleby
02-05-10, 11:45 AM
Unfortunately the powertap computer doesn't support that. It only shows avg power for the entire ride.
Yes it does. Learn to use the interval feature. If you're in interval 2 and in interval mode, your averages will only be from interval 2.
Plus, say you're doing a 10-min interval, and you're at minute 8. You can drop significantly below your target power, and the average will only reflect it by 1 watt, after about 15 seconds or so. So it seems like you'd be doing alot of work above and below your target, instead of right on it.
When doing stuff like LT intervals, you're pretty much on the line for most of the interval. If I go over it, my body tells me pretty quickly, so I just try to ride the line physiology wise, and use the PM for input. Also, I don't think a 300W (for example) interval needs to be exactly 300W in order to be effective. +-5%, which is twice the error in the PM, will allow a range of 285-315W, which is totally doable by only looking at avg number and being conscious about keeping it steady.
Yes it does. Learn to use the interval feature. If you're in interval 2 and in interval mode, your averages will only be from interval 2.
Plus, say you're doing a 10-min interval, and you're at minute 8. You can drop significantly below your target power, and the average will only reflect it by 1 watt, after about 15 seconds or so. So it seems like you'd be doing alot of work above and below your target, instead of right on it.
When doing stuff like LT intervals, you're pretty much on the line for most of the interval. If I go over it, my body tells me pretty quickly, so I just try to ride the line physiology wise, and use the PM for input. Also, I don't think a 300W (for example) interval needs to be exactly 300W in order to be effective. +-5%, which is twice the error in the PM, will allow a range of 285-315W, which is totally doable by only looking at avg number and being conscious about keeping it steady.