Sy Reene

Any views of the FSA Powerbox option? Ribble is selling them.

topflightpro

Doge, I'm pretty sure we've had this conversation, and maybe it doesn't make sense to you because you are looking at it from the perspective of an overbearing father of a very talented son, but while a power meter isn't going to make one race better, it can certainly improve training and help one get more out of their limited training schedule.

HS and College kids have an abundance of time and energy, as well as great capacity to recover, so they may not find one as advantageous. But a working professional with 6-10 hours a week, maybe, to train, can certainly maximize their training by working off power to perform structured workouts designed to improve specific areas of fitness and performance.

PepeM

Whichever way you go, I'd avoid single sided options if possible.

Heathpack 

I totally agree.


The other interesting thing for me as a woman is that I can't necessarily go out and just train with the other racing people- the men are too fast for me and the women essentially don't exist in my town. So my power meters are valuable training partners, I can maximize my time on the bikes even when I'm riding with people I'm physiologically mis-matched with or when riding solo.


I'm pretty fortunate in having a coach who does not quite see/use the FTP concept in the way many people do, so the understanding that I'm developing on the subject is nuanced in a way that having power data is not limiting. No way are we ever given the impression that your FTP number defines what you're capable of, its not how we see it at all. Besides, you can always choose not to display power at any given point- if you think its counter-productive for racing, then just use it for training.


Our local Boy Wonder 16 yo five-time National Champion recently made a comment to me that he feels like people "overthink" recovery. The basic gist of his argument was that you could do "whatever" and it would be fine. Lol, I was struck by how much you can get away with when you are his age with extraordinary genetics and abundant testosterone. Wow, how completely different his perspective on cycling/training is from mine! Rightly so. Of course, half the game is knowing who you are and racing/riding/training smart based on that. Different cyclists at different stages of life quite reasonably have different "best practices". Its always interesting to me to see how little people can appreciate that, I'll literally get reccs made to me with the comment that if pros do X, then I should follow that lead and do X too. What?! As if there is no difference physiologically or genetically or motivationally or sociologically or psychologically (etc) between a 50yo woman with a full-time breadwinner job that requires a high-functioning brain and body to perform and a 25 year old male professional cyclist with nothing on the table besides racing his bike.


Totally different perspectives on cycling, interesting. And of course there's other uses for a power meter than just preparing for racing.

WorldIRC

That was the plan. In fact, I know one of my legs is "dominant" so one of my goals was to work on that.

Doge

Yes, been through this many times. Your view of my perspective (a lot older than my kid) is not arguing the point.

I am contrasting the benefits of structured training over training to a feel/exhaustion done by more random exercises (borrowing term "muscle confusion").

There are fitness/workout plans based on muscle confusion (P90X) / mixing it up over a standard workout plan. There are weight trainers that shoot for fatigue level over lifting a set amount of weights a certain number of reps and sets. Some coaches had riders do hill repeats to a pace/time while others used group hill rides.
The former in each example is the more structured.

Seems you and I agree it won't make you race better (san ITT). I'm saying training to a fatigue level mixing things up may also be a faster way to get better.

RChung

Yeah, it's surprising (appalling?) that many coaches appear unclear on the concept.

eric1971

Power Tap pedals are awesome! Best choice if you ever plane to use on more than one bike.

superdex

nobody mentioning dc rainmaker?

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/09/...6-edition.html

comprehensive comparison, worthy reading.

Seattle Forrest

For example?

zymphad

Wait for Shimano's PM. Err, you have FSA crank, so would have to change crank again. Or just don't get one. I'm still waiting for a good argument if not training to win TdF.

Seattle Forrest

The full set is $999. Every now and then REI does a 20 % off coupon and it applies to Vectors. There should be one pretty soon. They have a one year return policy.

RChung

Different people have different goals. Using power data, I've helped a couple of people set world records, a couple of teams win Olympic medals, and one guy to finally beat his brother-in-law in their annual family race.

WorldIRC

I get about 20% off through my LBS. Once I convert it to CDN, works out to be the same And I get a local warranty.

WhyFi

You're a good man - kudos!

Seattle Forrest

Go with that. Get your LBS to install the pedals because they'll report the wrong (too little) power if you don't torque them to spec, and they need more torque than you'd think.

WhyFi

I'm kind of waiting to see if Watteam gets the 700w+ bug smoothed out. At $500 for dual-sided power, that's within my personal neat tech toy spending range. and doesn't require me to change anything else on the bike.

Doge

They say use a torque wrench.

WorldIRC

How do I know what size I would want? 12-15mm or 15-18mm?

Using the FSA SL-K Light crankset.

Seattle Forrest

It's been about two years since I bought mine. You measure your crank arms and if they're more than X you need the larger pods, but I don't remember the specifics.

I'd call Garmin and ask. +1 800-800-1020

WorldIRC

OK, and no issues with Carbon Cranks? Looks like the Vector 2 is much easier to set up than the original..not as finicky.

Seattle Forrest

I don't know why it would have an issue with carbon cranks. You screw them in like any other pedals. The pods are soft plastic where they (barely) touch the crank arms.

WhyFi

I supposed that you don't want to "downgrade" to an S975 crank? I see that MyBikeShop listed a BB30 Quarq for $350 - used, but they have a 30-day, no questions asked policy. Hell, I'm tempted to get it.

WorldIRC

More of a technical question related to how the Power Metres function.

The crankset you posted about for example are NOT compatible with Carbon Cranks.
Until last year, Stages also wasn't compatible with Carbon Cranks.

Carbon does not "transfer energy" the same was a metal alloy, and I guess due to how the power meters are designed, this created some obstacles.

I did find a spec sheet for the Vector 2 / 2S and they are specifically compatible with carbon: https://www.garmin.sk/img.asp?attid=61101

Seattle Forrest

Ahhh, gotcha. Sorry, I was out in left field there. I think Stages can't work with carbon cranks because it measures flex in the crank arm itself. Vectors put the strain gauges inside the pedal and look for flex in the spindle.

EDIT: I don't know if you mentioned your weight or not, they have a 200 lbs limit.