Originally Posted by
Doge
I am not anti PM, but to me, it is just like a number on a weight plate. And the idea that you perform to a fixed number each day is not as good as trying to figure out what you can stress yourself to each day. When dealing with those in the low (5%ish) body composition, you risk sickness, over fatigue - you can't trust a number. While most on BF (not me for sure) are not at that level, the principle applies. Don't fry yourself looking at a number. You will achieve more paying attention to you body. Your rest, you HR (morning esp) and your joy of the sport. A PM may be a cruel master.
Totally disagree. The PM is not a cruel master. It's your BFF. Riding with power is not about exactly hitting the power numbers or frying yourself looking at a number. People imagine that's what it is, but it's not.
Uses of a power meter are manifold and it's not about wishing or hoping for a better FTP or about chasing numbers. Some people are the typical people who the cycling "system" is designed for. If you are young & male & otherwise healthy, sure, ride with your team or race-oriented club or development team. But if you're not young & male & healthy, there's a decent chance you rarely have anyone appropriate to ride with. Ride with a power meter, though, and you can always wind up with an appropriately challenging ride.
Other great uses of a power meter:
Aero testing
Energy management on the bike
Communicating with a remote coach (which then opens a huge world of coaching opportunities)
This is almost impossible for people to understand when they are in the cycling world of "haves". It's the cycling version of white male privilege. The power meter eliminates all that and opens doors for people like me who might otherwise lack access to cycling as a serious athletic endeavor. Just awesome gadgets IMO, with very little downside when used sensibly.