racing with the PT wheel
 

Yes I have read the threads on the subject but I still just can't decide. Must be how my wife feels when looking in her closet to pick what shoes to wear. Powertap wheel or Mavic ES........ I would like to use the power info both for what I can learn after the fact and to pace myself incase I get into a break or have to bridge a gap but I really do not want to lug around the extra weight of my PT/DT swiss wheel. I realize the ES is not a light weight wheel but it sure feels snappier and quicker than my Powertap wheel. Oh what to do....what to do.....

For me the decision is easy. If I get to the point where I honestly believe the weight/performance/whatever of the PowerTap wheel is *THE THING* holding me back (from a win, podium spot, whatever), then I will put on my "race" wheel instead. So far, I'm not even close to that happening. I think the race data is more useful than the slight benefit a race wheel might bring me.

I've found myself racing better with no powertap on board. I know there'll be a lot of opinions to the contrary, but I've kinda found that the powertap is great for training and kind of a distraction come race day.

I put the PT watts display on max watts, and ignore it. Now I have two PT's so I'll always race with one. Weight is not holding me back.

Strange as it is, unless the powertap is completely off the bike, I still start playing mind games in the race. It's very weird, but what can I say--it's my little neurosis.

Unless I'm TT'ing, I barely look at mine. What does it matter what it says? You keep up with the pack, and when you think it's time to go, you go.

The post-mortem data, though, is top notch.

My numbers have generally always been higher in training than in racing.

My bike *is* faster with Alta Races on front/rear than with the DT RR 1.1 PT rim on the rear, and an Alta Race up front.

Ergo, if I have any priority placed on winning the race - I'm using my faster wheels. If I want to see data, I can collect it during the week.

My race wheels are AC-420's and my PT is laced to an AC-420 rim. Yet . . . I still don't race with it. Call it a mental thing, but I prefer the lower weight than the data I would get from racing it. Things have worked so far so I'm not changing a thing.

you could always look at it from the other way around: if you race and think it's holding you back, you may kick yourself for racing with it. race without and leave no question.

Race data is important if you want to find weaknesses. And it doesn't hurt to be able to pace yourself if you are in a breakaway.

I raced with my PT (and now race with my Ergomo) so that I can better tailor my training to my race efforts.

Things I've discovered in training:

-I need more aerobic base to recover quickly from hard efforts
-My 1-minute power and 5-second power are a little low
-I need to do more VO2Max work

Things I've discovered from my race data:

-I need more aerobic base to recover quickly from hard efforts
-My 1-minute power and 5-second power are a little low
-I need to do more VO2Max work

Think I will leave the PT off the bike for the RR and the Crit and just use it for the TT. Thanks for all your input guys....

I get a little too amped up during a race so it works as a great tool to tell me to back it off a little if I 'm pulling or in a break(not that this happens much)

edit* and with the srm the weight is always there so might as well.

I know your decision is made, but I feel like contributing... I leave my SRM on (either) bike 100% of the time. The data from the racing is way more important than anything I can get from training.

I'm really not trying to be a smartass here--I want to learn. What have you gotten from your race data that was 1. that important, and 2. you wouldn't have been able to figure out anyway?

Oh I change my mind often........It won't be set in stone till I am on the start line...LoL

pt all the time for me. i dont look at it during a race and even when i happen to glance at it i am not distracted by what i see.

Indeed...I'd be interested as well.

As I've said several times before I almost never produce power bests in mass start races. I know what works, what doesn't, and what hurts in races though, so I can identify weaknesses and strengths through percieved exertion. Heck, I've even raced with it enough to know what I should input for a TSS value to keep my PMC in line with reality.

At the end of the day, it's where I finished, not what numbers I put out that I care about.

for me i have learned about the course from the pt and how to approach it next time.

ive also been able to better taylor my training to my race performance.

the most important factor for me is being able to more accurately relive the race afterwards which helps me understand how and why things happened.

How much power the yo-yo-ing saps out of you at different locations in the peloton.

We all know that effect is there... I was a little surprised by the magnitude.

I have been surprised at the discrepancy between my perception of various parts of races versus what the data were actually showing (in a post-race analysis -- I don't find it difficult to ignore the display during the race, 'cause I'm focusing on the race). That kind of info is extremely useful for the mental game. Were I to rely on my perception alone I would come to different conclusions about what I need to work on. I consider that somewhat important.

+1. I'm surprised by how easy some quick, ten second efforts feel - but when I look at the data it's pretty clear I burned a match.

I really like have the race data to share with my coach. I think it helps make the post mortums amuch more valuable, and not just dependent on my subjective impressions.

On the other hand, my race wheels, Zipp 303 tubulars, just feel so good handling and accelerating compared to the PT wheel (Zipp 404 clincher) that I hate not to use them. I'm sure a good portion of it is subjective, if not outright placebo.However if it makes you feel confident, that's a benefit in its own right.

OP, For A races use your Mavic ES, for B and C races use the PT. Problem solved... carry on. ;)