Mikenobike

Hello all,

Ive never trained with a power meter before, or much equipment at all honestly. I come from an old school wrestling background so since time immemorial I've been doing caveman style training. I now train for boxing... another caveman sport. Even with cycling I've been doing it caveman style, picking cat 4 and cat 3 climbs and sprinting them, then once in awhile doing a longer ride with elevation. This stye of training has gotten me far but I think it's time for a change. I want to finally go scientific! I recently invested in a hrm and am currently looking into power meters. They are somewhat confusing though.

I can't afford those crazy expensive power meters so I'm looking for a budget one that still is accurate and consistent. The issue is that I have a classic bike, a 1985 Vitus 979 with Shimano 600 Tricolor cranks. In my research it seems most people universally recommend the 4iii for budget options (still expensive but that's cycling for ya!). However, I've also come to learn that it is not compatible with my older crankset. Any suggestions here?

I've looked into pedal power meter options (Powertap p1 and Assioma Uno, if there are any cheaper options please let me know) as well as hub power meter options. The cheapest I found were used Powertap g3's for around $200. I've heard these don't collect data however.

Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

veganbikes

What is your goal with the power meter? Are you training for some racing or something like that? Honestly I wouldn't worry so much about the power meter unless you really need to track data that all the various other devices in our lives cannot do.

Your best option if you are stuck on power meters is the pedals. A hub won't work because the frame is aluminum not steel and I wouldn't try to cold set it especially not something that old and I doubt Powertap has any 126mm hubs and if they did how accurate would they be for that time period and the likelihood of servicing it is low as I believe they changed a bunch of stuff from their early stuff and aren't support it and most shops probably won't deal with it unless they have been around a while and would have had those tools back in the day.

Herzlos

You get handle bar mounted meters (called opposing force I think), which you can mount to anything. They'll use windspeed and pressure to calculate the power, rather than torsion. Obviously, they'll only work if you're outside and moving rather than on a turbo trainer.
Google tells me they start from about $300, so I echo the above in that if you don't actually need the power figures I'd spend the money elsewhere as you'll probably get enough info from heart rate, speed and cadence.

rubiksoval

Powertap G3 wheels. I saw one on FB marketplace for $125 this weekend. I don't know if it'd fit whatever cassette you're running, though? I know 10/11 speed is fine, not sure about 8 or 9 or whatever. Or even your frame? Is it 130? If not, pedals would be the best bet.

Though frankly, I'd get a new bike before a powermeter, and I don't ever ride without a powermeter!

rubiksoval

That'd be a total waste of money. For $300 bucks there are plenty of actual power meters with strain gauges.

Leinster

The Vitus 979's most famous pilot on power meters;
https://www.seankellycycling.com/blog

Mikenobike

I am training for boxing and various other sports and as such am using heart rate monitors and the like to track my data. It helps me structure my training so I don't over-train or under-train and allows me to see how best to adapt my training towards my other sports. Basically I'm in it for the data. Ever since I started using Strava my ability to use data to influence my training has been tremendously beneficial. And to add I do have a background as an Olympic-Style Weightlifting coach. In that sport there is a lot of programming based on distribution of volume and intensity as well, and I've since used that knowledge to aid my other sports. In it for the knowledge gained as a tool. Back when I was coaching weightlifting I was a complete data nerd, to my benefit. I ended up producing some national level athletes! This is just another means of expanding strength and conditioning knowledge, at worst as a whim. Too stubborn to change my ways, me needs the data! Though to add I myself have never done scientific cardio training with a coach or power meters, all my coaches were old school. This is training on my own right now (covid, amateur competitions shut down, it's like an offseason) or if I'm coaching someone in a sport I specialize in. Sorry, this was written confusing.

Basically, I used to train caveman style in cardio back in wrestling. Went to Olympic Weightlifting and became scientific to my benefit. Went back to cardio via boxing but still train caveman like. See the benefits of scientific training due to new weightlifting background, now want to do cardio as scientifically as possible. And learn that side of strength and conditioning.

And maybe one of these days I'm going to get bored and have a go at a race, who knows.

guachi

On the other hand - I did a Zwift race on Friday. I knew it take about an hour (63 minutes when it was all said and done). I knew my FTP as I had tested it three days before. Thanks to the data staring at me in the face I was able to ride at 99% of my FTP for the 63 minutes and I finished 17th out of 174. If it weren't for my non-existent sprint I'd have finished 14th. I had no business being in the top 10% but because I could pace myself properly I was able to do something I couldn't have done without the numbers.

cxwrench

'Real' races on the road are just a little different than Zwift races. In some ways easier, in some way harder. Good job on being able to use the data to your advantage.