Will a Power Meter help me?
11-21-16 | 07:59 AM
#52
pluralis majestatis
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: you rope
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11-22-16 | 01:41 PM
#53
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Colorado
Bikes: 2018 Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 9.0 2016 Bombtrack Arise Campy build cross bike 2005 Fuji Outland Pro
Everyone's HR is higher running than cycling. There's more whole-body muscular activity when running and that increases HR at the same intensity, intensity being measured compared to LTHR. LTHR is higher running. Whether you get a power meter or go by HR, you have to go through the same process of examining your data to set training zones or targets. Your running experience is of little value for that, since your HR will be different and you don't measure power when running.
Personally, I've found HR to be a fine measure for incorporating varied training activities Though each different activity uses different HR zones, I can set up the various zones vs. activities in TrainingPeaks to give me comparable numbers for training stress. IME measuring training stress is the most help when trying to modulate training. Joe Friel's Quick Guide to Setting Zones | TrainingPeaks
That said, I believe you can also figure training stress similarly between running and cycling by using power for cycling and pace for running, though running pace in hilly terrain will be very inaccurate, while HR will be quite accurate.
It can seem difficult to get one's HR up when one is very conditioned. I've found that it helps a great deal to do some early ride spin-ups/power intervals, say two 1-minute hard high cadence efforts with 5 minutes between.
Other commenters' admonishments about maintaining a high cycling cadence are well taken. 85-95 is usual for the flat and 75-85 usual when climbing. I'm not a tri guy, but I think 90 cadence is common for the bike leg.
More tri information in the Triathlon Forum.
Personally, I've found HR to be a fine measure for incorporating varied training activities Though each different activity uses different HR zones, I can set up the various zones vs. activities in TrainingPeaks to give me comparable numbers for training stress. IME measuring training stress is the most help when trying to modulate training. Joe Friel's Quick Guide to Setting Zones | TrainingPeaks
That said, I believe you can also figure training stress similarly between running and cycling by using power for cycling and pace for running, though running pace in hilly terrain will be very inaccurate, while HR will be quite accurate.
It can seem difficult to get one's HR up when one is very conditioned. I've found that it helps a great deal to do some early ride spin-ups/power intervals, say two 1-minute hard high cadence efforts with 5 minutes between.
Other commenters' admonishments about maintaining a high cycling cadence are well taken. 85-95 is usual for the flat and 75-85 usual when climbing. I'm not a tri guy, but I think 90 cadence is common for the bike leg.
More tri information in the Triathlon Forum.
11-22-16 | 02:28 PM
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Alpharetta, GA
Bikes: Nashbar Road
..
I think with cycling, there's a clear use for power and a clear correlation for both your fitness level and for training goals. With running, it just isn't that clear right now. As you stated, more power isn't always better, and less power isn't always better either. So when it's not always either or, then how do you write a training plan based on a power number? I think as time goes on, there will be a lot more analysis on the subject. But in its current state, I really don't think it's worth the $$$ right now until they can reliably create a training plan focused around the power numbers.
I think with cycling, there's a clear use for power and a clear correlation for both your fitness level and for training goals. With running, it just isn't that clear right now. As you stated, more power isn't always better, and less power isn't always better either. So when it's not always either or, then how do you write a training plan based on a power number? I think as time goes on, there will be a lot more analysis on the subject. But in its current state, I really don't think it's worth the $$$ right now until they can reliably create a training plan focused around the power numbers.
11-22-16 | 03:37 PM
#55
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 23,208
Likes: 10,653
From: Seattle, WA
I will be interested to see how run power gets integrated into programs like TrainingPeaks and onto head units like Garmin to provide realtime feedback and post run analysis. Once those principals start to become better understood I think we will see run power meters take off.
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