alanknm

All of the LBS that I go to in the Toronto area recommend that you measure cadence. It's only one extra metric and there's no reason why you just can't ignore it.
After all why spend money on another computer when you can just start paying attention to it when you're ready to start making use of it ? It's only another $25.

I keep forgetting that I used to ride a lot on road bikes when I was a teenager and that I rode with what was then a fairly high cadence.

After 40 years I started riding again and it was the one metric that I really wanted to measure because I needed to know where I was. After 3 months I was surpised to find that I was already averaging in the low '90's on most of my rides.

Log in the mileage, average speed, max speed, the time,whether it's hills or flats and take note of the wind.

ALLSTOTT

I have a Trifecta going on. I Row to help my cycling and the cycling in turn has helped my running (I only run because of the Air Force).

androidtt

Thanks for all the advice. I guess a cyclometer might be higher up on the list than new wheels then.

I got motivated by all the advice given to me, and went on a 23 mile ride this morning. Surprisingly, I averaged 17+mph (albeit mostly flat ground). I will definitely start working on the longer rides with hills though and make sure I'm not pushing my body beyond its limits. I wish the days were longer...

Blackdays

Buy a Dura Ace SRM crank. You're screwed otherwise.

Drew Eckhardt 

I ride hard. I ride hard intervals. I ride at least 4 days a week. I take enough time to recover on and off the bike so I can go harder on my hard days. I have a plan. I use a power meter for pacing and analysis. I keep a training log and make adjustments as necessary.

None. You get faster cycling by cycling fast.

Blackdays

So, riding your bike is your second job then?

alanknm

It must be. A power meter ? Ever looked at the price of a good power meter ? One my LBS guys said that he's sold one (1) in 10 years and that was to a guy riding for a semi-pro sponsored team.

androidtt

That's why I'm not going 32mph!

Oh and by saddle adjustment I meant I was moving the seat back and forth, not the stempost.

Blackdays

I own a Quarq. I only use it to scratch my back though...some of those spots are really hard to get at.

FormerRower

All depends on what your goals are, but if you are looking for cross training to help you get faster I would recommend something like rowing. I rowed in college and it helped tremendously when I got on the bike.

I would also recommend getting a coach who can set up a plan to help you reach your goals. In terms of accountability there is no better way to motivate yourself to train than having someone to answer to.

As for powermeters, I've used one for the past 2 years and it has been invaluable. I know there is the joke "Owning one is like hiring an accountant to tell you how broke you are", but it can help structure a plan. And there are some great deals out there if you look on ebay.

Drew Eckhardt 

Sure. I bought a used wireless ANT+ Powertap SL 2.4+ built into a wheel for $650. A new Elite+ would have added about $600 to a wheel I might build anyways. I could also have done a used Powertap SL wired for $350 with electronics (but I ride a lot in the evening and wanted a back-lit computer) or original Powertap Pro for $250 (but the freehub is Shimano only) which is about the same as a heart rate monitor and wheel making the power measurement free.

I don't get accurate numbers for my one second power due to how it samples (you might get 3 pedal strokes in one second and 4 in another) but with 3 second averaging on the display that's fine for pacing, third parties have measured accuracy of -2.5 +/- .5%, and it's repeatable from day to day provided that it's zeroed.

I've been riding pretty much the same road bike (I did replace a pair of freehubs with lots of life left with 9 speed parts when my favorite 8-speed cassette was discontinued along with the right shifter index cam, and a perfectly good set of crank arms after wearing out the rings because a new crankset cost about the same) since 1996 so there was room in the budget.

It was a much more useful way to spend less money than buying a 'nice' wheel set or carbon fiber bike although other people would do those 'upgrades' first and they're not painful like digging deeper to keep your power up because the computer knows you can do better.

And since I bought used I could have resold it for what I paid I didn't benefit from training with power.

Sylv

Lose weight and interval train.

androidtt

I'm going to start the interval/long distance training today. About the weight loss... I'm 142 lbs @ 5'8". Any less than 139 and I look like I'm back in high school.