power newbie

lenahan10

I now have a power meter, wheel and garmin through EN - woot woot - thanks Rich.  Now what to do?  Looking for a step by step.  At Rich's suggestion, posting it here. 

Joseph Lombardi

 There is guidance in the Wiki....download the riding with power ebook.....etc....I would then just ride some workouts the way you have been and observe the power numbers....start to develop a feel for how cadence, gearing, and pedaling effect power...do that for a few days (3-5) then start to do power based workouts...(of course you will need to test to establish your power numbers...)

 Wiki Link:

members.endurancenation.us/Resource...fault.aspx

Good Luck...i've only had a power meter for the past year...love it now.

Dino Sarti

First, just ride a bit. Get in 3-4 rides and just look at the numbers, but don't give it too much thought. At the same time, pay for and download the EN Power Meter Webinar. This is a three part series and will give you everything need. Buying THE book, "Training and Racing with Power" is not a bad idea either as a reference.

Once you are ready, do the team test protocol. to get a ball park of your FTP (Functional Threshold Power). Then load your numbers into your training plan. This give you the watt targets based on the cycling workouts Rich is prescribing.

Then.... Get to work! Start punching a clock. Focus with every fiber on getting that FTP number higher.

I am sure I missed a few details, but that is good start....

Woody Freese

You will find many folks recommending a book by Andrew Coggan (Training and Racing with a Power Meter). I really like Joe Friel's book The Power Meter Handbook - here's a link from Barnes & Noble for JF's book - much easier to read, in my opinion.

(http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-power-meter-handbook-joe-friel/1111557876?cm_mmc=googlepla-_-book-_-q000000633-_-9781934030950&cm_mmca2=pla&ean=9781934030950&isbn=9781934030950&r=1

Welcome to the darkside :-)

Kkaufer

Congratulations! I got my PM a few weeks ago, and it has made the quality of my bike training so much awesomer. I second everything everyone else said on here, i.e. get the power webinar; read the wiki; and just ride a few rides to see what happens. Also, take the time to learn the basic mechanics of your PM and head unit, i.e. what you need to do before each ride/how to set up your head unit/how to download the data etc... Then, ride for a few rides and marvel and how the numbers keep on changing even though you're convinced you're riding steady... play around a bit with different positions on the bike, see how moving around/drinking/fiddling around affects the numbers ... and then, test and change your bike workouts forever!

lenahan10

Thanks all! Helpful advice!!

Joe Matchette

I would also highly recommend reading this thread started by John Withrow -- http://members.endurancenation.us/Training/TrainingForums/tabid/101/aft/10477/Default.aspx . There is lots of quality information in there.

davelusignan

Also, where are you in your training plan? are you using HR as your guide during OS plan? or something else?

lenahan10

@David almost end of NovOS, using HR

rmiller

Good question, Dave.

Melanie - since you are at the end of the NOS, I'd say finish up based on your HR numbers, because that is where you are most correlated. However, as others have mentioned, just start observing the power numbers and downloading the data into WKO+ or PowerAgent or GoldenCheetah or whatever you have. Don't worry about knowing anything and everything all at once - over a period of months you'll start seeing patterns form and start honing in on what to pay attention to - especially as you read other resources (such as the power eBook, or the Coggan book).

But my main point is that at this point, finish the NOS based on HR, just capturing power numbers along with it.

davelusignan

Miller time!

lenahan10

Great idea - thanks!