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Different Power Meter Brand: Test or Swag?

morpheusmorpheus
in General Training Discussions

Been on a compact quarq for 4-5 years.

Just picked up a Stages so I can use it on some other cranks/setups.

I've done some research.  Looks like Stages 'usually' (for whatever that means) comes in about 10w lower than Quarq.  

I was able to get a couple of rides outside before I went to race with the Stages.  I had a couple of short intervals where I used my Quarq FTP and it did feel like it was a bit harder to hold those watts but nothing too bad.  I felt that I adjust the stages FTP down about 5watts and go with that into the race.  Became a moot point b/c my battery died.  

Now I'm back and ready to start the GF plan and I'm going to do a good bit of training in the pain cave, using the Stages on my tri bike. 

(Keeping the Quarq on the road bike for when i do group rides and when I climb the gaps up in N. GA.)

The 20' intervals on the trainer have been tough.  I've swagged the Stages FTP down 10w from the Quarq FTP and riding at 95% of that is still tough.  

Would you guys just do a test on the Stages and go with that for the training?  Or keep the swag and just triage a few of the bike sessions over the next few weeks to build back up to the 2x 20's?  I have been tired this month, raced well last weekend, and I'm still dragging a bit.  Was using this post race week as a reacquaintance with the pain cave intervals and was going to start putting my head down with the work next week.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • ezellrhezellrh
    Since it sounds like you are going to be 'resetting' and starting up a new phase, personally I would test. Even more so with new gear. However, it does sound like you've got it relatively close. Do you have the head space to dig deep for another test? That might impact things as well.

    Bottom line - I'd retest because of new gear and new training phase, but I don't think you are too far off anyways. Good luck!
  • morpheusmorpheus
    That's the way I'm leaning.

    Sucks that the numbers will be lower but I just have to accept that.

    I'm going to get a baseline this weekend and use the pain cave for the formal stuff over the next couple of builds. Baseline number is more important than the number I want to see.

    Pain Cave gets the strategic work.

    I'll swag up the outside stuff when I use the Quarq and the roadie setup.

    This particular test may come back really low due to equipment change and/or fatigue. But, it'll be my ground zero for the second half of the season.

    That's my plan, at this point.
  • morpheusmorpheus
    Done.

    I knew this would come in lower due to 4 variables. 1)new power meter that is known to come in lower than my previous power meter. 2)tested on tri bike, in aero position, as opposed to OS roadie postion. 3)last few weeks have been triaged due to fatigue/taper/race/recover. 4)been outside most of the time for the last 3 months, time to get back to the science lab known as The Pain Cave.

    Previously....indoor/roadie setup was 245w and this test was indoor/aero at 225w. Do the mental gymnastics and that comes in right where the Stages was predicted to come in.
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