New to power training-what equipment is recommended?
Being relatively new to EN, I have trained using exclusively HR in the past. I have IMCdA coming up. Is it too late to switch over to pace/power training? If not, what equipment do I need to purchase? Any recommendations welcome.
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You have two more decisions to make. One is whether you are going to have a dedicated bike computer or use a single device that can be bike or wrist mounted. If you go the single-device route, teh Garmin 310 xt is the way to go. It will do as a bike computer, pick up the information from your wireless PT, and also function as a great pace (and HR) device for running. It can be mounted on your wrist to bike or back in a few seconds and can be worn in the water. It's not a perfect bike computer (kinda small display), but it's perfectly serviceable. List of $350.
If you want a dedicated bike computer, teh Edge 500 is a good choice.
If you now are looking for a pace device for running, the 310 xt is still a great choice. For about half the cost, you can get the old model (Forerunner 305) which a lot of us still have. It has a few issues: (1) won't read power on your bike; (2) only about 10 hour battery life in use; (3) not waterproof, although some people occasionally race with them on.
You can, in principle, go with footpod-based devices also. there are a lot of them. They won't be as accurate as a GPS, particularly on varying terrain, where your cadence and stride length change. However, they do work inside, although again, you need to calibrate them for new running type.
If I were starting over and money were an issue but not an absolute limiter, I'd go with the new wireless entry level PT on a sturdy wheel, buy a disc cover from wheelbuilder.com for racing, buy a 310 xt Garmin, and if I could still afford it a 500. (but I would get the 310 xt over a 500 and a 305 I think). There are those who are quite partial to the Saris/PT computers, in part because they can display some things (IF, etc) that the Garmins don't (yet).
Also, have a look what EN or your LBS might be able to package together for you at a discount.
It's all pretty overwhelming, but get more feedback here and decide what your priorities are. That will help make your decision.
IMO, 6 weeks out from the race (actually more like 4 or less by the time you get the meter and learn a little bit how to read and understand it) is not enough time to get any value from it, it might even be confusing come race day. I know it's taken me a couple of YEARS to get a good appreciation of how to take full advantage of power during training and racing. I, like many others, had lots of success without a PM, so it's certainly not mandatory to having a successful race. I would vote for waiting, and if you see yourself doing another HIM or IM within the next year, then plan to get the PM so you can start setting it up and using it right after IMCDA, and get into it during your recovery phase, so you're ready to use it to full advantage during your next training/racing cycle.
So if you're going to get one anyway, and you're sticking with the sport, there's no reason IMO to avoid getting it before the race. Just don't count on using it as a training or race day execution tool necessarily for IMCDA.
As a relative newbie to power, I can tell you I finally love my power meter.
For the first two months of power? Huge learning curve and totally hated it. The little yellow computer was almost thrown out the window a few times. If you are good at tech geek stuff and want to start playing, go for the power meter now.
Definitely, definitely watch all of the power webinar. That, and the first few chapters of Coggan's "Training and Racing with Power" are also amazingly helpful in understanding why on earth you would want to switch to power and what you are suposed to do with it.