New bike vs Powermeter

[Deleted User]

Hello everyone.  I'm new here and have a powermeter question.  I have a very entry level roadbike - a Jamis Ventura.  Not the greatest, but I like the bike.  It has been trouble free, I've had it fitted, it shifts nice, etc.  My plan was to upgrade to a tribike ASAP (I am signed up for Lake Placid 2011).  However, financial realities will likely push that off for a while, if it happens at all.  However, I have noticed some good deals on used Powertap's online.  I am considering putting the bike funds into a Powermeter now.  But this move may lessen my chances of upgrading the bike due to SAU expenditures on the powemeter!  What do you think?  Powermeter and possibly no new bike?  Or just go for the bike?  Thanks for the input!

Jim Daley, Delmar NY

Swoodowrth

Powermeter. Without a doubt. Best investment I EVER made!!! I would have never done it without the support of the EN coaches and team. I can't tell you the difference it made in the past year!

John Stark

Powermeter, baby!  You like your road bike already so no brainer.  Put some clip-on aero bars on it.

A tri bike will save you a few minutes overall on a 112 mile IM course vs. a road bike.  But a PM used with ninja like EN execution will save you way more time.  Guaranteed.

Welcome to EN.

John

 

Paul Takac

Powermeter for sure!! Like Sheryl said, best investment I've made by far... Excluding EN of course. One caveat though: also be sure to invest in the webinar to learn how to train and race with power. That's absolutely critical. While there's some mental investment too, it is worth every second. And don't hesitate to ask questions in the forums - there are lots of smart and experienced power ninjas here.

In any case, Welcome aboard!

phaedrus

Just to pile on...a power meter

Tom Glynn

how many more power meter advocates before you cave

tuckerm

Definitely get the new bike! Nothing like riding something really flash in an Ironman with absolutely no guidance on how to race. Oh wait that is what everyone else does. Get the power meter!

Coach Patrick

Power baby. You'll get way stronger, and when you are really ready to race tris you can get a full bike and put the PM over there (so go powertap). Word!

Dave Tallo

Gotta say ... both.   Let's say budget is $600: used PMs come up regularly for less than $400 (I bought my wired Powertap SL at peak season for that price).  Add one of the many many used big brand alu frames out there that sell for south of $200, move the parts from the Jamis over, and you're set to ride steep. 

With the remainder, take spouse for a nice burger at the drive-in to celebrate and accumulate SAUs.   

[Deleted User]

Hey - thanks for the input everyone! I guess this is the response I kind of expected, but it was definitely confirmed. Will be getting into power. And Dave T. - nice plan!!

Coach Rich

Posted By Jim Daley on 22 Sep 2010 08:15 AM

Hey - thanks for the input everyone! I guess this is the response I kind of expected, but it was definitely confirmed. Will be getting into power. And Dave T. - nice plan!!

 

Jim, insert standard coachy-coach response here:

Training and racing with power requires you to make a significant learning and headspace investment beyond the dollas. EN is the best place to help you with that, but you absolutely need to be prepared to purchase and go through, thoroughly, our Power Webinar, dive into software like WKO+, participate in the forums, here, etc.

Over the years I've seen many, many people not get the most out of there investment because they either underestimated or didn't want to make the headspace investment.

That is all. Carry on.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the advice Rich. I already have WKO+ (and have been training with pace for the last year), and like the high tech, numbers aspect to things. So I am sure the headspace stuff will not be an issue. But thanks for the warning!

Tom Glynn

As Rich noted, there is a learning curve to a power meter, but once you grasp the concepts, learn to test yourself, and review files after every workout, you'll be a super star. Use the power forum to post questions. Also, in the forums section, search on "crucible". Patrick reviews power files for race rehearsals or post race. Watch all the videos. No better way to learn.

Beth_S

Yup. I got both a tri bike and a power meter last year. Love them both. But do the powermeter first. Definitely check out the power webinar, but also buying yourself a copy of Training and Racing with a Powermeter and read chapters until you get to the part where it breaks your brain. Then keep re-reading once you get your powermeter.

Getting one is like taking a class. If you are prepared for the project, they are fun!

mcohen

My name is Mike Cohen. I am a new team member and have somequestions about powermeters. First, what can anyone tell me about the Kurt Kinetic pwer meter that they have for their indoor trainers? That is what I have at the moment on my indoor trainer. As far as what to get for my bike, I am not sure what to do. I ride Hed J6's on my tri bike all the time. On my road bike I ride non-aero wheels. I do not know if it is better to go with a Powertap system or a SRM or Quarq system. I know the price issue and the issue about how the two systems are set up. I would like some opinions from anyone about this dilemma about what to buy. I would like to have the ability to switch wheels for training and have a power meter all the time, but the money is a factor. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I do alot of indoor training given on where I live, so the KK powermeter will be good I hope for a few months anyway. Thanks

Keith Wick

@ Michael---if money is an issue, then i wouldn't go after the KK powermeter since it will only serve you well while training indoors. you'll miss the power training outdoors and have a huge piece missing on race day. as far as the powermeter, if you want to switch wheels, then it seems that you've answered your own question and will go with the SRM or Quarq. however, one way some of us get the benefit of a race wheel is buy getting a powertap on a training wheel and then buying the wheel cover for $80. That way you get a training wheel and the benefit of a full disk with power for the price of a carbon deep dish rim (without power). the powertap also comes with a head unit, where you have to buy a head unit with a Quarq (i think). only you can see which budget works for you and what meets your detailed needs, but these are things to consider.

mkmiec

Helpful thread.  

My situation slightly differs in that I do not have a powermeter, and I need a new bike.  Riding for 2 years, entering my 2nd year of Triathlon.  A Trek Hybrid got me this far, great starter bike.  Put a lot of miles on it and it got me ~19 mph in my two sprint races.  Now I want a road/tri bike

This year I trained with GPS/heart rate/RPE.  It sounds like the best way to get proper value out of a snazzy new road/tri bike would be to supplement it with a powermeter.  

Stated otherwise, due to synergies created,  $1k bike + $1k power meter > $2k bike?  more bike in the ratio?  

Thanks in advance!  

 

Coach Rich

@MK -- in your case I think your money is better spent on a bike first, then a PM if that's in the cards.

mkmiec

 appreciated.  Guess its time to go bike shopping 

Scott Alexander

it's ALWAYS time to go bike shopping!

[Deleted User]

I'm in on the power thing!  I found and purchased a used Powermeter on Craigslist for $450, and ordered the Training and Racing with a Power Meter book by Hunter Allen.  I have until the Nov.1 outseason start date to figure it all out...

mkmiec

Posted By Jim Daley on 29 Sep 2010 10:29 AM

I'm in on the power thing!  I found and purchased a used Powermeter on Craigslist for $450, and ordered the Training and Racing with a Power Meter book by Hunter Allen.  I have until the Nov.1 outseason start date to figure it all out...

Sounds like a great deal.  what brand/type of powermeter is it?  

I ordered the book as well. 

jburbatt

A great way to learn about interpreting power is to search the power and pace forum for the Cruicible file analysis by Coach P. He works though the data giving you his anaylsis of someone's work, and it's a great learning tool. Just my .02, it really helped to analyze my own daily files.

[Deleted User]

I will find that crucible file, as well as all the other power stuff on EN. The details are: PowerTap SL wired, several years old, on a wheel built from a Mavic Open Pro rim. The black plastic hub cover had a small crack in it, but it still functions fine. I was able to get a replacement hub cover from CycleOps for $6. That price seems to be about the going rate for this type of used power meter. Be careful of the eBay auctions - sometimes the price runs much higher in the final seconds of the auction - I was caught up in one and bailed at the last second. I'm glad I did or I would have paid $150 - $200 more than I did for the same model! There seems to be a pretty good demand and market for used Powertaps. But they are out there for a good (I think) price if you look.

trimike

I'm still in the trial membership mode and am a relative newbie to the sport - I don't have a power meter and don't plan to get one in the next year or so. Does EN make sense for me without one?

[Deleted User]

I'm new to Endurance Nation, but I have learned that no, a power meter is not required. I forget the exact percentage, but between 40 and 60 percent of EN people do not have power meters. Training plans have power, heart rate, and I think perceived exertion levels for each workout. More experienced members can confirm this, but I know time is running out on the trial membership so I thought I would reply.

Coach Rich

Posted By Michael Jones on 29 Sep 2010 04:28 PM

I'm still in the trial membership mode and am a relative newbie to the sport - I don't have a power meter and don't plan to get one in the next year or so. Does EN make sense for me without one?

 

Yes.

Please read this thread: http://members.endurancenation.us/Community/Forums/tabid/101/aff/101/aft/3470/afv/topic/afnp/47575/Default.aspx

Bill McKinney

If you're looking, I would check out Neuvation...their bikes got great reviews from VeloNews, and the "story" makes sense to me. They've got a light aluminum frame with ultegra for $1295. Add a used PowerTap wheel and you're good to go on a really nice ride with power for <$2K. Add some clip on bars and you're good to go. Down the road if you decide to go for the full-on TT bike, you can follow Dave Tallo's advice above and just move everything over to a tri frame. I don't think you could do much better than that for that money.

trimike

Thanks - that is what I was hoping to hear....