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What to look at on powertap when riding

Brenda RossBrenda Ross
in General Training Discussions

Hi gang, just did my first ride on the trainer with the powertap. I managed to hit the wattages assigned but am wondering what everyone looks at when they are riding - avg watts, hr, cadence etc....

 

I kept an eye on the avg wattages but is that what I am suppose to look at to ensure I hit what is assigned.

 

One more thing - when I enter my data onto the poweragent it says I am 150lbs, but I am 136. Do I need to create a new user everytime I download data? It does not allow me to create a user, but does allow me to download my data.

Comments

  • torontoquadstorontoquads
    I keep an eye on the real time watts, HR, KPH, CAD, Ride Time, TSS. The new Joule has a lot to watch, but I mostly stare at the current watts. I can't help you with power agent as I just use WKO. In WKO you can custom load your EN result FTP and it will show your IF (intensity factor) based on the 2x20'(2') test.

  • mattsullmattsull

    You want to look at current watts. This is most important so you can immediately see if you are spiking your power. It's fine to take occaisional looks at average.

  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch
    What Matt said. Real Time Watts is what you want to have staring you in the face. All other options are going to depend on what computer you have and therefore what options are available to you (LYC, Joule, Garmin, etc).
  • Dave TalloDave Tallo
    Posted By Brenda Ross on 18 Nov 2010 03:02 PM

    One more thing - when I enter my data onto the poweragent it says I am 150lbs, but I am 136. Do I need to create a new user everytime I download data? It does not allow me to create a user, but does allow me to download my data.



    You should be able to change the weight in your home user profile - the page with your PMC charts etc etc - and this weight will "take" to your workouts going forward. 

     

    (Or, you could just put on 14 pounds so your real world weight corresponds to WKO.  Seeing that you're in Ottawa, I'd advise 3 x daily BeaverTails to accomplish that.&#160image

  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    To change your Power Agent profile data, i.e. weight etc, go to Users, then click on your name and Edit User: Your Name will pop up. Enter your correct info, including clicking on the Power Zones tab so your current FTP is entered as well. If not the system will default to 250 watts FTP.
  • Brenda RossBrenda Ross
    Thats just it Al. I enter my info and it does not appear. I click on users and no name appears. I have done it over and over again and it does not want to keep the information. Might have to call CycleOps to figure this out.
  • Brenda RossBrenda Ross
    Dave, I like your humour but not your suggestion, as I am trying to slim down, but pork up, but thanks anyway. Not having any luck with your suggestion. Need to call cycleops tomorrow. I am surely missing something small.

    As for everyone else, thank you for letting me know what to look at when I am on the bike. I will keep that in mind for my next ride.
  • Chris M.Chris M.

     For interval work when I'm outside, I keep the Garmin on 4 screens; lap time, lap power, heart rate, cadence.  It is constantly hilly around here, so keeping it on current power would have me all over the place.  I need to make sure I will end up where I want to be at the end of the interval.

    I can see keeping it on current power indoors since the terrain is the same.  

    As far as your PowerAgent issues, have you clicked Window-Show Users Window?  Once you do that, a small vertically oriented tab should appear on the left edge that says "Users".  If you click on that, whatever screen name you entered should pop up.  Then, if you click on the Edit Selected Users button (has a picture of a person, and it's right above the vertical Users tab), you will be able to enter your information.  If you're already doing all of this and still having issues, make sure you have your power files saved in a known location then uninstall, discard, re-download, re-install PowerAgent, and try again.

     

     

  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    Brenda, I suggest that you also consider cadence....one "power newbie" mistake is to drop the cadence to get the watts up, and we don't really want you lower than 85rpms...it's an easy mistake to make. Keep up the great work.
  • Dave CampbellDave Campbell
    I watch real time watts, hr, cadence whether on the trainer or outside, even when racing! To me watts and cadence are primary, hr a secondary consideration.
  • Bob IrwinBob Irwin
    I also like 30s average - evens out some of the wild variation when you're just learning to use power.
  • Brenda RossBrenda Ross

    Brenda, I suggest that you also consider cadence....one "power newbie" mistake is to drop the cadence to get the watts up, and we don't really want you lower than 85rpms...it's an easy mistake to make. Keep up the great work

    Thanks P, I have been keeping my rpms at 88-90, so should I put more power on and drop my cadence to 85?

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