Home› General Training Discussions

Just got PT Pro+; buy/watch webinar first?

andidunlopandidunlop
in General Training Discussions

I'm new here, so I apologize if this has been asked.

My hubby just got me a PT.  He's so romantic - this is better than diamonds.  Should be ready in my wheel from the LBS in about a week.

I could easily spend a full time week reading all this material, not that I mind. But right now I'm looking to get spoon fed the most important stuff so that when it's ready, I'm ready.

Should I start by purchasing the webinar here first and watching/reviewing that?

Thx,

Andi (Andrea)

Comments

  • Michael ByertsMichael Byerts

    I highly recommend that you buy and review the webinar, and associated materials. Unless you have a race coming up, there isn't an urgent need, but if you are spending $800-$1,000 or more on a piece of equipment, spending $59 and investing the time in understanding what the numbers are telling you is mandatory. As Rich would say, if you don't invest the time and headspace into understanding what power is, how the metrics work, and what they mean for your training and racing, you will have bought a really, really expensive Cateye.

    If you have a race in the next 6-8 weeks, buy it now, and try to understand it as soon as possible. If you are just starting or about to start the Outseason, then it isn't as urgent, so long as you can do the functional threshold test and pull out the relevant number from Trainingpeaks, WKO or Golden Cheetah.

  • stevekwstevekw
    ...also the book Training and Racing with a Power Meter by Allen and Coggan...sort of the Power Meter 'bible'
  • tuckermtuckerm

    Give this a read to get you started.

    home.trainingpeaks.com/articles/cyc...score.aspx

     

  • andidunlopandidunlop
    Thanks! I ordered the Training and Racing with Power book and plan to do the webinar this weekend. I wish that book was on Kindle, though. image
    Andi
  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    It's actually better that it's a real book and not on kindle... better reference that way.

    I'm a complete data geeky engineer type, but if you're new to power, my advice would be to not get too caught up in all the lingo and racing strategies just yet. You will soon be in the Out-Season, so all you really need to be able to do is an FTP test at the beginning, then put your results in the "data tool" then follow the EN plan to hit all your interval numbers that are really just based off a % of your new FTP for a given interval of time. After a while, the numbers will actually start to mean something to you. Then you can get all lingo and execution smart in say January or February in time for next year's racing season. RnP have done all the leg work in setting up the training plans. Now you have a tool to constantly measure what you are doing. Sometimes (like while racing IM) this tool will be a govenor, but usually (like during OS workouts) it will be a whip to force you to work harder. Now get to work because work works!
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    Don't forget WKO+ software!
  • jburbattjburbatt
    And do a search in the forums for "Crucible" Watching them and listening to Coach P evaluate other people's rides is extremely helpful in learning to read your own data.
  • tuckermtuckerm
    Good advice from everyone here. To add onto what John said, I remember learning a lot from my first OS and everyone posting their ride data. Most of the power metrics don't mean as much in the OS provided you are riding on a trainer.
    Also, what type of computer are you going to be using?
Sign In or Register to comment.