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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2014 12:23:23 GMT
Still cant can't my head around Β£600 for a power meter. Bloody hell it's nuts. If you're competing yeah it will be useful but otherwise it's an expensive toy that you probably wont use to it's potential anyway. Hate to see people waste money, but it's your money at the end of the day. Very likely they will come down a lot in price in the future. I have to agree with kombatcookie here. At the end of the day we all pay our money and make our own choices, but I can't help but feel that unless you're regularly racing the local crits, time trials and road races, it's not really necessary for the average cyclist. Please do post the review though as I aim to be racing next season for my club and may potentially be interested in one at that point. Although as I already train with HR and Cadence zones (albeit I need to work on increasing my cadence atm), a set of carbon tubs for my Argon 18 will always take precedence IMHO.
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Post by chas on Jul 24, 2014 13:56:26 GMT
I must admit my first reaction was the same 'how can you spend more on a gadget than the bike' as most people on here, and from a cyclist's point of view it doesn't make sense. We love cycling and love our bikes and they are our priorities, fitness is a welcome byproduct and if you want to increase your performance to compete the bike is still the first place to spend your money. If however you look at it coldly as a piece of exersize equipment then in one sense a better bike is counterproductive, just making it easier for you, whist a powermeter could provide the motivation to keep riding whilst that love develops. As has been said, it's your money, and as long as you're riding your bike it's all good a cheap option www.ibikesports.com/index.php/product/ibike-newton/?gclid=CNXy-rGP3r8CFennwgodZb4A6w
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 14:06:47 GMT
@veganpowerthere's some stages on one of the Facebook bike selling sites. Β£550
Cycling buy,swop and sell
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Post by robertsims on Jul 25, 2014 14:37:05 GMT
I can see both sides. Fundamentally what we all think is irrelevant - your cash, your choice. By all accounts a power meter is a useful training aid...however if any of us have the need/time/motivation etc to get full use out of it is questionable.
In terms of speed/enjoyment then perhaps new bike/upgrades would be better BUT that is only buying speed - not actually changing your fitness (same reason why I've not got any aero gear on when doing TTs as I could not track improvements as some would just be down to equipment - I'm not going to win anyway so rather just measure improvement vs myself), where as a power meter (if used correctly) COULD (please note not saying WILL) lead to improvements in fitness (whether any more so than just going out riding and doing a mix of long and slow and shorter hard blasts is again arguable, but if it gets you out more and gives you more focus then why not).
Basically if you want one then damm well get one!
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 25, 2014 15:04:05 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 15:11:30 GMT
I can see both sides. Fundamentally what we all think is irrelevant - your cash, your choice. By all accounts a power meter is a useful training aid...however if any of us have the need/time/motivation etc to get full use out of it is questionable. In terms of speed/enjoyment then perhaps new bike/upgrades would be better BUT that is only buying speed - not actually changing your fitness (same reason why I've not got any aero gear on when doing TTs as I could not track improvements as some would just be down to equipment - I'm not going to win anyway so rather just measure improvement vs myself), where as a power meter (if used correctly) COULD (please note not saying WILL) lead to improvements in fitness (whether any more so than just going out riding and doing a mix of long and slow and shorter hard blasts is again arguable, but if it gets you out more and gives you more focus then why not). Basically if you want one then damm well get one! yeah, I agree with most of what you say. To be fair though everything, including the bike, will only lead to improvements if used correctly. To share a little bit of my motivation... I'm leaving my job in a few weeks and I plan to do a lot more cycling. I'm hoping to do so long distances and maybe even for wild camping if I can find the bottle. After that I'm planning to head back to Thailand then on to Australia in January. If I'm lucky I'll get to do some cycling with Durianrider on his Strava base mile Challenge. So really everything is going to be about improving my cycling (power meter), and being able to get around (garmin 800/1000) without getting lost. I'm 17 stone 7lbs so new wheels or a carbon bike isn't going to make much difference. Besides, my bike is going to get trashed and thrashed in the next 6/8 months and I don't want to kill a new bike when mine is very trusty and reliable.
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 25, 2014 15:31:35 GMT
As Rob says, it's your money and do what you like ... I thought I was trying to help you spend wisely! I have been and still am open minded on why you think you need a meter and now I've checked your Strava, I am pretty sure that it's not really a priority in performance terms ... but ... if it helps you develop some structure, then that's great; I think that's really what you seek to achieve here; I still think it's difficult to say that a meter is not an expensive way to do that. I have noticed that your ride patterns are intermittent and rides sometimes aren't all that focussed (in terms of intensity), your trip abroad was obviously motivational, as you got out more than before on that trip. I quite like a random routed ride regime myself, but equally, sometimes I'll push on with average speed or other similar aims when after better fitness / health - just pushing your distances and average speeds for 3 or 4 times a week for a few months would work wonders. Rocket is the most extreme example of sticking to a structured regime - it's hard work but it does work, if the power meter makes you do this, then great but then again, it won't ride the bike for you and similarly, you could still push it on rides for a few months without a meter. A slight change of perspective, I am a great believer in listening to your own system - particularly in terms of intensity and training regimes, when you're tired after a few weeks of intensive stuff, ease off and rest up; if you do get into riding by numbers (be it av speed / cadence and / or power) you can study and use the data well but equally, don't over do it and become a slave to data.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 15:57:34 GMT
As Rob says, it's your money and do what you like ... I thought I was trying to help you spend wisely! I have been and still am open minded on why you think you need a meter and now I've checked your Strava, I am pretty sure that it's not really a priority in performance terms ... but ... if it helps you develop some structure, then that's great; I think that's really what you seek to achieve here; I still think it's difficult to say that a meter is not an expensive way to do that. I have noticed that your ride patterns are intermittent and rides sometimes aren't all that focussed (in terms of intensity), your trip abroad was obviously motivational, as you got out more than before on that trip. I quite like a random routed ride regime myself, but equally, sometimes I'll push on with average speed or other similar aims when after better fitness / health - just pushing your distances and average speeds for 3 or 4 times a week for a few months would work wonders. Rocket is the most extreme example of sticking to a structured regime - it's hard work but it does work, if the power meter makes you do this, then great but then again, it won't ride the bike for you and similarly, you could still push it on rides for a few months without a meter. A slight change of perspective, I am a great believer in listening to your own system - particularly in terms of intensity and training regimes, when you're tired after a few weeks of intensive stuff, ease off and rest up; if you do get into riding by numbers (be it av speed / cadence and / or power) you can study and use the data well but equally, don't over do it and become a slave to data. You're right, I don't need one. I want one! thanks for the banter though. Dare I mention I'm thinking about going premier on Strava lol
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Post by Radchenister on Jul 25, 2014 16:27:19 GMT
I had premier for a while, was even offered it free recently and didn't bother taking them up on it ... again, I didn't really get that much from it but like everything, it's up to you. By far the best thing to do for yourself is pledge to get out there or 'just do it' as the slogan goes - which I intend to get back onto after a few days pits stop myself. I think the bit about weight and bike kit gains is not as irrelevant to you as you suggest, 4 or 5 outings of 1 to 1.5 hr rides weekly, for three months and I reckon you will see changes that put all the above into a different perspective - whether you do this with or without a power meter doesn't really matter but as I keep saying, if it's a power meter or nice new wheels, I think most cyclists would pick the wheels ... if it's possible to do both, then great, but be wary if the mileage goes up to a level where I believe a meter would be most help, then keeping the bike in fine fettle will become more of a challenge ... with higher miles comes greater wear and tear.
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Post by r0b1et on Jul 25, 2014 20:41:47 GMT
Before you do, have you used veloviewer? it pretty much single handedly removed my desire to premium strava.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 19:56:17 GMT
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Mehran
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Post by Mehran on Jul 27, 2014 22:36:53 GMT
to be honest,
If you put time and effort in you will improve with or with out the power meter. All it will do is quanify how much. I very much doubt it will give you any extra improvement(despite what durianrider has to say) ...nice video though. I think a power meter is a tool to fine tune your effort not help build your core fitness.
Saying that, I would love to have one...and if I was offered one or carbon wheels...would take the power meter. love gadgets. So if you want one get one...it will be better for you then a new flatscreen Tv for example.
btw I am in the same boat as you. starting out in cycling, trying to get my legs up to speed.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 10:22:31 GMT
to be honest, If you put time and effort in you will improve with or with out the power meter. All it will do is quanify how much. I very much doubt it will give you any extra improvement(despite what durianrider has to say) ...nice video though. I think a power meter is a tool to fine tune your effort not help build your core fitness. Saying that, I would love to have one...and if I was offered one or carbon wheels...would take the power meter. love gadgets. So if you want one get one...it will be better for you then a new flatscreen Tv for example. btw I am in the same boat as you. starting out in cycling, trying to get my legs up to speed. Thanks for the complement. Yes, the likelihood is that you will improve in whatever you repeated do. Unless, of course, you are doing it wrong and don't know.
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Post by ianmoss on Jul 28, 2014 18:14:13 GMT
Not being picky, just an observation. Lots of advice always given in the best faith, sometimes it just has to be what suits you once you have tried and decided. Your comment about 'doing it wrong' seems to point out that something will teach you to be doing it right.
I agree, a power meter seems on the face of it all to be one of the best guides to how you ride, There are still many variables. General riding will bring fitness levels up. You will form your own style of riding that suites, for example, the hill I have to go up to get home, my first ride up it was 2:38 in the granny ring almost coughing up a lung!, I recently had KOM at 56 seconds. Now I know everyone says it's better to just spin your legs and keep fresh, not always the case for me, sometimes it's easier on my body if I stand on the pedals for a good while and make some progress. That would surely give a vastly different power reading.
Any whoo that was my bit of waffle just to pick up on the point you made. Main thing is I hope you are enjoying your riding.
Watched your video about your antibiotics, not being vegan, I would advise you try to get the corse of medication down you, don't end up with a gammy leg for the sake of a bad taste. Empty the capsule into something you can swallow whole so you don't notice. (When you have kids, you'll get to know all the tricks)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 19:59:33 GMT
I started this summer with lots of ideas for cycling. The best think I found to improve my fitness was the turbo trainer combined with the program trainer road. It help with my climbing and my strength to keep putting power into the peddles.
I also was looking at the power meter back then. Because I wanted to keep track of my FTP when out on the road. Now looking back I am glad I did not bye one.
I don't think it will help you as much as you think I will. It will give you more data but will not help you improve.
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