When it comes to training effectively and efficiently, it’s hard to deny the advantages a power meter gives you. They allow you to accurately and precisely measure you fitness, no matter what conditions you’re cycling in.
Simply stated Power is the amount of force (or work) produced over a certain duration of time. A power meter, such as the PowerTap Hub, takes the torque produced by your pedalling and multiplies it by your speed. Power = Torque x Cadence
Related: Buyers guide to power meters
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Most training systems only allow you to measure your body’s response to the work it’s doing. The actual amount of work you perform can vary depending on the conditions your are riding in – temperature, weather and road surface all play a part. This means determining the actual amount of work you perform remains a mystery – or at best an estimate.
Why is this a problem? Doing too much work can lead to overtraining and a risk of injury. Too little, and you’re not maximising the benefits of your output. Using a power meter means you can get an accurate representation of your power output, and use this to ensure you training effectively.
Power meters give you a constant measure of power, and can help you:
- Establish your baseline fitness
- Accurately measure fitness gains, large and small
- Quantify intensity, duration and frequency, rather than estimating
- Prevent overtraining
- Accurately measure energy use for nutritional planning
- Pace properly for time trials or set yourself up for a successful run
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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