Ubiquitous in the pro peloton, power meters are becoming more common among enthusiasts and for good reason. The cyclist’s tool is the best way to measure effort, improvement and more.
Options in power meters have exploded in the last three years, with companies offering meters in cranks, spiders, pedals and hubs. Further, high-end smart trainers now come with integrated power meters to not only measure output but also regulate resistance for specific training.
Here are eight reasons why you should consider investing in a power meter,
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1. Quantify effort
Think of a power meter like a weight scale. Installing one on your bike won’t magically make you faster, but it will give you a very accurate assessment of the state of things.
Without power, you only have soft metrics to use, such as RPE (rate of perceived exertion), heart rate (which varies with fatigue, caffeine intake and more) and speed/time (which is influenced by wind, your position and more).
Unlike running, where pace is the best indicator you have, in cycling, pace isn’t very helpful to determine the work your body is doing because there are so many environmental factors that affect it.
2. Measure improvement
3. Learn what works and what doesn’t
4. Tailor training
5. Identify strengths and weaknesses
6. Quantify total training load
7. Cut out the junk miles
8. Follow a power-based training plan — train with greater specificity and measure the results!
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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