Is a Power Meter Worth the Investment?

author : FitWerx

comments : 3

A power meter is the single best training tool you can invest in. The power meter is to cycling today what the Heart Rate Monitor was in the 1990s. Read more for all of the advantages.

Question from hygienist1972

I am thinking about investing in a Power Meter.  Do you really think it is worth the investment over a heart-rate monitor?

Answer by Dean Phillips
Lead Fitter FitWerx

A power meter is the single best training tool you can invest in. The power meter is to cycling today what the Heart Rate Monitor was in the 1990s.

A power meter measures the exact cycling intensity giving you instant feedback. Heart Rate is your body’s response to not only your cycling intensity, but a host of other variables as well. Heart rate at a given power level can vary based on recent training load, health, sleep, temperature, humidity, anxiety/nerves, diet, and of course the time riding that intensity. The inaccuracies of using heart rate as a measuring tool for cycling intensity become crystal clear when you start training with power.

The power meter doesn’t care about hills, wind, temperature, indoors, outdoors, or any environment you’re riding in. It will always measure the actual power you’re producing on the bike regardless of the conditions. Most power meters will include heart rate straps so you can watch your heart rate response compared to power. Go out and ride at a constant power level for 20 minutes and heart rate can climb nearly the entire time. Harder intervals such as threee minute intervals at VO2max power will see heart rate climbing quickly the entire interval and never leveling off. Once an athlete starts training with a power meter, heart rate simply becomes another metric that’s monitored and recorded. You’ll still look at heart rate to learn a little about how your body is responding to a power level, but you’ll no longer uses it to measure and adjust intensity.

In addition to accurate intensity measurement, a power meter has many other benefits that you won’t find in a heart rate monitor:

• Pacing tool on race day - Gone are the days of riding too hard too early in the bike leg. Stick your target power right out of transition and you’ll be surprised how easy it can feel with all the race day adrenaline. You’ll bike faster during the bike leg because of more even pacing. You’ll likely run faster off the bike as well from more even pacing.
  
  
• Workouts recorded automatically - Power meter files can be downloaded and workouts can be analyzed for days and years after they’re completed.
  
  
• Track fitness changes - There’s no more guessing about how much stronger you are after a period of training. You’ll also know where your fitness is compared to the same time the year before.
  
  
• Goal setting – Testing allows an athlete to baseline their current fitness and can plan realistic short and long term power goals.
  
  
• Coaching feedback – If you’re working with a coach, power files can easily be emailed and a good coach will be able to provide feedback and plan workouts accordingly.
  

If you’re looking for the best training tool available to a cyclist or triathlete, then look no further than a power meter.

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date: May 22, 2010