Manatees - 2018 Edition Now CLOSED (Page 34)

thats one of the 3 im considering too. If I had a 35% discount I’d probably pull the trigger. 

this is exactly where I have been, but am starting to lean toward getting one; especially if clever training offers 20% off soon!

I have PowerTap P1s pedals (the single sided version). I like them well enough and they are super easy to move between bikes. I also like the use of off the shelf batteries.  I move the pedals between road/tri bikes.  The cross bike has no sensors!

Like some have mentioned, I have an issue with staring at numbers when I ride and find that it can be frustrating outside.

It is helpful, especially on the trainer. I like that it tells me  the work that I'm doing NOW versus heart rate or perceived exertion which tells you what you just did. It also kind of takes the weather out of the equation -- you know how it is, hot and humid feels harder but the PM is weather agnostic. .

I understand how VI works not not burning matches and stuff but I still don't understand how to not overdo hills when riding outside. I mean, I still need to get up the hill, right? So how to do that while keeping my power relatively even? I understand the theory of it but the actual execution eludes me.

Clever Training does a 20% off coupon about twice a year (near Black Friday and about May 1st). They have a membership like REI (pay once, member forever) and the fee is $4.99. I got my both my PowerTap pedals and smart trainer using the 20% off coupon so I think that I got my $4.99 out of it! 

(There are some exclusions and, to be honest, Garmin may be on that list. You still get a "dividend" type thing for those items but there's nothing like money off the top.)

No kidding! That's one heck of a discount!

Maybe? Did you pause your watch or were you recording your activity in Strava?

During my trainer ride on Wednesday, my bike started to make a noise, I paused my Garmin to investigate, restarted the ride. Paused time added back in on Strava. Is that what you mean?

This is what makes me question the need for a PM - numbers are cool and all, but how do I know what to do with them?!  When I tried to use a heart rate monitor I spent all my time looking at the watch to see what the numbers were and eventually didn't care - I just ran according to feel and or what my plan called for that day, eg, tempo, pace, ez.   I'm afraid I'll do that with a PM - oooh cool numbers, but I need to get up sugar loaf mountain without slowing down so much I fall over, so who cares what the numbers say!

I haven't thought about putting them on my dedicated trainer bike, but if they are that easy to move around that could work. 

 And, i know at least 2 coaches who don't believe in training/racing with either a PM or heart rate -siri lindley and rebecca keat.  Their idea is that you get too tied up in the numbers and stay in the gray zone too much.  There is no real benefit for training in the gray zone. There's more to it than that, but I have to run to a meeting!!

Edited b/c I can't spell this morning and I thought of something else!

I think that a lot of my issues with the power meter stem from the fact that I spent years going on group rides where hills were clearly put there to be ATTACKED. If you attack the hills in an long distance tri, though, you are burning matches that you can't afford to give away. Part of it is that I need to adjust my approach -- at least when I am on my tri bike!

Originally posted by TXTriRook

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by TXTriRook

Originally posted by jmkizer

Question of the week:

Who has a power meter? Do you find it to be helpful with training? Do you find it t be helpful when racing?

Agree, good one! I don't have one. I ride mostly on my Smart trainer/Zwift which shows power but when outside or racing I prefer to go off my speed and HR (for now ).

Haha! You prefer to? Without a PM, is there a choice? 

True and many of you raise good points in favor of getting one. Just the thought of having to ride my bike to hit a number takes away a lot of the fun of it for me. I know there are some pros out there that ride without one too. I have a general idea of how fast I should be going relative to how much effort I’m putting in which for now is good enough for me.

I agree that when you are overly focused on the numbers, it can suck some of the fun out of it. OTOH, I think that it can be a really good tool for long course where it's not about putting up the "best" or "fastest" bike split you're capable of. Rather, it's about producing the optimum bike split. Optimum sets up the run. For me, I think the issue is about execution.

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by TXTriRook

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by TXTriRook

Originally posted by jmkizer

Question of the week:

Who has a power meter? Do you find it to be helpful with training? Do you find it t be helpful when racing?

Agree, good one! I don't have one. I ride mostly on my Smart trainer/Zwift which shows power but when outside or racing I prefer to go off my speed and HR (for now ).

Haha! You prefer to? Without a PM, is there a choice? 

True and many of you raise good points in favor of getting one. Just the thought of having to ride my bike to hit a number takes away a lot of the fun of it for me. I know there are some pros out there that ride without one too. I have a general idea of how fast I should be going relative to how much effort I’m putting in which for now is good enough for me.

I agree that when you are overly focused on the numbers, it can suck some of the fun out of it. OTOH, I think that it can be a really good tool for long course where it's not about putting up the "best" or "fastest" bike split you're capable of. Rather, it's about producing the optimum bike split. Optimum sets up the run. For me, I think the issue is about execution.

and this is the reason I’m considering one!

No PM for me. I would only get one if I was going to be coached and I had a whole different outlook on racing. I can see the issue with "chasing numbers". I would have to learn a minimum on the use of the tool and let the coach do the analysis. From what I have read, pedal based systems have made strides recently, which would probably be what I would look for. Hub based make sense from a single use standpoint, but moving that from one bike to another and then doing the calibration dance would be more hassle than it is worth (in my pee sized brain).

Originally posted by TXTriRook

Originally posted by jmkizer

Originally posted by TXTriRook

Originally posted by jmkizer

Question of the week:

Who has a power meter? Do you find it to be helpful with training? Do you find it t be helpful when racing?

Agree, good one! I don't have one. I ride mostly on my Smart trainer/Zwift which shows power but when outside or racing I prefer to go off my speed and HR (for now ).

Haha! You prefer to? Without a PM, is there a choice? 

True and many of you raise good points in favor of getting one. Just the thought of having to ride my bike to hit a number takes away a lot of the fun of it for me. I know there are some pros out there that ride without one too. I have a general idea of how fast I should be going relative to how much effort I’m putting in which for now is good enough for me.

I feel the same as Justin... I have a Tacx trainer and aim to hit power numbers on intervals (honestly, mostly just for variety - riding at one speed on the trainer is super boring), but have never used power outdoors. I'm also sort of cheap, so buying the Tacx for this training season was my one big purchase since I'll be doing most of my training indoors - I don't want to spend additional dollars on another power source for outdoors. I would rather focus on the fun when riding outdoors, and am comfortable with my speeds as they are (I know I am not "fast" but I'm OK with that).

Racing Manatees!!!

February 24-25
Jen - Arctic 10k
Stacey - Swissmurdie Trail 12k on Sunday

February 28 is Lisa's birthday

Go Jen and Stacey!

Happy early bday Lisa!

Anyone use cliff shot blocks or gels? I don’t like to eat while training or racing for various reasons, one being most food upsets my stomach - especially on the run. However, IM stuff actually requires I eat! I’m going to make an effort to use the cliff blocks and or gels- already tried the bars and they are a no go, and am looking to see which flavors are ok. So, if you use them, which do you like, or at least not hate?