"Power" training without power meter?

Well, it's a massive topic, but I'll skip to the end and give you the short answer. Yes, you can train just as effectively using other metrics on the bike such as HR or RPE as you can with power. I wouldn't worry about cadence. If you use HR, do some testing to determine your HR training zones and get out and ride, a lot, mostly pretty hard.

Edited by bryancd 2011-07-12 8:15 AM

Getting better takes a lot of hard work not gadgets. Not that gadgets aren't helpful but hard work is the key ingredient.

Since you didn't give us any background on what type of rider you are, years of experience and current fitness levels, it's hard to really give you a solid answer.  The short answer would be if your just starting out and want to get better, just get out the door and ride.  Mixing easy/modertate rides with focused longer hard efforts.  Every single ride does not need to be at suicide pace.  But you need to put in consistent riding week after week, month after month, etc.. etc...  Ride 4-6 times a week for 8-12 weeks and try to measure improvements over that time on routes that you take on a weekly basis.

If your already a very good tri cyclist a power meter is a great investment and will really help do a few things for you.  It'll help focus your training on a more micro level.  It'll make sure you're getting the most out of each ride for the entire ride every ride.  But it won't do the work for you.  It'll just let you know what work you should be doing.  It'll enable you to ride less and be faster on the bike with less training. 

I rode for 5 years with out a power meter and thought that my bike training was sufficient.  I've pulled off some fast bike splits at different distances without the power meter.  This year, with the power meter.  For the first half of the season I was riding one less day a week.  Riding shorter rides and have been in the best bike fitness since starting this sport. 

Gadgets can be a real pain and can overload you with info.  For me.  I love power and cadence combined with HR.  These three things have been the focus of my entire season.  I'm lost without them.