Increasing power threshold over the winter

I'm on the fence between getting a power meter, porwercranks or just getting some cool wheels.. since those three  are fairly close to the price range that I had saved up for. in reality the wheels are most likely not going to happen since it doesn't really help me get better overall.

I've been reading a lot of back post's here and one other sites and the book store, and getting opinions from people that have both...I have some testing set up to see what my numbers currently are and to talk with a coach about the whole power thing.

 It's my christmas gift to myself so I still have a little time to decide. 

Me.

IMO the power meter will be better than the PC because a PM is a training tool that can benefit your training AND racing. IOW if you learn to use the info and use it to make better pacing choices. It also provides great info to manage your other training (swim/run). The problme with a PM is that you have to learn how to use and that's a time investment that not many are willing to do. (unless you have someone who can help).

I personally don't believe the claims for the PC although I acknowledge that it seems it motivates athletes to ride more and that is always a good thing. In the end both are just training tools that will only work if you ride your bike

I chose the Power Tap over new, cool wheels. This is how I rationalized it to myself:

When I show up to race IMLP on July 20, 2008, I'll probably be able to put up a better bike split by having trained with power for the 8 months prior than having trained without power but using cool wheels on race day.

JohnnyKay - 2007-12-12 2:15 PM After taking almost a month off the bike (thanks for noticing Lauren ), I'm just about ready to get back in gear.

I am affraid of jumping on the trainer and doing a "you suck" threshold test but I'll do that this week...

Doable, but no slam dunk.  Depends what level of fitness 292 represents for you (e.g., back on the bike after a month layoff or 6 months into a focused training program) and how much of your training you can devote to bike FT (versus swimming & running, for example).

amiine - 2007-12-12 2:29 PM

JohnnyKay - 2007-12-12 2:15 PM After taking almost a month off the bike (thanks for noticing Lauren ), I'm just about ready to get back in gear.

Ha, me too!

I am affraid of jumping on the trainer and doing a "you suck" threshold test but I'll do that this week...

I'll get back on the bike next week (and then off again over the holidays), but hold off on the "you suck" test until after New Year's. 

Sounds like that'll get you moving in the right direction at the very least.

I chose the new, cool wheels over the Power Tap  mostly cuz Cappy gave me a great deal. This is how I rationalized it to myself:

When I show up to race IMLP on July 20, 2008, I'll probably be able to put up a better bike split by having trained at Harriman  than with power for the 8 months prior and if not I'll at least look good using cool wheels on race day.

My power tap:

(Bike%20Course%20Profile.jpg)

I'll be sure to comment on how "good" you look when I fly past you...

(Kidding, of course.)

day-um.

lol. you better be flying cuz you'll be lapping me.  Ain't no way I'll be ahead of you coming out of the water! I've seen your logs

Oh, no, maybe that came out wrong. I was kidding about the passing him part...not kidding about the looking-good part. I am sure he will look very good out there.

thanks for the advice Jorge, I think the nice young lady put it best about the wheels,, they will only help a little on the day of the race I'd rather get to be a better rider then get the wheels

I don't really believe lots of claims people make about their products so I'm not too swayed by the Powercranks claim but as someone whose opinion I respect put it. "they are idiot proof, just put them on and ride and you will see some benefit"  I agree that benefit might be from just riding more though

I guess my thought process or what has stopped me from getting a power meter so far is that I don't know much about it.. .  please correct or educate me if I'm wrong since the more I read the more i get confused with questions but to me {PT}it's just another training number much like a HR zone,

If I should be striving to hit "X" power number during training or racing how does that take into effect other stuff like a windy day, being on a hilly course or just having a crappy day where I'm working hard to do normal stuff at least with my HR I have the illision of seeing how hard my body is actually working.  Woulnd't it be pretty easy to go too hard to hit a certain number and actually be frying your legs for the run?/  It might be my medical background giving too much credit to watching the HR though. 

I know I want a power meter and most likely will eventually get one, which is why everytime I get ready to hit buy on the powercrank site I think.. maybe if I read some more on PT I'll finally "get it". But to be honest it's a little imtimitadating sifting though all the info and realizing that once I get it I"m going to have to be reading up some and most likely still be confused.

**oh yea sorry for hi-jacking your thread**