Ask a Pro: Should I get a powermeter?

Dear Phil,

Right now, I'm training solely based on "feel." I do intervals, but to the extent that I "go hard" till I'm tired, then I rinse and repeat till my workout is over. I have no means to quantify my training as my cyclocomputer simply tells me my speed and shows me the time. I realize that neither the power meter nor a heart rate monitor are absolute musts. Cyclists have been training for ages without using either, and have done just fine. However, I am always left wondering if I "went hard" enough at the end of my workouts.

So, do you recommend that I pick up a heart rate monitor (and a power meter when I have the means)?

Thank you.
Brian

Brian,
You're on the right track looking to improve training tools rather than equipment. As a coach, I'm always frustrated when I see a rider splurge on a fancy set of wheels or some other expensive part, rather than investing in their fitness with a few months of coaching or a power meter, which will make them stronger, rather than shaving a few grams off the bike.

To answer your question, I do think I can help. Rather than just "going hard", pick a length of time and a course for your intervals, and try to improve on it each time. For instance, if there's a long climb or straight, flat road in your area, starting from the same point, see how far you can get in 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes from that point, and try to improve week to week, timing your effort with your computer. That's how they did it old school.

If you had a powermeter, you don't have to do your intervals in the same place, and would get more information from the efforts. For example, you could compare pacing from one effort to another. If your terrain is steady, your average power for the whole effort should be about the same for the first half as it is the second half. Also, you can track your improvement better, so if you average 300 watts one day, try to average 310 the next, and pace accordingly.

Heart rate monitors can help this training as well, but they're a little less consistent, because higher heart rate doesn't necessarily mean you're going faster (it could mean you had a cup of coffee before the ride, or you're stressed at work, or you just saw an attractive woman). Heart rate is more valuable for longer efforts, like if you're training your endurance and want to ride a steady, moderate pace all day, it will remind you not to go too hard or too easy. Heart rate won't help much in intervals of under 5 minutes, because it takes your heart awhile to catch up to the effort you're putting it through. In fact, if you try to pace a shorter interval by heart rate, you'll undoubtedly start to hard, trying to your heart into the right zone.

That said, you can get a simple watch HR monitor for $35, and a good powermeter like a Quarq, Powertap, or SRM will run you $1000 or more. Your choice, but either way, if you do some reading or have a coach to guide you through it, you made the right call, and you'll see improvement if you use it right.
-Phil