bruce

Most of the HR data is missing from the file, so can't draw any conclusions from that.

101 reasons why HR is a dodgy metric

The year before Landis won, he felt he had made a big mistake by tapering for too long before the tour, because the first week was so easy that he actually lost form and then struggled when the mountains came.

I posted last year plenty of stats for one rider. But I don't have overall stats.

These numbers are perfectly achievable without doping.

Seems to be data missing.

Chris Anker Sorensen Easy Day TdF Stage 2:Duration: 3:32:30 (3:33:11)Work: 2945 kJTSS: 183.7 (intensity factor 0.72)Norm Power:274VI: 1.19Pw:HR: 100%Pa:HR: 100%Distance: 84.874 miElevation Gain: 5627 ftElevation Loss: 4974 ftGrade: 0.1 % (653 ft)MinMaxAvgPower: 0951231wattsHeart Rate: 01370bpmCadence: 2013494rpmSpeed: 052.324mphPace 01:0900:0002:30min/miAltitude: 37720311086ftCrank Torque:01036208lb-inTemperature: 91.4105.899.8Fahrenheit

I see they used 'Smart Recording' on the Garmin Edge, data will be suspect.

Nope, you clearly have it all worked out.

Nicole Cooke I know there was an agreement a couple of years back amongst the ladies teams in SA that they would not participate in events that did not offer equal prize money.

First off, I'm very much in the power meter camp, so read my answers with that in mind! That depends a lot on you. Some people like technical stuff' date=' and love to figure out all the functions, plot the charts, read the data etc etc. Other people don't like that, and prefer to go by feel. Both ways work for people that are suited. A lot will depend on how effectively you use the tool. The tool itself doesn't make a better practitioner, but a better tool can help you be more effective. IMO a power meter is a better tool. Both Reliable' date=' good quality units tend to cost more money. Initial setup cost is expensive, no doubt, but the units are reliable and can be used for many years. There are quite a few coaching services that help with coaching and interpreting data. Search through this forum and ask around. All powermeter's have pro's and con's. Crank based srm's allow you to change wheels etc. Hub based powertaps are not as expensive' date=' but they are built into a wheel which limits your wheel choices. Again, what works best will depend on your own circumstances and budget. Search through the archives on the forum - i have written a guide to the pro's and con's of various power meters a couple of years back. You'll need to evaluate peoples experiences based on your own way of doing things. I'm and engineer, I am analytical and hence I really enjoy the fact that a power meter is an accurate performance measurement device. I get motivation from that. There are others that just like to ride their bikes and go by feel. Their experiences with a power meter will be very different to mine. I have had good results using a power meter, but there are plenty of people out there that have achieved great results without a power meter. Assess this information based on your own way of doing things.

As per usual, people feel it necessary to have a go at companies/products for the simple reason that they are good quality and are a bit more expensive than other products that are around. Things are simple, if you don't feel that a product is worth the price, then don't buy it! If the product is genuinely overpriced, then market forces will dictate! Could it be that the product is a quality product that uses better materials and hence costs more? Is this such a crime? If a product uses beter materials, then there is no reason why the product shouldn't be marketed as such! I personally prefer to buy the best quality that I can afford. Too many times I have bought a cheaper product, only to end up buying the better product in the future because I was not happy with the cheaper one! Effectively adding the cost of the cheaper one to the one I should have bought in the first place. I have been using Rudy Project for a number of years, and have gotten to know Simon (aka rudyproject) quite well. I have had a set of rydon lenses replaced because Simon felt they should be replaced - never mind the fact that the glasses have been manhandled by my children etc etc. He also replaced a sportsmask lens because of a problem where the frame attached to it - no questions, no problems. Bottom line people, nobody is holding a gun to your head and telling you you have to buy a certain product. Buy the product that you want, and be happy with that.

It's just that a greater demand is placed on the heart in running than in Cycling - more muscles needing oxygen. see http://www.runningforfitness.org/faq/hrmax.php But the whole HRmax equation is pretty flawed: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/24/health/maximum-heart-rate-theory-is-challenged.html?pagewanted=2 RPE is a much better indicator - if it feels hard, it is hard!

Why are you guys scared of what you HR reaches? Have you EVER read about an athlete dying because his HR was higher than a certain number of a certain period of time? MTB riding will achieve higher HR because more muscles are being used (upper body) than in road riding, just like maxHR running is usually higher than maxHR cycling.

Probably the grease in the pawls is too viscous, or too much grease has been used. The pawls are not clicking back into position quickly.

Here are my stats for all the stages of the Midvaal/Nashua Mobile Vet's Tour. Will post race reports on my blog asap: Vet's Tour Prologue:Duration: 9:47 (9:52)Work: 219 kJTSS: 19.4 (intensity factor 1.092)Norm Power:371VI: 0.99Distance: 7.869 kmElevation Gain: 34 mElevation Loss: 111 mGrade: -1.0 % (-78 m)MinMaxAvgPower: 0859374wattsCadence: 5213688rpmSpeed: 078.747.7kphPace 00:4600:0001:15min/kmAltitude: 147215491505mCrank Torque:0149.140.9N-m Vet's Tour Stage 2:Duration: 3:15:25 (3:17:01)Work: 2937 kJTSS: 259.6 (intensity factor 0.893)Norm Power:304VI: 1.21Distance: 125.272 kmElevation Gain: 1476 mElevation Loss: 1450 mGrade: 0.0 % (25 m)MinMaxAvgPower: 01188250wattsCadence: 3118288rpmSpeed: 085.238.1kphPace 00:4200:0001:34min/kmAltitude: 145216401534mCrank Torque:0128.827.4N-m Vet's Tour Stage 3:Duration: 1:00:31 (1:01:02)Work: 976 kJTSS: 99.2 (intensity factor 0.992)Norm Power:337VI: 1.25Distance: 39.967 kmElevation Gain: 570 mElevation Loss: 568 mGrade: 0.0 % (2 m)MinMaxAvgPower: 01174269wattsCadence: 4619686rpmSpeed: 0116.339.2kphPace 00:3100:0001:32min/kmAltitude: 154016031574mCrank Torque:0178.230.5N-m Stage 4 Vet's Tour:Duration: 2:28:46 (2:30:04)Work: 2423 kJTSS: 209.7 (intensity factor 0.92)Norm Power:313VI: 1.15Distance: 101.919 kmElevation Gain: 1326 mElevation Loss: 1309 mGrade: 0.0 % (17 m)MinMaxAvgPower: 01102271wattsCadence: 4219189rpmSpeed: 09240.7kphPace 00:3900:0001:28min/kmAltitude: 147316011522mCrank Torque:013129.2N-m

Probably your best option is to contact http://www.activeworx.co.za/ they are the local agents for SRM. They usually have some second hand units available, which they will warranty. Reliability is a function of maintenance and operating procedure. The units need to be serviced every couple of years (battery replacement and calibration), for which they get sent back to Germany. They are sensitive to temperature change, so you need to make sure you set the zero torque point on every ride, and during a ride if there are big temperature changes.