Cycleops powercal

[Jaco-fiets]

I think a lot of the guys here will disagree with you 120%

 

Don't know hey! I have used mine for couple of weeks now. Can't really see the benefit yet since my LSD rides and hard rides seems to have very similar avg power readings

[Jakkals.]

Its a training tool, its something, Heart rate is your body's input, yes it can fluctuate for various reasons, but you know yourself. I know that my heartrate at 169 its hard, but yes i can push 173 and have even seen 176 for 4min efforts.

 

a power meter is bike output, unlike the body's input from a heart rate monitor.

[V12man]

Don't know hey! I have used mine for couple of weeks now. Can't really see the benefit yet since my LSD rides and hard rides seems to have very similar avg power readings

 

Too much averaging being applied to be as useful as a proper power meter for short/hard/interval type work - borrow someones wheel and you will see what is REALLY going on.. better yet run the powercal and proper power meter at the same time against 2 different head units concurrently and then compare the 2 recordings.

[_C50_]

I user the PowerCal in conjunction with the WKO+ software. Riding both road and MTB i'm never going to spend the money to get both kitted out with power meters.

 

By using just the powercal i have "consistent" (for want of a better word) data, whether i'm riding a road bike or mtb. To be honest, i'm actually not worried about the power numbers/figures at all. Having never really followed and form of training program, i find it usefull that i can track my fitness level, and when i need to rest, etc.

 

I guess you could do the same thing with a normal HR belt in conjuction with SportTracks software with the Training Load plugin using TRIMP, which is also HR based.

 

Seeing as i didn't have an HR belt I just decided to get the PowerCal. Guess i could've gotten the Garmin HR belt and used with SportTracks as explained above.

 

Just a side note. You can use SportTracks software with the Training Load plugin for free. If you want to go the HR/TRIMP route. If you use a PowerCal HR monitor it causes the software to hang when you import the data. It is/was a known issue, not sure if it's been sorted out yet. With any other HR monitor it will work.

 

So if you want to use a powercal you either have to use GoldenCheetah or WKO+.

[Jaco-fiets]

I was hoping to use the avg readings to gauge increase in conditioning. To do this there should at least be some sort of difference between my hard rides and LSD rides. Since there is not much difference I don't see any benefit in the readings

 

Maybe you could compare avg's when you have a specific route you ride now and then

 

Reckon i'll toss the powercal, drop the joule and just get a new garmin and carry on like in past.

[The Anteater]

I was hoping to use the avg readings to gauge increase in conditioning. To do this there should at least be some sort of difference between my hard rides and LSD rides. Since there is not much difference I don't see any benefit in the readings

What about TSS and normalised power?

 

What does a typical hard ride consist of and how long is it and what's involved in a typical LSD ride?

[Berry]

what would you guys say is the powercal better than the tacx bushido

[Tankman]

I was hoping to use the avg readings to gauge increase in conditioning. To do this there should at least be some sort of difference between my hard rides and LSD rides. Since there is not much difference ...

 

Hou op rond neuk en trap harder op jou harde rides!

 

When you are soft pedaling (like on a descent) the data does not seem to be accurate, so stop mucking about and pedal!

 

Someone complained that the powercals direct power reading seems to fluctuate ... that is to be expected, your heart is being measured after all.

 

Switch you Garmin to give average over 30sec for a more consistent reading!

Edited October 10, 2013 by Tankman

[Jaco-fiets]

What about TSS and normalised power?

 

What does a typical hard ride consist of and how long is it and what's involved in a typical LSD ride?

 

There seems to be a difference in the readings you mentioned

 

Harder rides I normally push to around 170 to 180bpm on the climbs and drags and try and keep above 140bpm on the flats. LSD rides are mostly below 140bpm

[JGR]

Has anyone used the power app for the suunto? Would be interested to see how it compare as it also uses the HR baseline

[The Anteater]

There seems to be a difference in the readings you mentioned

 

Harder rides I normally push to around 170 to 180bpm on the climbs and drags and try and keep above 140bpm on the flats. LSD rides are mostly below 140bpm

You base most power analysis on normalised power and TSS for training load., Average power can be pretty meaningless for comparison.

 

For example, I had a set of four sessions in a week as follows:

1.) 2hr Hard session - Intervals

2.) 2hr tempo session

3.) Hard 3hr race-like ride

4.) Light 5hr ride

 

The stats (based on a Quarq PM) were roughly:

Ave. Power | Norm. Power | TSS | Ave. HR

1.) 134W | 229W | 125 | 140bpm

2.) 138W | 195W | 112 | 132bpm

3.) 155W | 225W | 155 | 143bpm

4.) 123W | 166W | 166 | 123bmp

 

You can see the average powers are pretty similar and don't correlate with the ride intensity, while the normalised powers track the intensities very well.

[Jaco-fiets]

You base most power analysis on normalised power and TSS for training load., Average power can be pretty meaningless for comparison.

 

For example, I had a set of four sessions in a week as follows:

1.) 2hr Hard session - Intervals

2.) 2hr tempo session

3.) Hard 3hr race-like ride

4.) Light 5hr ride

 

The stats (based on a Quarq PM) were roughly:

Ave. Power | Norm. Power | TSS | Ave. HR

1.) 134W | 229W | 125 | 140bpm

2.) 138W | 195W | 112 | 132bpm

3.) 155W | 225W | 155 | 143bpm

4.) 123W | 166W | 166 | 123bmp

 

You can see the average powers are pretty similar and don't correlate with the ride intensity, while the normalised powers track the intensities very well.

 

Very useful info! Thanks for that

[alsoran]

 

Just a side note. You can use SportTracks software with the Training Load plugin for free. If you want to go the HR/TRIMP route. If you use a PowerCal HR monitor it causes the software to hang when you import the data. It is/was a known issue, not sure if it's been sorted out yet. With any other HR monitor it will work.

 

 

Can anyone confirm whether the uploading of data collected using PowerCal HR monitor is still a problem with SportTracks. Have checked the ST forms and can find no reference to any issues..

 

Would like to know before deciding whether to purchase the PowerCal goodies as St is my software of choice.

[NotSoBigBen]

I upload mine without any issues (running ST 3.1)

[alsoran]

I upload mine without any issues (running ST 3.1)

 

Thanks

[Patchelicious]

Using the Powercal in conjunction with Training Peaks give cool data feedback for a real bargain price.

 

Use it for Threshold gain tests over 20mins etc. Not useful as on the ride feedback.

 

But I have been using it to gauge impovements, and thats what it should be used for. After the fact average (intervals or Strava segments) readings.... it is accurate enough for that.