Onboard power meter vs indoor power trainers

[namibquest]

Firstly, if you are serious about improving, then a power meter is certainly the way to go. Having said that, unless you have the time and knowledge to read and learn, a coach is just as important. A coach will combine power and heart rate training; they are both vital in their own way.

 

What power meter for MTB? All I can say from experience is that the crank based systems are vulnerable to damage on a MTB; they are exposed and invariably pick up knocks which do cause damage. Stages also has a huge problem currently with their design in terms of getting water into the system. I have used the Powertap hub system for 2 years without a days problem. I switched to Stages to save weight and regret it every day. I literally replace the battery once a week and anytime it rains or you wash your bike and ANY water gets on the crank, the systems shuts down.

 

If you are serious - 1) get a powertap 2) get a coach - Deon Carstens at Training point is one of the best. You will not be sorry.

[HappyMartin]

Cool thread. Thanks

[GoLefty!!]

Firstly, if you are serious about improving, then a power meter is certainly the way to go. Having said that, unless you have the time and knowledge to read and learn, a coach is just as important. A coach will combine power and heart rate training; they are both vital in their own way.

What power meter for MTB? All I can say from experience is that the crank based systems are vulnerable to damage on a MTB; they are exposed and invariably pick up knocks which do cause damage. Stages also has a huge problem currently with their design in terms of getting water into the system. I have used the Powertap hub system for 2 years without a days problem. I switched to Stages to save weight and regret it every day. I literally replace the battery once a week and anytime it rains or you wash your bike and ANY water gets on the crank, the systems shuts down.

If you are serious - 1) get a powertap 2) get a coach - Deon Carstens at Training point is one of the best. You will not be sorry.

 

 

Lol

[namibquest]

????

[namibquest]

The ??? Is for "GoLefty!!" I don't know what your "lol" is about? If you don't agree with what I say, give your opinion. I'm merely giving an opinion based on my 27 years of cycling experience!

[GoLefty!!]

Only 27? You still wet behind the ears.

Stages fixed the water ingress long ago.

 

And you place more importance on the tool than the artisan. That says a lot

[SiriS]

I want to take it to the next level, structured program is the way to go. Is there anything like Cadence Cycling (http://www.cadencecycling.co.za) in Cape Town CBD?

 

/sorry for the hijack

[GoLefty!!]

CT, Tygervalley

Franchisee: 2ONE4

tygervalley@cadencecycling.co.za

021 9149507

 

 

 

 

and

 

 

 

Bike+ in Constantia

[namibquest]

GoLefty; I said 27 years cycling experience - add another 20 years of rugby, waterpolo, swimming, triathlon; I'm not so sure about wet behind the ears! I'll refrain from making a similar judgement on you because I have no idea who you are.

I certainly did not over emphasis the "tool over the artisan" as you put it. I said if you are serious and want to go to the next level then a power meter, with heart rate monitor and good coach is essential!

By the way, stages have certainly not addressed the water ingress as you suggest! I've just come back from the Epic where on stage 1 we were subjected to light rain for the vast majority of the stage and numerous people that I spoke to with stages power meters experienced problems; including myself and my partner. If you claim that they have sorted the problem, please be so bold as to tell us on this forum what exactly it is that they have done! I for one would greatly appreciate the advice as to how to resolve the very apparent problem they have.

[GoLefty!!]

Is the Stages Power meter waterproof?

 

Modified on: Wed, 25 Mar, 2015 at 11:13 AM

 

 

 

The Stages Power meter is manufactured to the IPX7 water resistance standard. It can withstand the harshest down pours and being fully submerged in a stream crossing. However, it should not be put in a high pressure situations like being directly sprayed with a pressure washer or deep sea diving mountain biking.

 

 

 

There was a problem with earlier units where the battery cover didn't fit very well or one the retaining lugs broke off and thus the battery cover didn't fit properly and thus allowed water in. AFAIK Stages has replaced any unit that incurred water damage.

 

Most people simply lubricate the o-ring seal with Tamiya ball joint grease (silicone based) and that helps prevent any water getting in.

 

The change Stages made to replace the o-ring with a slightly thicker one. I'm not sure what material they use but you can tell its the newer o-ring by its red colour.

 

other changes are the circuit boards are now resin coated and the battery door retaining lugs have been changes to ensure a more secure fit.

 

 

apparently these changes were made at the end of 2013

[namibquest]

All sounds great in writing; from first hand experience I can tell you the problem has not been resolved. My unit was purchased in November last year and it still has the crappy plastic battery cap with flimsy lugs. It has a red o-ring which is exposed when the cap is closed and still most certainly lets water in.

 

At present I am waiting for feedback from Petrie who is the local agent as to how they are going to resolve it. So believe me, all the fancy terminology above in terms of how you claim they have resolved the problem is meaningless - it has not been resolved.

[GoLefty!!]

Petrie? Omnico is the local distributor as far as Stages in concerned. Who is Petrie?

 

I have a few pals who have purchased Stages and none have the problems you're having

[carbon29er]

Firstly, if you are serious about improving, then a power meter is certainly the way to go. Having said that, unless you have the time and knowledge to read and learn, a coach is just as important. A coach will combine power and heart rate training; they are both vital in their own way..

 

Despite massive research evidence to the contrary that training in a controlled, repeatable, environment overcoming resistance gives the best results, we have authoritative statements that "if you're serious about improving then a power meter is certainly the way to go". What research do you base this opinion on?

 

The big question IMHO is: Do you want to be a rider like Froome, a powerful engine but ungainly, staring at a power meter screen all day or Minnaar, smooth and fluid but relatively low power, bombing down the hill looking at nothing other than where he is going. Very Fast.

 

Cycling is such a funny sport. I can't think of any other, except maybe sailing, where amateurs take life so seriously and waste so much money on such meaningless things. And then preach on these things.

 

I used to think that buying this or that part as it weighed x grams less would be the icing on the cake but now we've moved right past that.

What happened to just having fun riding your bike? No one really cares how well or badly you did in the Epic, they care you finished. No one really cares about your watts/kg or FTP or TSS or how big your dick is, it's personal boring info. Your coach only cares enough to take your money. And a few hours reading will give you 95% of what your coach will.

 

Human beings will only advise you on personal experience and prejudice, if they own product x that is the one they will recommend to you so if Joe has an power meter and Jerry has an indoor trainer you don't have to be Einstein to imagine which they will recommend. And we need reinforcement that ours is the correct choice so want others to join us in our choices, good or bad.

[GoLefty!!]

I good like to triple smaak vis post wiff a passion!

 

This sport has become so dick swinging in the last 5 years. Never seen consumerism of this magnitude since i swung my golf bats at an expensive ball.

 

Now you need a power meter to get fitter. Been there done that and it does vocal for fitness. What made me fitter was riding a bike I enjoy with people I enjoy cycling with.

 

Ime power meters are the biggest scam going. The brand war is worse than cannonndalenvs specialised vs Santa cruz vs giant.

 

Some of the best cyclists I know have never owned a power meter and will kick most Hubert arses on any given day on a bike.

But ya no well, everyone needs something meaningless to campaign on to tell of value.

 

If I had R15k to blow on a power meter I'd rather get a tit set of wheels cos I'll ride them more.

[Da_Hunk]

I have just bought a new wheelset 3 weeks ago. If I get this hub then it will mean I can't use my current rear wheel, so its money lost. That was why I thought of having a cheap training wheel with the Powertap hub and use the other set of wheels for races.

Why do you not get them to rebuild your new wheel using the Powertap Hub

[TALUS]

Jeez how quickly did a practical question become a philosophical debate?

I think it helps to have a "policeman" to help with training- be that a coach, HRM or powermeter. Perceived Effort just doesn't work for me because I am lazy.

When racing (especially MTB) there are so many variables that change constantly that I don't find much use for it. The rest of the field and my ego is my policeman.