TBB athletes with powermeters?

[afie]

How many TBB athletes use powermeters? I looked through a few photos and could only see Scott using a Quarq. Is training away from others and from a coach for long parts of the season easier with a powermeter or can you get similar results without their use?

[BellaBayliss]

Hi Afie
We all have bike computers on so that we know what we are doing.
We can also feel what we are doing as we ride our bikes a fair amount.

Most of us dont have power meters.  We dont need them.
Bella

[Scott DeFillipis - "Scott D"]

Hi Aifie - I got my quarq before joining the team and since it cost lots I keep it!!! Bella is right you do not need one but what I like about using mine is that every once in a while if we do some TT work, I can see the progress, i.e. watts are going up!!!  Now keep in mind some days when you are in the middle of a hard block, the power might not be there so you have to think about that and not let it bother you.  All the best!

Scott

[StephenBayliss]

Hi Afie,

We don't have power meters on our bike but sometimes the power meter comes and watches us and if the power drops too low there is a screaming of "go harder you skinny prick" or something along those lines depending on what athlete the meter is shouting at.

I think it works as a pretty good power meter 

[Tereza Macel - "TMac"]

Hi Alfie,

 I used to use a powermeter. It was great at first because it really pointed out all the time I spent coasting or soft pedalling on a bike, and made me aware how much of a long ride I would actually not be working very hard. The downside was that sometimes I limited myself by thinking I knew what power levels I should be riding, when perhaps there was more there. I used it in quite a few races (including Ironman) and then one day kept it on my bike for a race, but taped over the power numbers (just made the cadence and time visible) and had my best bike ride, and race, of the year. I checked the wattage after the race and it was about 30-40 watts higher than I would have expected. I think that powermeters can be good tools, but very, very few people really know how to use them to their full potential.

[javaman]

Hi Afie,

We don't have power meters on our bike but sometimes the power meter comes and watches us and if the power drops too low there is a screaming of "go harder you skinny prick" or something along those lines depending on what athlete the meter is shouting at.

I think it works as a pretty good power meter 

Epic.  Power being measured subjectively.  Kind of like that Spanish director who yells "venga, venga, venga..." from the team car in the Tour.

Where can I get one of *those* power meters?  Or, can I get a 60-minute CD with Doc providing all sorts of inspirational phrases, like the one you just mentioned?   

[ZachRuble]

hahaaa..."go harder you skinny prick"

[afie]

Thanks for the replies. I can see how they wouldnt be necessary if you have a coach sitting next to you, but for long parts of the season where you are training by yourself without supervision, I thought they would provide valuable feedback.

[DamienC]

I think someone needs to tape some of the power meter's comments and post the audio files up here.  Then we can all load them onto out iPods for when we need a little extra motivation! 

[Wong*s#1Fan]

I am going to assume one of the most commonly used motivational quotes would be "HTFU"

[Caroline Koll - "Bean"]

Those of us from the 3rd World would love such gadgets, but alas food and hard training are the priority!

[Matthieu O’Halloran - "M@"]

Those of us from the 3rd World would love such gadgets, but alas food and hard training are the priority!

Ahahahaha Bean you would be a candidate for looking at your computer too long and then crashing into something 

[doc]

get on to jonnyo ,
he is here for that stuff, would have log books filled with all the info you want .
me i use power meter all the time .
just last week i said to bella when she returned from austria .
that was powerful stuff kid .
 

[Jonathan Caron - "jonnyo"]

How many TBB athletes use powermeters? I looked through a few photos and could only see Scott using a Quarq. Is training away from others and from a coach for long parts of the season easier with a powermeter or can you get similar results without their use?

Alfie

I use all the powermeters but the Quarz, if you have any question, feel free to ask me, i do have lot of experience working with them. I have to agree with most post here. They are a fun tool, you can learn a few things from them.... pacing, mesure your fitness, etc.

But, you can do the same without it and with guidance of a good coach. Fun gadget, just not essential. Kind of like a ipod for running.... it can help.... but you can do without..... i know Coco dosnt like ipod...she said it s wrong and real runner dont need music!!!!

[kevb]

the day someone calls me skinny, will be the happiest day of my life