How To Get The Most From Your Power Meter

[@gcn]

Do you have any advanced advice for getting the best from your power meter? Let us know in the comments!👇

[@Ed.R]

How to get the best from your homemade power meter yes but how to use it no.

[@steve-bs3qp]

No bike computer no strava no smart phones no power meters or heart rate monitors let's just go back to the 1980s best of luck to you

[@SirAdammmmm]

@@Sidowse training with a power meter you can maximise the work you do in the shortest amount of time. I've found it's really good for pacing. I ride with a lot of people who blow up over a course with several climbs

[@marianneoelund2940]

If "variety is.the spice of training," then why are training videos full of sessions or recommendations for repeating the same interval over and over and over again? I don't ride that way on the road, and I don't do my training sessions that way.

[@darthvulcanis4002]

This may be a video about power meters but... That bike is 🔥🔥🔥😍

[@michaelsingh843]

It would be a cool toy to have, but do i need it? .... ps not really!

[@arbuncklecycling]

I use my power meter 100% of the time I can. I don't have one.

[@rmpelnilschen130]

How big can cycling glasses be?...Simon: 'yes!'

[@gcn]

He claims they're an aero fairing

[@chrisridesbicycles]

@@gcn UCI illegal! DQ!

[@matthewhadley3150]

@@gcn what brand are they??

[@mdbourne]

@@matthewhadley3150 i am not sure but i think they are the POC Devour.

[@matthewhadley3150]

@@mdbourne looks right to me. Thanks!

[@billmccaffrey1977]

I have a dual pedal power meter, Assioma by Favero, and have learned a lot from it. I'm a BKA on left (no lower left leg) and have used the power meter data to keep my the power consistently balanced between left and right. I also found that my weak point was my right ankle on rides over 3 hours. Of course all of the other things you spoke of as well. There is also data that helps with cleat placement. It has become an essential part of my training tool box.

[@KareemB_Fit]

I use the same power meter, absolutely love the Favero Assioma Duos. Definitely get tremendous bang for your buck.

[@christopherreid6972]

I have a power meter by Assioma, just wondering about the app? Is the recognized app or are you using a different app?

[@KareemB_Fit]

@@christopherreid6972 I just use the app to update the power meter and balance them. To get power output and analytical data I use strava and training peaks. But its many different platforms you can use to analyze data.

[@babybirdhome]

@@paddymurphy-oconnor8255 BKA - below the knee amputation. It means he had his lower leg amputated below his knee so he still has part of his calf/lower leg but not his ankle or foot.

[@billmccaffrey1977]

@@christopherreid6972 I use a Garmin 530 with Garmin Connect.

[@NunoJoel]

GCN you guys should do a video of cheap alternatives to powermeters since most of people won't able to buy a good One , and is incredible has example how Strava subscription if you have your data profile with your right weight can give you a very close AVG watt for your Ride , or also some cheap ciclocomputer like Shanren Miles with the use of cadence sensor and a similar Strava algorythm also Will give you a very close AVG watt for your Ride, and for most people that Will Work and thank you a lot for the money save that they can use on a better Wheels or something else . Keep the great Work 👍

[@gcn]

If you want to structure your training and become a stronger cyclist, a power meter might be the best value upgrade you can make to your bike

[@NunoJoel]

@@gcn It is true but most can't afford it , and for most people i know that can't spend this much some also took the option to get a cheap tacx flow for indoor structured Training and then when they go outside put the gains in outdoor rides

[@spencerfisher4080]

@@NunoJoel you can get a power meter for $300. In an industry where a bike can run you 15k, and the absolute cheapest new bike you can get is around 1k

[@NunoJoel]

@@spencerfisher4080 300$ gets a left crank One , that Will end multiply by 2 the force you do on your left leg to get the final watt Average , a decent One is more like 500-600$ that gets data from both legs , most people that are starting road bike can get a decent new Triban RC120 for that price no need for a 1k One , some Will have to choose aluminium not carbon, and a lot of people needs to make that decision , i don't have nothing against powermeter, just saying that a video with cheap alternatives to this expensive PM Will Help a lot of new riders

[@spencerfisher4080]

@@NunoJoel you can easily get by with a one sided power meter that can also be upgraded at a later date. With the price of gas now it’s literally cheaper than filling up my truck 😂

[@mmmbetter55]

I don't think I'll ever use a power meter. Granted, I'm no longer racing and only ride when I have time after work or on the weekends, trying to maintain at about 100mi/week average. I don't even use a bike computer anymore, I just track with Strava and focus on how I'm feeling, listening to the wind and searching for the silent moments when it's with me.

[@svh93]

Hey Si, is that cross-chaining also considered an art?

[@ohmydeer1761]

small - small #gcntech

[@gcn]

😬 first the WD40, now this... Si clearly hates his drive train

[@Chris_UES]

I’ve only ridden indoors for 20+ years… couldn’t imagine ridding without power, heart rate and cadence data. Honestly thought you serious outdoors riders all had this!

[@olivierschneider9968]

Lot of good information. But the background noise is one of the worst vid ever made by GCN :(

[@lightningll2991]

Si basically says learn to listen to your body because he's old school. I guess I'm older school because I still only listen to my body no power meter required.

[@kiannadariooshbonnet4200]

One of the reasons I moved to Europe (specifically France) was so I don’t need to buy a car and I can put all my money to these fancy gadgets for my road bike. Next gadget, a 700€ power meter.

[@MarkBurghouwt]

Does 4iiii precision 3 have power efficiency?

[@robertrafetto8270]

I hope so. Perhaps it's the bike computer that provides the other half of the information. My cheap ones doesn't

[@chuckorwig7431]

I want to know where you can get the pedal stand?

[@HShango]

I look forward to cycling again real soon, I just got a new road bike and I just want to get on it and pedal 😌

[@gcn]

So cool! We hope you get out there soon :D

[@DanuelNuel]

I don't have PM but I like this video!

[@oeylille]

What power data should I have on the head unit? I use 3s, 30s, lap avg and lap max.

[@tonyp3523]

3s

[@SabianDB02]

i have a garmin egde 1030 plus paired with the new wahoo powerlink pedals and i don't get any of that data...why

[@robertrafetto8270]

How about a video on the left crank arm powermeters & the best low cost bike computer to collect the data.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

So, is GCN going to do a video on Chung testing? Paging Dr. Bridgewood...

[@PersonaN007Grata]

So I’m new to power meters. But I’ve been Zwifting for a couple of years. I can’t get comfortable with the refresh rate or whatever you want to call it. Either with instant or 3 sec average, it doesn’t feel as smooth and stable as what I’d normally see on Zwift. Any suggestions?

[@keithmaclure9101]

I use 10 sec average as my "instant" reading and 30s average as what I'm actually doing. Less than that is cos I sneezed or blinked or something and has zero impact on my moving the bike forward...

[@zon3ful]

Sick goggles. Straight out of the 70s

[@ΝικοςΣ-ψ7λ]

Don't have a power meter... They're too expensive 😢

[@ladislaoenriquez1739]

Can I get that on my fixed gear bike?

[@leedorney]

Does anyone know where this was filmed?

[@ole0510]

Step 1: spend 700 € on a power meter.

[@sfox6565]

I have an atrocious L/R balance - typically 44/56% (measured on Assioma Duos). Any tips for trying to normalise this? No noticeable difference in leg length or pronation. If anything the left quads look to have better definition. Matching partial replacements in both knees (which is why I bought the Assiomas secondhand). Only other thing of note is the Garmin records the left as beginning its power phase slightly after the right (a few degrees after tdc as opposed to before) but ends its power phase a little later. Perhaps I should try exercises with the left clipped in and the right with a soft trainer shoe, though that will feel weird?

[@LindseyH24]

Your L/R issue will stay the same or indeed get worse (as your right side will be effectively receiving a higher training load (Load = Power time duration/time) each ride compared to the left) if you do nothing about it. I would suggest doing some off the bike strengthening exercises such as lunges and any single leg based lower body exercise, with a focus on your non-dominant leg to offset the additional load on the bike. You could do this on the bike if you’d like leaving your right leg not clipped in etc. Edit: totally normal to have such an imbalance. Most people have one and are simply not aware of it!

[@sfox6565]

@@LindseyH24 Thanks Lindsey. I suspect that's the only solution - trying to favour the weaker side while on the bike makes little difference and requires concentration. If anything, my L/R ratio has worsened over the months I've had the PM!

[@denzelpardillo1181]

Me who doesn't even use a simple head unit: *Hmmm, interesting!!!*

[@alg3n320]

i use my running watch😂

[@chrisridesbicycles]

My power meter pedals say that I am pedalling 5mm to the inside on one side and 20mm to the outside on the other. I‘d hear a bike fitter‘s opinion on that. Is it really meaningful? I know that my feet are slightly different size. Is that why I get this offset?

[@stevep2430]

It's telling you that you need to adjust your cleats position so the force applied to the pedal is more central or closer to 0mm.

[@chrisridesbicycles]

@@stevep2430 But realistically, my right knee is not 25mm more to the outside and I can only adjust my (SPD MTB) cleats a few mm from side to side.

[@mcorbett01]

Really useful, lots to think about in this video. Perhaps the most useful advice was near end - improving our performance on our bikes is an art as much as a science, the power meter is a tool to help us improve how we apply that art.

[@kingofgamers5636]

Hello

[@cyrusjowenbalantac5563]

You need to train well

[@natus99]

Any idea what is the saddle on Simon's bike?

[@blakebullock9656]

I use the same saddle. It’s a selle Italia SLR boost superflow kit carbonio

[@marekczarnecki5388]

I've got a problem with your power meter interpretation - specifically given a reading of say 200 WATTS - there is no way you can be doing this continuously on the flat without opening a parachute behind you ! OR going up a mild incline. The more general point is that the estimated readings in Strava or from a bike computer without a real power meter (that people always complain about - dropping to zero) are probably more accurate as reading of POWER. What is really being measured? Pressure on the pedals? Twist on the crank shaft? Would love some thoughts :)