what power measurement device do you use?

[James Calivar]

Been re-reading Frel's training bible (latest version) and great emphasis is made on using power
mesurements as an indicator of potential performance. Currently I only use heartrate as an indicator
of intenisty and zones for training - once a year I take a V02Max and lactate threshold test in a
lab setting - what power measuremtn devices do you use to supplement these other tests? How
expensive, and do they work well?

James

[Robert Chung]

James Calivar wrote:
> Been re-reading Frel's training bible (latest version) and great emphasis is made on using power
> mesurements as an indicator of potential performance. Currently I only use heartrate as an
> indicator of intenisty and zones for training - once a year I take a V02Max and lactate threshold
> test in a lab setting - what power measuremtn devices do you use to supplement these other tests?
> How expensive, and do they work well?

http://www.midweekclub.com/powerFAQ.htm

[Jiyang Chen]

"James Calivar" <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:bhqe10$ptk$1@home.itg.ti.com...

> training - once a year I take a V02Max and lactate >threshold test in a
lab

How much do these test cost?

Jiyang

[James Calivar]

"Jiyang Chen" <Jiyangc@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:bhqukc$i31@dispatch.concentric.net...
> "James Calivar" <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:bhqe10$ptk$1@home.itg.ti.com...
>
> > training - once a year I take a V02Max and lactate >threshold test in a
> lab
>
> How much do these test cost?
>
> Jiyang
>
>

In conjunction with my cycling club I get a price break - $100.00 US (as opposed to the standard
$150.00 fee).

James

[Sam]

"James Calivar" <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:bhr1f8$3uu$1@home.itg.ti.com...
> "Jiyang Chen" <Jiyangc@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:bhqukc$i31@dispatch.concentric.net...
> > "James Calivar" <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
> > news:bhqe10$ptk$1@home.itg.ti.com...
> >
> > > training - once a year I take a V02Max and lactate >threshold test in
a
> > lab
> >
> > How much do these test cost?
> >
> > Jiyang
> >
> >
>
> In conjunction with my cycling club I get a price break - $100.00 US (as opposed to the standard
> $150.00 fee).
>
> James
>
>
Are you really getting a full on VO2max test for $100? Do they hook you up to a metabolic cart
where your expired air is gathered and analyzed? Do they take blood from your finger (or ear) and
analyze it?

Just curious.

[James Calivar]

"Sam" <marathonman@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:a590b.247$kd3.41@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> "James Calivar" <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:bhr1f8$3uu$1@home.itg.ti.com...
> > "Jiyang Chen" <Jiyangc@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:bhqukc$i31@dispatch.concentric.net...
> > > "James Calivar" <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
> > > news:bhqe10$ptk$1@home.itg.ti.com...
> > >
> > > > training - once a year I take a V02Max and lactate >threshold test
in
> a
> > > lab
> > >
> > > How much do these test cost?
> > >
> > > Jiyang
> > >
> > >
> >
> > In conjunction with my cycling club I get a price break - $100.00 US (as opposed to the standard
> > $150.00 fee).
> >
> > James
> >
> >
> Are you really getting a full on VO2max test for $100? Do they hook you
up
> to a metabolic cart where your expired air is gathered and analyzed? Do they take blood from your
> finger (or ear) and analyze it?
>
> Just curious.
>

They hook me up to a ventilator and punish me for about 20 or 25 minutes, so, yes to the first
question. No blood is gathered though, so I take it the actual blood lactate values are inferred.

James

[Chris]

I offer a variety of test packages and services with prices starting at $150 for a one time test
session and price breaks for multiple tests because it is more or less useless to test once per
year. You need to know whre you are periodically and where you need to be. To see a full listing of
what I offer go to championsn.com or contact me. I don't do VO2 max testing, though, as its of
little use for training purposes, just blood lactate.

As for your question on power meters, the choice to buy is largely determined on your budget and how
serious you are in improving. If you've trained a few years and want to know more about why you're
performing a certain way, power meter is very helpful, and for some (pro's) almost essential.

As for what to buy, you may want to checkout the other thread on polar HRM's as we discussed this
already. However, based on what my experience (I've used both the SRM and Power tap) and that of
others, I would avoid the power tap. SRM is a fine choice, but costly and susceptable to some
specific problems. The most promisning power meter is the Ergomo. Its relatively unknown, but I
think it will porve to be the most accessible. Its light, Bottom bracket based and so far shown to
be very sturdy and reliable. If I didn't own an SRM already I would buy one.

CH

[Warren]

In article <bhr9pm$h86$1@home.itg.ti.com>, James Calivar <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote:

> "Sam" <marathonman@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:a590b.247$kd3.41@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> >
> > "James Calivar" <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message

> > >
> > > In conjunction with my cycling club I get a price break - $100.00 US (as opposed to the
> > > standard $150.00 fee).
> > >
> > > James
> > >
> > >
> > Are you really getting a full on VO2max test for $100? Do they hook you
> up
> > to a metabolic cart where your expired air is gathered and analyzed? Do they take blood from
> > your finger (or ear) and analyze it?
> >
> > Just curious.
> >
>
> They hook me up to a ventilator and punish me for about 20 or 25 minutes, so, yes to the first
> question. No blood is gathered though, so I take it the actual blood lactate values are inferred.

There is a "sports testing" org near here that does something like that and I think they charge
$75-$100. They basically do a Conconi with no blood samples and infer everything from that,
including VO2max. I asked why they don't use the proper equipment and he cited the cost of the
equipment as the problem. I didn't ask him why they don't simply refer the person to a real lab 20
miles away that actually uses the right equipment.

-WG

[Robert Chung]

chris wrote:
> The most promisning power meter is the Ergomo. Its relatively unknown, but I think it will porve
> to be the most accessible. Its light, Bottom bracket based and so far shown to be very sturdy and
> reliable.

Perhaps it will, but my experiences with automobiles, kitchen appliances, cameras, computer
software, computer hardware, and bike equipment have made me wary of reliability among low serial
numbers. On deeper reflection, this rule seems to apply to girlfriends, too.

Nonetheless, I'd still like to see some comparative data. Good data usually means the initial design
was good, so you can hope the reliability will come around as serial numbers increase.

[Ewoud Dronkert]

On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 05:53:26 +0200, Robert Chung wrote:
>wary of reliability among low serial numbers. On deeper reflection, this rule seems to apply to
>girlfriends, too.

http://www.phys.uu.nl/~dronkert/etc/upgrade.html