giannip said:This looks like a great product but for a guy who only has a HR (for now!), is it worthwhile buying this tool?
I'm looking for something to plan for next season (from the end of this month).
Can I do this with this product ?
CP is a great product but it is predominantly a retrospective analysis tool for power data and not designed as a forward planning tool (although the new Performance Manager Chart function is a tremendous step towards that ultimate end point).
I did import a couple of year's worth of Polar HRM/ride data from my pre-PM days but that was so I could compare annual ride time/distance and maintain my diary of events/training commentary back for a few years in the one software package. The HR data is pretty much useless for any sort of retro analysis. Without power data you really won't get much more than a ride diary and will miss out on the most important features of the product (but having said that - I don't know much about the new functionality within CP to handle sports data other than cycling).
If you haven't already, buy the book "Training & Racing with a Power Meter" and maybe Friel's "The Cyclist's Training Bible". They would probably be as good an investment as any.
While some may not agree with every detail Friel prescribes, no one can argue about the basic principles he sets out: Such as goal setting, planning, periodisation, testing, training stress (frequency, duration, intensity & workload) to generate various physiological adaptations, principles of training (individualisation, progression, overload and specificity) and peaking etc that are outlined in the book.
