I have noticed that quite a few questions in this forum address the problem of how to verify generated Power (Watts), and-or training fitness.
I would like to share my own experience on this subject.
I have recently purchased a BC-401 cyclocomputer (www.clino.it) with real-time road gradient indication (it is based on a micro-accelerometer), that can also display the power generated, albeit only on uphill stretches of road. To me this is not a serious limitation, as I am anyway able to test how much power my body can generate, and I do not really care whether I can do this only while cycling uphill ... that's sufficient to verify my training fitness and how much power I can deliver for different styles of pedalling. I am using it in combination with a conventional Heart Rate Monitor, so that I can even cross-correlate BPMs with generated Watts ! On the market one can also find more professional power meters (based on torque measurement at the wheel), which allow the display of the generated power in a any condition (flat road, uphill, downhill), but which are very expensive indeed (around 1000 USD).
OK, that with the BC-401 I can do this only while riding uphill might be a limitation, but at 1/10 the cost I do not mind at all, it's just a great instrument !
It would be interesting to share our personal experiences also about other types of cyclocomputers featuring a power meter function.
I would like to share my own experience on this subject.
I have recently purchased a BC-401 cyclocomputer (www.clino.it) with real-time road gradient indication (it is based on a micro-accelerometer), that can also display the power generated, albeit only on uphill stretches of road. To me this is not a serious limitation, as I am anyway able to test how much power my body can generate, and I do not really care whether I can do this only while cycling uphill ... that's sufficient to verify my training fitness and how much power I can deliver for different styles of pedalling. I am using it in combination with a conventional Heart Rate Monitor, so that I can even cross-correlate BPMs with generated Watts ! On the market one can also find more professional power meters (based on torque measurement at the wheel), which allow the display of the generated power in a any condition (flat road, uphill, downhill), but which are very expensive indeed (around 1000 USD).
OK, that with the BC-401 I can do this only while riding uphill might be a limitation, but at 1/10 the cost I do not mind at all, it's just a great instrument !
It would be interesting to share our personal experiences also about other types of cyclocomputers featuring a power meter function.