Power Training For Cycling - Best Way to Improve Your Riding

[baboon1]

Power training for cyclists is now the most popular form of monitoring and structuring training sessions amongst professional cyclists. It is now relied on and viewed as more accurate than the old favorite, heart rate monitoring. You will rarely find a professional in the pelaton that does not use power meters as a key part of their fitness monitoring.
Why get a power meter?
Unlike heart rate, power output is a direct and instant measurement of performance. The heart rate of a cyclist is not always the same when riding an identical ride in identical conditions. The reason is that heart rates measure your body's response to riding at a certain intensity whereas a power meter measures the actual power generated as you turn the pedals.
In addition the readout on a power meter is real time whereas your heart rate can take time to respond to a change in ride intensity. This means that if performing short duration intervals you will be able to gain much more accuracy with a power meter.
The main reason to opt for power as your cycling measurement of choice is mainly psychological. It is much more satisfying to know what your average power output is rather than knowing your average speed and having to compensate that figure by looking at your average heart rate and the conditions and terrain of your ride. In short using a power meter makes monitoring your cycling progress and planning training rides much more simple as you need only concentrate on one set of numbers rather than evaluating several in order to find the overall picture.

To learn more training tips from the author of this article follow this link to his century training program

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Wannop

 

[dkrenik]

That's a pretty safe post in a power training forum.

 

[baboon1]

 

[swampy1970]

Power training for cyclists is now the most popular form of monitoring and structuring training sessions amongst professional cyclists. It is now relied on and viewed as more accurate than the old favorite, heart rate monitoring. You will rarely find a professional in the pelaton that does not use power meters as a key part of their fitness monitoring.
Why get a power meter?
Unlike heart rate, power output is a direct and instant measurement of performance. The heart rate of a cyclist is not always the same when riding an identical ride in identical conditions. The reason is that heart rates measure your body's response to riding at a certain intensity whereas a power meter measures the actual power generated as you turn the pedals.
In addition the readout on a power meter is real time whereas your heart rate can take time to respond to a change in ride intensity. This means that if performing short duration intervals you will be able to gain much more accuracy with a power meter.
The main reason to opt for power as your cycling measurement of choice is mainly psychological. It is much more satisfying to know what your average power output is rather than knowing your average speed and having to compensate that figure by looking at your average heart rate and the conditions and terrain of your ride. In short using a power meter makes monitoring your cycling progress and planning training rides much more simple as you need only concentrate on one set of numbers rather than evaluating several in order to find the overall picture.

To learn more training tips from the author of this article follow this link to his century training program

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Wannop

So do you really "turn the pedals" or do you push on the pedals to turn the cranks... or do you apply a linear max tangental super-hymogrophysic force to the pedals to twist the cranks off the bottom bracket spindle?

And does anyone actually look at their average power when out riding?

 

[fergie]

And does anyone actually look at their average power when out riding?

Yes.

Looking at the majority of Pro rider blogs they all post their average powers and make reference to calories burnt while racing. Not saying this is ideal. People ignore that in Paris Roubaix Cancellara chose the moment Boonen was at the back to attack, choose to go long and used a special tyre with the cobbles in mind. More to cycling than sustaining a high average power.

 

[dkrenik]

That's almost as worthwhile as your original post.

 

[Squint]

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