Training w/o Power Meter

[Viking55803]

You didn't mention a heart rate monitor. If you have HR with cadence, speed and time you really have all the information you need to both structure a training program for peak fitness and evaluate your progress. Power meters are all the rage (and very expensive) but it's all about the "engine" and you can work with a pretty good dashboard with those less expensive tools.

 

[bing181]

I'm not sure that Power meters are all that expensive. I picked up a new Powertap G3 Hub for around $400, not much more than a standard, decent quality rear hub.

I'd try and do it. I trained for years with HR, but nothing has helped as much as getting the Powertap. You just have so much control over exactly what you're doing. For me it's been as much as anything about riding LESS hard - when I don't need to be riding hard. I was doing a lot of not easy enough/not hard enough riding.