show me some fake data files Frank ... I had an open mind until that charming little episode!Fday said:Except, when users of PowerCranks express similar improvements and beliefs, this same group of hypocrites lambast them for these anecdotal improvements that are probably simply a result of more training time and intensity. Since there is not "proof" of the source of the benefit the reports get lambasted. I think it would be nice if the "playing field" were level.
So, where is the proof of the benefits of using the PM? Lots of people report benefits from using it. Proof that it results in big benefits just doesn't exist. Just thought I might point this out by asking what the evidence was to support these views. If there was good evidence out there I most surely would have been put in my place right now.
I guess stirring the pot is a good description.
My feeling is that there are many things in life for which there is no evidence that they are superior, nor does there have to be for the use of them to be valid and beneficial to many.Fday said:training with any other effort/intensity feedback system such as HR, perceived exertion, stopwatch, etc. I have been asking this on slowtwitch and the best I can ascertain from the replies the so-called evidence to support these devices and this method of training is entirely anecdotal. Thought I would ask here.
Good to know.RChung said:The former. PTs are very consistent. That isn't always true for some PMs, though.
Where do we start.Fday said:So, where is the proof of the benefits of using the PM? Lots of people report benefits from using it. Proof that it results in big benefits just doesn't exist. Just thought I might point this out by asking what the evidence was to support these views. If there was good evidence out there I most surely would have been put in my place right now.
How many people buy something and don't use it properly?Fday said:Well, if a tool must be used properly to be useful, what percentage of the people who own a PM use it "properly" enough to see any benefit over the traditional methods, and how much benefit might you expect that to be? Any idea?
Guess that is why I have a thriving coaching business teaching people how to make the most of their powermeters and training analysis software. Do you expect people to mount Powercranks and start winning Pro Tour events with no instruction?What percentage of owners come close to using it optimally? and how much benefit do you estimate they might see over traditional techniques? Any idea?
Guess they could read the instructionsAnd, how does the new owner of a PM know what the proper use of the tool is to see any benefits, let alone, optimum benefits from this new, $1000 or more, device?
Here's a few numbers from testing, expressed as VAM ft/per/hour on a 4 mile climb as reported my the Protrainer 5 software/Polar CS600. Start and finishing points the same for each test. I tend to use this particular hill as it's a good mix of 8 to 12% at the bottom half and 16% to the mid 20% for the last half and it's sheltered from the wind. The only real variable is the heat and time of year. The top half provides no shade which is a ***** in 90+F heat and at this time of year there's thousands of flies everywhere.rmur17 said:show me some fake data files Frank ... I had an open mind until that charming little episode!
Each PM has strengths and weaknesses. The Power Tap may have to be re-zeroed during a ride if the temperature changes radically. The SRM Amateur appears to be less consistent than the SRM Pro and they, too, can be somewhat sensitive to large temperature changes. The Ergomo can vary if one's left-right balance varies with power. The Polar can be sensitive to chain position. The iBike will be off if you change position or interfere with the air pressure port. I haven't examined the Quarq yet.swampy1970 said:Which powermeters tend to "wander" during the course of a session?
Way too many - I'd hazzard a guess and from what I see with the local club level cyclist and their bike kit and what I see as a network engineer and being constantly nagged by all and sundry for help with their home laptop/desktop/iPod/$3000 camera that less that 50% of people use "things" properly.fergie said:How many people buy something and don't use it properly?
Hamish Ferguson
Cycling Coach
Thanks. Most informative.RChung said:Each PM has strengths and weaknesses. The Power Tap may have to be re-zeroed during a ride if the temperature changes radically. The SRM Amateur appears to be less consistent than the SRM Pro and they, too, can be somewhat sensitive to large temperature changes. The Ergomo can vary if one's left-right balance varies with power. The Polar can be sensitive to chain position. The iBike will be off if you change position or interfere with the air pressure port. I haven't examined the Quarq yet.
The virtue of the PT and the SRM is that you can tell if the ride starts out freezing but a couple of hours later it's hot -- so you know you should re-zero. Knowing whether the others are off is harder.
You can re-zero during a ride without stopping the data recording.swampy1970 said:Thanks. Most informative.
Can you re-zero the PT during a ride without having to stop recording the data - or would you just have to deal with having two data files for that day?
The PT actually auto zeros itself (unless you disable that function) - all you need is a few seconds of coasting and it will do it automatically.swampy1970 said:Thanks. Most informative.
Can you re-zero the PT during a ride without having to stop recording the data - or would you just have to deal with having two data files for that day?
Well, how does someone measure anything psycological and motivational, Frank?Fday said:Hey, I can accept that there might be a psychological and motivational component. How much is that worth on average and how would one measure it?
Not one post before this, you were congratulating Tyson on his hard-won gains. Then in the next post - minutes later - the above comes from your keyboard.Fday said:So, where is the proof of the benefits of using the PM? Lots of people report benefits from using it. Proof that it results in big benefits just doesn't exist.
sorry, proof and anecdotal evidence are two entirely different things.Steve_B said:Not one post before this, you were congratulating Tyson on his hard-won gains. Then in the next post - minutes later - the above comes from your keyboard.
The same way you measure anything else. Through a study. That is how they have determined that in most effects there is a 30% "placebo" effect which many would consider to be either a psychological or motivational (or both) (or something else) effect.Steve_B said:Well, how does someone measure anything psycological and motivational, Frank?
Does that also apply to the studies on Powercranks?Fday said:The same way you measure anything else. Through a study. That is how they have determined that in most effects there is a 30% "placebo" effect which many would consider to be either a psychological or motivational (or both) (or something else) effect.
From what I hear, ever since they built the new velodrome at Manchester the coaching for the track squad has been immense but back in the early 90's it was as bad as I said...fergie said:You can re-zero during a ride without stopping the data recording.
Can't see your point about the BCF. Boardman was Olympic Champ, won World Titles, still holds the 4000m record, won stages in the Tour. Perhaps what appeared to be chaos to the untrained eye was a rather complex system working rather well.
We sat and listened to Simon Jones talk about his time as British Track Coach and in two days I don't think we even covered the tip of the iceberg on their highly successful programme.
Boardman's success in Barcelona opened a lot of doors and from there Peter Keen successfully marketed the track programme to British funding bodies. Simon Jones carried this on and David Brailsford leads the charge today. But the key is how well they spend the money. Other similarly funded programmes fall way short.swampy1970 said:From what I hear, ever since they built the new velodrome at Manchester the coaching for the track squad has been immense but back in the early 90's it was as bad as I said...
Just curious, but what do you percieve as a placebo effect on a piece of equipment that when you first start using it feels like riding with extremely bad tendonitis after 40 seconds of cycling and after a couple of minutes things just come to a grinding and unceremonious halt.....fergie said:Does that also apply to the studies on Powercranks?
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