Have a Fluid trainer, want to train with power?

[mark romeril]

I found this on PEZ. It was an article on Wattage trainers. Particularly interesting was the kurt kinetics cyclo computer.

"Interesting to note is that the Kurt Power Computer is compatible with several other fluid trainers on the market, including Cycleops, Blackburn and others. Reprogramming the computer is required, but that just takes some reading and button pushing. From Kurt’s website, they state that fluid trainers have a fairly predictable resistance at a given speed (a power curve), hence the computer does some fancy math, and figures your wattage from there."

This cyclo computer costs 50$. Its as accurate as an SRM upto 400 watts. At 500 watts there is a 10% variance. and sprints (1100+ watts) where kind of unreliable. But for 50$. Any thoughts?

[t]

id say its interesting but just sticking w/ HR would probably suffice ... why you say?? well ... what type of work should you really be doing right now?

Base miles ... where you keep your HR under a HR ceiling

Tempo Rides ... where you keep your HR in a fairly tight range ... is a slow acceleration into it etc... so HR keeps pace

Sub-Lactate threshold rides (down the road ... like jan/feb or whatever) ... which can be dictated by HR ... again ... because you aren`t shooting the HR up ... then down ... the up ... etc ... HR should be fine

For any high intensity work you will be reaching into the area where it is unreliable ... and for any other type of work (tempo etc...) your HR will satisfy your training needs quite well.

The big thing with power is getting your accurate ranges. So lets say you do a modified conconi ... get your powers etc... and for a given excercise you are told to ride at 175% of your max ... which is 500 watts (again, theoretical) ... If the benefits of power lie in its accuracy ... but where you really want to utilize power (ie. high wattage, short duration where your HR lags ...) it isnt accurate ... ... ... benefits?

Then again, its a fairly cheap device. Could be interesting. But for you and I ... people w/out years of base miles, muscular strength etc. etc. the focus should be on building that up ... not crushing at super high intensities ... for which power has the most benefit (ie. repeatable, accurate high power intervals). BUT ... that is just the type of training I subscribe to. It is completely personal. But since I have so much damn time b/c I am done university forever ... I thought I would respond. BWA HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA.

[mark romeril]

Congrats Tim. You made it out of university alive. No more pesky academics to get in the way of all things cycling.... and the other things in life.