What Power Meter to Get?

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Hi

I have a Polar s725 HRM and was thinking of getting the power kit. Is this worth the expense or should I look at another system. I would be interested in the experience people have had using this piece of kit.

Cheers

Matt,

I did all the research I could, mainly via this forum, as to what power system to use (I have a Polar S625X) and getting a Polar system on eBay seemed the best option. $$ wise.

I understand that almost any other power system is 'better' than the Polar, but what I was mainly after was repeatability, and not the 'absolute assurance' that I was capable of generating xyz W of power.

My reasons for this are numerous, but principally is that I train a LOT on the trainer (Cateye CS1000) as I feel (IMHO) that training this way I can do VERY specific sessions, targeting my weak areas, and as long as the Polar system is 'repeatable' from one session to the next, I can asses my progress (or not).

Coupled with some very good advice (download the Monod CP Power Model spreadsheet) and software recommendations (Cycling Peaks) and further reading (Training and Racing with a Power Meter.....which was probably the best bit of advice :cool: ) from this forum, I feel I've managed to put together a reasonably good power profile (in relative but perhaps not absolute terms) of myself and that's really all I was after in the first place.

The Polar system has many drawbacks (accuracy on trainers, inability to peak up short peak efforts, somewhat tedious to set up... the list goes on...and on) but for what I use it for, and the feedback it gives me, its really hard to go past the $300 or so that I paid for it.

Hope this helps :)

Hi

I have a Polar s725 HRM and was thinking of getting the power kit. Is this worth the expense or should I look at another system. I would be interested in the experience people have had using this piece of kit.

Cheers Since you already have the HRM I think getting the power unit on eBay is the best option by far. The only drawback it has that I felt had any impact at all on being able to train effectively was the relatively short sub 5 hour memory capacity.

Ah, the myth of an inaccurate but precise powermeter.

Ah, the myth of an inaccurate but precise powermeter.
:confused: :confused: :confused:

The setup I have on the trainer is quite accurate - I've used a borrowed SRM bike and have done back to back efforts (same cadence, gearing, resistance etc) and the average differences over 5:00, 10:00, 20:00 and 30:00 efforts was around 1.5%.

That's good enough for my purposes :)

:confused: :confused: :confused:

The setup I have on the trainer is quite accurate - I've used a borrowed SRM bike and have done back to back efforts (same cadence, gearing, resistance etc) and the average differences over 5:00, 10:00, 20:00 and 30:00 efforts was around 1.5%.

That's good enough for my purposes :)
I tend to agree with you. I've had one over 2 years now (720i) and the only REAL failing I see is the 5 second interval between recordings. It's almost impossible to get an accurate peak power measurement (unless you get lucky). I've done calculations after riding hills based upon weight, slope, speed.. and found that it seems to be well within what I would consider acceptable limits of actual power. That's of course assuming the software at analytical cycling is close to correct.

The trainer will give it fits however (at least mine does). I got better results by cranking the resistance on the trainer up to the max, allowing me to generate higher power at lower wheel speed. There's still some problems with this as I've seen power drop as I go faster (not possible).

Everything else being equal, I'd love to have SRM or PowerTap. For what I do however, I can't really justify SRM, and I do not like being limited as to what wheel I want to use in the case of the PowerTap (I use one rear wheel for riding on the road, another on the trainer)

Hi

I have a Polar s725 HRM and was thinking of getting the power kit. Is this worth the expense or should I look at another system. I would be interested in the experience people have had using this piece of kit.

Cheers
Thanks all.