Cycling and bicycle racing discussion forums.   View New Forum Topics
Today's Forum Topics

Set as homepage


Go Back   Cycling Forums > Tech Corner > Power Training
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Welcome to CyclingForums.com

You are currently viewing our website as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions. You will have to register before you can post to this thread.

By joining our free online community you will have access to post new topics, communicate privately with other cyclingforums.com members (PM), respond to polls, upload photos and access other special features like product reviews and classifieds.


PowerTap SL starter tips?

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 27-10.-2005, 09:28 AM   #1
peterpen
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 343
Default PowerTap SL starter tips?

I'll be getting a PT SL at the end of next week - thx to everyone for their wheelbuild input (went with DT Swiss RR 1.1 rims, 28 CX-Rays 2x.)

I'm looking for any setup tips, stuff to look out for, etc when starting out. I'll be using CyclingPeaks software. I just did a lactate test and got a winter training plan from UC Davis Sports Med (Max Testa et al) so I'm set in that department, looking more for ways to avoid any technical difficulties others may have had.

One thing I'd love to know is if it is possible to somehow integrate altitude profiles in CyclingPeaks either using the Polar 725 I have or some other altimeter? I find a course profile very useful for knowing where certain events happen in a ride, as well as looking at races I've done then finding similar terrain for training.

thanks in advance!
peterpen is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 27-10.-2005, 10:32 AM   #2
MikeHains
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane, Aus
Posts: 49
Default Re: PowerTap SL starter tips?

My tip:

Check that your PT (Head Unit) has the latest firmware installed (see the PT web site).

Enjoy.
MikeHains is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 27-10.-2005, 12:46 PM   #3
RapDaddyo
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 4,115
Default Re: PowerTap SL starter tips?

Setup tips? Set the recording interval at the shortest (1sec). Set the averaging intervals for power, speed, HR and cadence at the shortest. Put a piece of foam between the receiver and the seat stay to dampen vibration. Install the cadence magnet and set up to get cadence from the crank.
RapDaddyo is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 27-10.-2005, 10:04 PM   #4
acoggan
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,622
Default Re: PowerTap SL starter tips?

Quote:
Originally Posted by peterpen
One thing I'd love to know is if it is possible to somehow integrate altitude profiles in CyclingPeaks either using the Polar 725 I have or some other altimeter?


CyclingPeaks will read your Polar files, including the altitude data. Plot it against distance instead of time, and voila! you have the route profile you're hoping to see (assuming, of course, that the altitude data are accurate in the first place).
acoggan is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 27-10.-2005, 11:10 PM   #5
peterpen
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 343
Default Re: PowerTap SL starter tips?

Quote:
Originally Posted by acoggan
CyclingPeaks will read your Polar files, including the altitude data. Plot it against distance instead of time, and voila! you have the route profile you're hoping to see (assuming, of course, that the altitude data are accurate in the first place).


Can I get CP to read the Polar file and the PT file for the same ride and combine them? Or would I need to have duplicate files for the same day and flip between the two to get an idea of what happened where, how my power on similar climbs compares, etc. ?
peterpen is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 27-10.-2005, 11:37 PM   #6
acoggan
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,622
Default Re: PowerTap SL starter tips?

Quote:
Originally Posted by peterpen
Can I get CP to read the Polar file and the PT file for the same ride and combine them? Or would I need to have duplicate files for the same day and flip between the two to get an idea of what happened where, how my power on similar climbs compares, etc. ?


Unfortunately, CyclingPeaks v. 1.1 lacks the ability to merge files collected from different devices at the same time. So, you can either do as you propose, or manually combine the data in Excel before importing the file into CyclingPeaks.

FWIW, I'm currently testing a powermeter with a built-in altimeter, and I'm finding that while the altitude data are interesting, I haven't really learned anything from them yet. I personally would probably lean towards following the second course of action above, but only for courses (e.g., race routes) where I feel it is important to know the exact profile. Otherwise, it would be too much work.
acoggan is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 28-10.-2005, 01:18 AM   #7
F1_Fan
Registered User
 
F1_Fan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 97
Default Re: PowerTap SL starter tips?

I'm currently finishing a little application that shuttles between Polar and PT data. I'd like to see the Polar altitude data in CyclingPeaks but also I prefer some of Polar Precision Performance's workout, graphing and calendar functions... so as a result I spend time in both applications.

Quote:
Originally Posted by acoggan
and I'm finding that while the altitude data are interesting, I haven't really learned anything from them yet.


Once you get used to having the altitude data it's hard to go without it. I find it really useful for interpreting my rides and/or figuring out where in the ride I am when looking at the data. It's a lot easier to ID data as coming from the time you were inbetween two climbs as compared to determining if that was at 23.5 km or 0:45:32.
F1_Fan is offline  
Reply With Quote

Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT +10. The time now is 09:23 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin Copyright © 2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2001 - 2006 cyclingforums.com

Links to websites we like:
Pezcyclingnews | Cyclingnews.com | Wine Zone | iinet