A Guide On Power Cycling Training

If you have been cycling for any amount of time, you must have heard someone mention power meters, power training, powertap or mumbled something about wattage. You may be wondering what all the fuss is about, and whether it will benefit you any way.

Power cycling training is a method of training where you use a power meter to track how hard you are working.

It is much better than using a heart rate monitor or going off perceived effort.

A strain gauge can be fitted to the cranks, but that is optional, and a computerised hub is fitted to the wheel. You can either buy a wheel pre-fitted with the hub, or you can buy the hub, spokes and rim separately and then get the wheel built up.

The data is recorded by the hub, and wirelessly transmitted to a computer fitted to your bars.

So all you really need to begin power cycling training is the hub and computer, but they don't come cheap!

The reason power cycling training is much better than training using a heart rate monitor, is because your heart rate will change depending on other factors, such as wind speed, road surface, how hydrated you are, whether you are ill, and many other things.

By using a power meter, you get an exact readout of your current effort, so if it is a windy day, you can adjust your speed accordingly, so that your power output is what you planned for that session.

Once you have your power meter and computer, you will need to measure your functional threshold power (FTP).

This is the amount of power you are capable of producing for 60 minutes. To measure it, warm up for about 20 minutes, and then go as hard as you can for 60 minutes. You can do this on the road, or a turbo, it doesn't really matter which you choose.

Providing your effort is pretty constant, your FTP will be the average power output over those 60 minutes.

Once you know your FTP, you can record it every couple of weeks, and see how much you are improving.

The perfect companion for power cycling training is the MyCycling training program. They guarantee you will ride 10% - 30% faster within 2 months, or you will get your money back!

Although the training sessions aren't power orientated (you don't need any specialist equipment to complete the sessions), the regime is very effective, and you can use your FTP to see how much you improve from completing the training programs!

Check it out here: MyCycling