Power Meters

[h1udd]

When beginning you can make massive gains in performance and fitness before benefitting from a power meter.

In fact you might find that a power meter holds you back as you try to stick to 2.5w/kg all the way home, when you would be better off pushing harder up hills, spinning faster when your legs burn and aiming to improve your time

Fitness and strength needs progressive overload for your body to respond and adapt.

So I would keep riding and trying to get quicker, BUT spend time reading up about power, power meters, training with power, so when your fitness starts to level out and you decide you need to spank £500, you can buy the device that best meets your need and you know how to use it.

In the mean time if you want to track your progress, consider a gps and a free strava account ... You can see on your rides how fast you are over different segments and push harder to try and beat them ... With in a few weeks you will discover you are knocking minutes of your ride

 

[Andrew_P]

I have garmin vector on both my bikes and do like them.

Is that one pair or a pair permanently on each bike? Just curious as I thought the selling point of pedal based was transferring them between bikes?

 

[Kevin Alexander]

Is that one pair or a pair permanently on each bike? Just curious as I thought the selling point of pedal based was transferring them between bikes?

Not 2 pairs.

They are easy to transfer but I chose to have them on each bike

 

[Dogtrousers]

Of course, you don't need any gadgets but gadgets are fun and can add interest. Others above have suggested uses for power meters (which I found interesting as I always assumed that unless you were seriously TT-ing they would be a bit pointless).

My comment on this would be to spend your extra cash on the very best mapping GPS you can. The GPS will give you tracks that you can upload to the website of your choice (RideWithGPS, Strava, MapMyRide etc etc for later analysis). The maps will enhance your riding experience enabling you to plan and ride interesting routes to maintain your interest. And will be useful if you do get lost. Also, your GPS may well be a pre-requisite for recording and displaying the outputs from other gadgets.

Only once you're happy with your ride logging and navigation gadgets would I delve into the world of health and performance gadgets (HRMs, power meters, cadence meters etc).

Those are just my priorities. Others can, and do, differ.

 

[Newgirl1426]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think you're all right. I had planned to get a HRT anyway so went ahead and got a Tickr and going to use the extra money to upgrade my Vilano. Hoping to get the boyfriend into riding with me.

 

[Kevin Alexander]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think you're all right. I had planned to get a HRT anyway so went ahead and got a Tickr and going to use the extra money to upgrade my Vilano. Hoping to get the boyfriend into riding with me.

I would test the accuracy of the monitor, maybe go to the your GP and ask for them to check your HR and then see what the monitor says.

It might not be accurate and there are reports of these monitors being dangerous if you have underlying health conditions.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I would test the accuracy of the monitor, maybe go to the your GP and ask for them to check your HR and then see what the monitor says.

It might not be accurate and there are reports of these monitors being dangerous if you have underlying health conditions.

How is wearing a HRM dangerous?

 

[Kevin Alexander]

Not wearing one but the readings some monitors produce are inaccurate and if you have a underlying health condition and the readings are inaccurate that could lead to a dangerous situation.

 

[Hacienda71]

How is wearing a HRM dangerous?

It could strangle you if you fell off your bike it slipped over both arms and it somehow got tied around a branch.

 

[jefmcg]

You can test the accuracy with your finger tips and a stop watch. It's very easy to find a pulse in your carotid artery, side of your neck. Just count for 6 seconds and multiply by 10 (or longer for more accuracy but harder math) and compare with hrm. Don't waste the NHS's time testing your sports equipment.

 

[confusedcyclist]

If you were a pro, it might be helpful, otherwise for the average punter it's simply conspicuous consumption.

If you want to go faster, pedal harder.

I started out buying every bike gadget I could get my hands on, now I prefer to keep it simple and just enjoy the ride.

If you abosulately have to try one, how about picking one up used, and when you work out it does nothing to add value to your life, sell it without making a loss.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Not wearing one but the readings some monitors produce are inaccurate and if you have a underlying health condition and the readings are inaccurate that could lead to a dangerous situation.

You could also have an underlying health condition and not wear a HRM.

Don't waste the NHS's time testing your sports equipment.

Very much this although, on an actual reasoned visit to mine last year. The ECG HR (low 30's) wasn't much different from the resting HR I took with a garmin chest strap that morning.

The doc actually came in to check I did sport and that it wasn't as such for any other reason

 

[Ajax Bay]

I would test the accuracy of the monitor, maybe go to the your GP and ask for them to check your HR and then see what the monitor says.
It might not be accurate and there are reports of these monitors being dangerous if you have underlying health conditions.

Have you used a heart rate monitor @Kevin Alexander ? Have you tried to get your GP to 'test' it? Have you taken your pulse by hand over a minute (say) and see if the read out is roughly the same?
What about backing up that by linking to the 'reports'? Otherwise what many, including me, will remain shall I put it gently, 'unconvinced' by your warning that HRMs might be dangerous. Perfectly reasonable and sensible for people to check with their GP before starting on a higher level or rate of physical exercise, but that's peripheral to the use of an HRM.

 

[Kevin Alexander]

Have you used a heart rate monitor @Kevin Alexander ? Have you tried to get your GP to 'test' it? Have you taken your pulse by hand over a minute (say) and see if the read out is roughly the same?
What about backing up that by linking to the 'reports'? Otherwise what many, including me, will remain shall I put it gently, 'unconvinced' by your warning that HRMs might be dangerous. Perfectly reasonable and sensible for people to check with their GP before starting on a higher level or rate of physical exercise, but that's peripheral to the use of an HRM.

I get my HR tested at regular hospital appointments and have used a hrm before but not regularly as I tend to go by power

I'm sure you can Google the reports of hr monitors and fitness bands being inaccurate as there have been many although I haven't read any reports on the OP traxker. Fit bit was the last hrm I read about.

If I was starting to exercise and go by my heart rate I would seem expert advice from my gp so don't think it's a waste of time (I would use the results and compare against my monitor) I wouldn't go purely for a comparison

 

[boydj]

I would test the accuracy of the monitor, maybe go to the your GP and ask for them to check your HR and then see what the monitor says.

It might not be accurate and there are reports of these monitors being dangerous if you have underlying health conditions.

I think GPs have better things to do than checking the accuracy of heart monitors.

By all means, if you are unfit or have health problems get checked out by the doctor to make sure it is safe to start a program of vigorous exercise.

While heart monitors may not be 100% accurate, your main use will be for comparison purposes over time and maybe to make sure you stay within limits on individual rides.