Power-ful

I am still working through the concept of training with a power measurement device, a subject I blogged about not long ago. It is a tough choice; SRM’s are too pricey (just see where the price heads when their patent protection ends) and there are too few crank options, Ergomo would require a crank without outboard bearings, and PowerTap has its reliability issues (The Wife’s still blanks in and out with regularity, and seems to be out more than in). And there is the idea that using these devices is “borderline cheating”. But I am slowling coming around towards the dark side and getting closer to throwing it down and getting a power unit.

If I felt lucky I could buy some Accelerade and put my name in to win a pair of Zipp 404’s with a wireless PowerTap. But I think I’ve used up my contest luck (a washing machine and a Jeep Cherokee have come my way through drawings). I bought a pair of Williams System 30 wheels just before the Mt San Bruno hill climb, at a time when Williams was saying that they could not make a deal with Saris to do PowerTaps. Times have changed; if I bought today there is a PowerTap option. So if I give in it will be YASW (Yet Another Set of Wheels) on my dime.

Of course, considering The Wife’s experience I might need a spare to use when the one I buy goes south. Just like Scott Martin writes about in the current issue of RoadBikeRider:

8. SCOTT’S SPIN

Power Outage

Help! I’m powerless.

“Tell us something we don’t know,” say my boss, my IRS auditor and my ex-wife’s lawyer. True enough, but that’s not the kind of power I mean. I’m talking watts, kilojoules, calories.

You see, my 2-month-old power meter died the other day. Evidently I am so powerful that the unit just short-circuited. Smoke poured from the strain gauges in the rear hub, the handlebar-mounted computer display flashed “Uncle!” and . . .

So I’m exaggerating. Actually, one of the contacts on the computer loosened and the unit stopped functioning. I called the company and explained the situation.

“No problem,” said the PowerTap rep. “Just send it back and we’ll fix or replace it.”

“Um, okay,” I replied, suddenly panicked by the thought of being without a gizmo that 3 months ago I disdained as overrated and overpriced. “Could you send me a loaner in the meantime — like when your car breaks down or your iron lung rusts?”

“Sorry, sir, we can’t. We’ll return it to you as soon as possible.”

I briefly considered hand-carrying the unit on a plane, then decided overnight delivery might be more cost-effective. Still, I’d probably be without it for at least a week.

How could this happen? Three months ago I was blissfully power-free. Didn’t even own a heart monitor. Had a cyclecomputer, but couldn’t figure out how to set the time of day. Then my power meter-flouting teammates convinced me to join the bandwagon — largely by crushing me in our weekly workouts.

Now I’m addicted to the instant, accurate feedback a power meter delivers. No more guessing, no more slacking. This wonderful, terrible device inspires me on good days and infuriates me on bad days, but always pushes me to improve.

Maybe I should buy another — for back-up.

(Scott Martin wrote feature articles for Bicycling magazine for a dozen years. He lives and rides in Northern California.)