Power for the masses

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Fri Oct 19, 2012 7:20 pm

The latest offering from Cyclops http://www.cycleops.com/en/products/pow ... gory_id=25

Another reviewers test http://www.wheelsuckers.co.uk/profiles/ ... s-powercal

mikeh · Post by **mikeh** » Sun Oct 21, 2012 2:40 pm

Looks a bit interesting this. I've read everything I can about the PowerCal but has anyone got any 'real life experience' of it?

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Sun Oct 21, 2012 3:42 pm

I will have by Wednesday, but not much

that is if Wiggle deliver it on time

Have you seen this one Mike ? http://bikehabit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07 ... rq-is.html

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:13 pm

Also these Mike
http://teamrodrigo.com/2011/06/27/the-c ... -powercal/
http://teamrodrigo.com/2012/07/20/ridin ... -powercal/
http://teamrodrigo.com/2012/07/23/compa ... -powertap/

mikeh · Post by **mikeh** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:59 pm

Great stuff. If it is as good as all the write-ups say it'll be a must have. It will be interesting to hear how you get on with it.

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:39 pm

Will do Mike, at that price I'm not expecting miracles and I'm under no illusion what so ever that it will equal the systems like Phil uses as its 25-30 times less money. I'm not even worried if the figures are not 100%, but if they are close and repeatable and i can see increment gains for the effort put in, I will be happy with the product, it is NOT a power "meter" and CyclOps do not market it as such, this is where i believe the odd couple of bad reviews have come into view by people who buy a budget item, expecting SRM performance, im afraid "you pays your money and you takes your pick". At the end of the day if its useless its still a HRM strap for little more money than a Garmin one and apparently more comfortable

Cyan Skymoos · Post by **Cyan Skymoos** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:05 pm

"The algorithms in PowerCal translate heart rate data into the vernacular of power based training" Doesn't sound like a fun winter on the bike to me.

PhilBixby · Post by **PhilBixby** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:08 pm

"the vernacular of power based training" = cake.

Fun is where ya find it!

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:11 pm

This will be my 3rd winter on a bike Darren, and fun, winter and bike are three words ive so far not connected, so no change there then

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 3:15 pm

For those interested in the performance of the CycleOps PowerCal, Phils SRM came out at Normalised 187w and the PowerCal 176w http://connect.garmin.com/activity/237501435

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 3:40 pm

It is very difficult to compare the power outputs of 2 people never mind 2 people using separate systems and these comparisons are to be taken just as they are purely figures, Phil probably did output more power as im sure he will have spent longer on the front, the post was really only to show output from the 1 st outing of the new toy and a comparison as at the price i think several people are interested in the PowerCal, 1st impressions was the PowerCal comfortable ?, what PowerCal. Was it accurate ? Who knows i certainly dont know. will it be repeatable ? Who Knows, but for £76 delivered im willing to carry on testing it

and

Cyan Skymoos · Post by **Cyan Skymoos** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 4:04 pm

The ride took 3 hours then it took 4 hours to decipher all the information

I wonder what others average cadence is, 70's seems low to me, I was told to spin when I started, don't know why, up in the high 90's probably?

mikeh · Post by **mikeh** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:35 pm

Melly, did you take all of your info from the Garmin including cadence and just the HR/Power from the PowerCal or did you use the PowerCal speed/cadence sensor too?

PhilBixby · Post by **PhilBixby** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:09 pm

"I wonder what others average cadence is, 70's seems low to me, I was told to spin when I started, don't know why, up in the high 90's probably?"

For the same ride mine was just under 90, but then I've had a few more long unpleasant winters than Melly to work at spinning. The reading I've done suggests that if you've got natural aerobic talent - ie you can shift lots of oxygen - then you're best spinning the highest gear you can to save your muscles working too hard, whereas if your aerobic ability is less, then you'll tend to keep your cadence a bit lower and rely on leg strength a bit more. Hence the best riders - like you! - tend to (often) use higher cadences, because they can, whereas the rest of us would be puffing and blowing. Generally it's good to turn as high a cadence as works for you, but for some that'll be higher than for others....

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:14 pm

Mike, all data was from the Garmin, i believe the optional speed/sensor is only required when using the CycleOps head unit, also the calibration stick is no longer needed on the next gen release although i seems some sellers are trying to offload old stock with this included, development of the algorithm makes calibration redundant. Uploading all the data to Golden Cheetah (GNU Free) or Training Peaks ($129 or hack the 14 day trial offer, quite simple on the understanding of course if you use the full version and like it you will purchase it

) is simple or via Garmin for less detail.