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Slow move to power...
Last Post 06/06/2017 12:54 PM by Nicholas Arenella. 7 Replies.
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Nick A

Posts:625

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04/23/2017 10:36 AM
Every so often, I kind of do a bigger spend on the bike. Decided to go for budget power. The left crank arm only thing. To spread out the pain, I bought what I needed first...then will send the left arm to get the strain gauge attached... Had to update from Polar to Garmin, new crankset and bottom bracket, then went ahead with new chain and cassette. And of course, this is when my saddle decided to let go at a seam. Mostly "budget" Ultegra, but my butt is nicely used to a not so cheap Selle Italia Flite. LOL. I'm hoping that maybe posting my rides to Facebook, will shame me into a few more rides. Over the last couple of weeks, I've done a 30, 50 and 60 mile ride. The 30 included a crap load of climbing. So not setting the world on fire, but not being a couch potato.
huckleberry

Posts:824

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04/24/2017 08:38 AM
What does power have to do with riding a bike ; )
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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04/24/2017 03:08 PM
I'm on a slow more to power (I hope). I better be able to deliver power to both cranks by September. On my entirely electronics free fix gear. (Do blinkies count?)

I need enough power to get me from Sisters Oregon to Crater Lake and back. The watts don't matter. Making it into camp each day does.

Need to go off and ride. A necessary part of the "slow move".

Ben
Nick A

Posts:625

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04/25/2017 08:21 AM
I'm very slow to adopt new technology. One reason is philosophical, the other financial. But after finally getting a computer with heart rate 10 years ago, I have been using the display as motivation. So, decided having another metric might help. With the 4iii solution at "only" a "few" hundred dollars, decided, what the hell. But I totally understand eschewing the whole thing.

Nick
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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04/25/2017 01:31 PM
Good for you, Nick....using a power meter is a great way to improve your cycling. Just remember that it is a tool...it won't make you any faster / stronger by just using it. You need to understand what the numbers mean.

Given what you are using it for, i don't think you need to resort to doing threshold tests, etc, however. I would recommend just riding around for a few weeks on it and note what your power levels are for certain efforts. Sign up for the free version of Training Peaks so you can download and review your data.

If I can help answer any questions, fire away!!
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
Nick A

Posts:625

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04/26/2017 09:12 AM
Thanks CK. Yeah, I haven't "trained" in years. It's more about self-motivation and improvement.

Nick
Nick A

Posts:625

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06/05/2017 08:14 AM
Well, got the power meter installed and paired. Time to check it out. You have to send the crank out, and it'll only work on certain models. Long story, long, I had to upgrade the crank and bottom bracket from octalink, so I didn't get to it right away, even after it arrived, I just kept the old stuff on the bike for a bit.

N
Nick A

Posts:625

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06/06/2017 12:54 PM
One of those days where I need to find a nice solid wall to beat my head against. Power meter seems to be working. This Garmin is my first computer that recharges, rather uses a replacable NiCad. I guess when it just sits, even turned off, and only for few days, it dies. Lasted 5 minutes. And oh yeah, the new cranks (whatever this latest Shimano "improvement" is called) where the left arm clamps around the large diameter hollow axle. It's sticks out a couple millimeters more at the BB than on the right side, or the old octalink set up on either side. So for my super duck feet, I have to adjust my Speedplay cleats. You know, turning a set screw the size of an eyeglass screw, that's full of grit and mated to mushed plastic threads. ARRGGHHH! (OK, good news is, my knees, for a couple of minutes don't seem to care about the slight adjustment.) And of course, you gotta raise the seat a little, and then down, and then up....after you had to tweak the clamp, because it bottomed out on the rails before 100% tight...even though you replaced the Selle Italia saddle with the same brand, but the rails had a slightly different profile.

When I quit track/cross country in high school 35 years ago to race bikes, my coach explained how pure running was (no "equipment"). Too bad I detest running so much.

Well, I THINK it's pretty close right now. I got the work out equivalent of walking the dogs, but I guess it's all first world problems.

Nick
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