Discussion
I've done a little search but all old topics, I've got a carbon best aggressive road bike that runs sram red and a tri bike that I'm converting from dura ace to red.
This has me looking at power,namely quarq because of the red chainset and the ability for me to swap between bikes easily enough.
My head unit is a touring edge so won't display power but I also wear my 920xt at all times.
Is power worth the outlay, I'm moving from middle to full distance iron this year as well as hoping to GB age group 70.3
Talk to me peddlers.
This has me looking at power,namely quarq because of the red chainset and the ability for me to swap between bikes easily enough.
My head unit is a touring edge so won't display power but I also wear my 920xt at all times.
Is power worth the outlay, I'm moving from middle to full distance iron this year as well as hoping to GB age group 70.3
Talk to me peddlers.
Yes, it is worth it, provided you have some idea (whether from a coach or otherwise) of how to use it in a structured way that will help you improve.
As for the mechanics of swapping, it is a three minute job. You need a calibrated torque wrench that runs to 60Nm or so. And you need the same type of bottom bracket in each frame, which can be slightly tricky if the tracks are built around different BB standards; you'll need adapters and some are better than others.
As for the mechanics of swapping, it is a three minute job. You need a calibrated torque wrench that runs to 60Nm or so. And you need the same type of bottom bracket in each frame, which can be slightly tricky if the tracks are built around different BB standards; you'll need adapters and some are better than others.
It is a bit annoying switching them though. I did it for a while, then just bought another one as it was irritating me.
Your best bet is probably to go and get more aerodynamic rather than anything else as a first point of call. Plenty of places offering that service (inc Aerocoach) that will make more difference to your bike times than anything else.
Your best bet is probably to go and get more aerodynamic rather than anything else as a first point of call. Plenty of places offering that service (inc Aerocoach) that will make more difference to your bike times than anything else.
E91 Gaz said:
Switching is a big deal, until funds allow. As for aero I've had bike fits etc,it's more the data I'm interested in.
I find I'm quite lazy when RACING, if I know my threshold maintenance I think I'll be more inclined to maintain it rather than currently using speed and HR
You won't be aero I should think. Bike fits are nearly all rubbish if you want to be aerodynamic, you need someone that knows what they are doing in that space. Very few do.I find I'm quite lazy when RACING, if I know my threshold maintenance I think I'll be more inclined to maintain it rather than currently using speed and HR
When you are racing, given you'll always be riding threshold then I can't see how you can be lazy if you're holding threshold HR? All a powermeter will do is confirm that, and some days the watts will be better than others depending on condition.
Anyway, I've got two of the units you're talking about, they are good IMO, very few issues with mine, and data is good and reliable.
okgo said:
It is a bit annoying switching them though. I did it for a while, then just bought another one as it was irritating me.
Yes, been down that road too. In fact your post reminded me of that fact and I've just spent the last 30 mins looking at Quarq spiders that I can put onto my last non-Quarq crankset...!But to jump in at the off with 2 PMs seems excessive.
When racing I find the Quarq most useful for making me back off during the first third of the bike and stay on it during the final third. I think if I were to ride at threshold HR I'd not have a good last quarter/fifth of the ride and then have a painful and slow run. It's the first part of the bike leg where I think you can do most unintentional damage to your race plan, and a PM really helps there.
Like you I think that's were I suffer, it's always the same with excitement in the first 3rd of the bike leg followed my slowly dwindling.
HR is a little erratic due to race nerves etc on the bigger races, it's seems more like I've already sold myself now just trying to justify it.
Ref head unit, I've yet to use my touring edge to its benefits, is it worth switching out / downgrade / upgrade to a 520 for simplicity ?
That is impressive assuming it'll work with the quarq to save me keep looking at my 920xt
HR is a little erratic due to race nerves etc on the bigger races, it's seems more like I've already sold myself now just trying to justify it.
Ref head unit, I've yet to use my touring edge to its benefits, is it worth switching out / downgrade / upgrade to a 520 for simplicity ?
That is impressive assuming it'll work with the quarq to save me keep looking at my 920xt
I've used the Cyclops Joule head units for ages. Big numbers, easy to read and lots of metrics. Having average power, NP and instant power, plus time/gradient/cadence and some others is useful. The old yellow Joule 2.0 come up on eBay sometimes and are plenty good enough.
Personally I wouldn't use a watch simply because it's not that easy to read and because of the limited number of metrics you can display.
Personally I wouldn't use a watch simply because it's not that easy to read and because of the limited number of metrics you can display.
Power for pacing for middle distance (and plus) is seriously useful. You need to be willing to use it properly thought and not just treat it as another pretty set of numbers.
Swapping cranks takes about 2 mins. Piece of cake. You do NOT need a calibrated torque wrench. It needs to be tight enough not to fall apart and unless you have a long lever, you'll struggle to overtighten. Just make it tight.
You don't mention the BB standard. Your quarq will be either gxp or BB30. You need to choose carefully depending upon the bb's in each of the bikes, and change BBs/add adapters depending. Gxp probably gives you the broadest compatibility.
WRT aerocoach etc, my concern would be an aero fit you can run off.. different positional requirements for an hour flat out vs 5 hrs followed by a marathon. Would hope they could accommodate, but it becomes less about pure aero, so worth consideration.
Swapping cranks takes about 2 mins. Piece of cake. You do NOT need a calibrated torque wrench. It needs to be tight enough not to fall apart and unless you have a long lever, you'll struggle to overtighten. Just make it tight.
You don't mention the BB standard. Your quarq will be either gxp or BB30. You need to choose carefully depending upon the bb's in each of the bikes, and change BBs/add adapters depending. Gxp probably gives you the broadest compatibility.
WRT aerocoach etc, my concern would be an aero fit you can run off.. different positional requirements for an hour flat out vs 5 hrs followed by a marathon. Would hope they could accommodate, but it becomes less about pure aero, so worth consideration.
Totally agree re last paragrapgh, though most people are so poorly optimized that even getting the right helmet could save a huge amount of watts, you’d never know that without being able to try the ten they have at the track back to back. Obviously I don’t have to concern myself with running after events, but the amount of power I’ve saved over the last 3 years of aero work probably getting on towards 50 watts now, which is a huge amount. And it will be even more for people with lower FTP’s than me.
I think many people don’t consider this to be a worthwhile use of money vs various trinkets they can buy, but its about the best bang for buck out there.
I think many people don’t consider this to be a worthwhile use of money vs various trinkets they can buy, but its about the best bang for buck out there.
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