Garmin

[Thisonepotato]

I currently use a Xoss computer, speed sensor and cadence sensor on my bike on the basis that I do not need maps and for the cost it is flawless.

I have just bought a Garmin Forerunner 745 watch and quite like the idea of tracking training status and also using the watch for workouts but for this to be effective I need it to record everything I do on the bike, running and in the pool.

For outdoor rides it says I need a power meter to get this working. What is the cheapest option for a power meter. This is an new term to me. I am guessing changing out the Xoss for a Garmin unit wont do it.

Any help appreciated.

[gazza285]

Never bothered with a power meter myself, I am quite happy with the data supplied without one, plus I ride more than one bicycle, and I'm not prepared to spend that much on something I'm not that interested in.

[anonymous-user]

The Vector 3 power meter would sync to the 745, Could be a bit of a faff if you wanted to see power as you rode rather than to analyse afterwards though. I have the single pedal power meter and I find it pretty’s good.

[anonymous-user]

The Vector 3 power meter would sync to the 745, Could be a bit of a faff if you wanted to see power as you rode rather than to analyse afterwards though. I have the single pedal power meter and I find it pretty’s good.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 7th February 07:26

[frisbee]

Cheapest is going to be a something like a Stages or 4iii crank, £300-ish, but only measures left leg power and doubles it. Then single power meter pedal, again doubles measurement of 1 leg, £4-500. Then £600-1000 for a crank or dual pedals.

[numtumfutunch]

If you're asking as vaguely as this you really dont need a power meter

However Im a late adopter and love mine
Its a Stages and works as a replacement left crank arm, cost just under 300 squids

Honestly though you really dont need one
Use the Garmin to track speed and distance and youll be fine

Background: Im a decent club level cyclist who sticks a number on their back sometimes
Ive 'been there and done that' and until a few years ago diligently tracked my heart rate on the bike
And then my HR belt gave up and I stopped and didnt miss it
Having said that I have a decent enough feel for whats sensible on the bike and enjoyed the freedom of not being a slave to my HR

And then I discovered power
I have a club mate who is as slavishly boring as Froomey riding with his but Im not quite so dull

Mine serves 2 purposes
Its primarily a fuel guage, I know exactly how much I can burn and still get home
Its also a good training tool and on my own I mix things up in different power zones and am consequently faster, its also great on the turbo in winter

But if youre not sure you need a power meter then you probably dont

Cheers

[boyse7en]

Do you need a power meter, or do you just want to track speed and distance? A Garmin watch will do that, and then you can tag it as a cycle ride on Garmin Connect or sync it to Strava and do it there.
That will give you rudimentary estimates of power if you really need it.

[Thisonepotato]

Thanks all. Very useful information to digest.

I really am not bothered about knowing my watts I like to know I have cycled xxKM and it’s taken me xxhr. Which my XOSS does fine.

I wanted to use the watch to record all excercise and for all sessions to be included in the training status, training suggestions and also in the recovery data. Garmin are telling me in order to include a cycle in this I have to ride with heart rate and power.

[tendown]

I have long used garmins training status and recovery times for running. I run and cycle and as you say it doesn't include these without a power meter, which was annoying.

For me though I normally ran to train, and cycling was commuting (10miles each way). So the running was generally higher intensity and more varied and the watch feedback helped. I got used to the added effect commuting.

I have since got a 4iii power meter and its definitely a nice to have for me not a must. I don't regret getting it though.

So if you're mainly a runner training for running and do a bit of cycling on the side, and want to save the money for bouncy trainers then don't bother with a power meter. Otherwise if you have money to spend and are more of a cyclist, then get one.

[yellowjack]

Thisonepotato said:

Thanks all. Very useful information to digest.

I really am not bothered about knowing my watts I like to know I have cycled xxKM and it’s taken me xxhr. Which my XOSS does fine.

I wanted to use the watch to record all excercise and for all sessions to be included in the training status, training suggestions and also in the recovery data. Garmin are telling me in order to include a cycle in this I have to ride with heart rate and power.

I wouldn't want a watch that was dependent upon connecting to a power metre for it to work. I'm sure it does some of it's more "trick" features better with a power metre, but surely it would record GPS tracks and HR/Distance/Time/Speed data just fine without a power metre?

A power metre is no good to me really. I ride for my own pleasure and just like the GPS watch (I'm still using a Garmin 910XT) to record basic data. So Strava ends up "best guessing" my training load, etc, and being an older watch it doesn't give advice on rest days or training levels.

DCRainmaker is a good source of reviews of wearable and on-the-bike sports tech... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2020/09/garmin-forerun... ...and this review may be able to answer the question.

[random_username]

For outdoor rides, if you have a power meter then most Garmin units can calculate / estimate your Functional Threshold Power (FTP) and your cycling VO2 max.

Without a power meter it will still update your training status / recovery times / intensity minutes etc as long as you record heart rate (either builtin or with a heart rate strap) - just start the garmin at the beginning of your ride using a cycling activity. With an external HR strap you can put it on the bars and see speed / distance / etc albeit a bit smaller than the dedicated computers.

[g7jhp]

I use the 4iii single sided power meters on both my bikes.

Great value for money and 4iii do give good support when I sent the first back after 2 years use they just swapped it out and sent it back FOC.

Knowing the power you are using really helps especially when going uphills when you think you're not going anywhere but are putting out a good power. You can then pace your effort and not over or under do it.