PowerTap

One of the best investments I made last year was purchasing a PowerTap Pro S/L (used) from a friend. I bought it last July and used it for my late season races to measure and dial in my race-day output on the bike. Through it I was able to accurately measure (in real time) just how hard I was pushing it on the bike and whether or not I needed to push or pull back my intensity. At VQ we train primarily using power so I’m excited to go through a whole race season knowing exactly where my power output range lies and how hard I can hammer it out there.

I'm also working my way through the book "Training and Racing with a Power Meter".

Power meters are rapidly becoming an invaluable part of training and racing among professional cyclists and triathletes, amateurs looking for a competitive edge, and gear fiends. For coaches and athletes, these devices offer enormous potential for targeting and timing training to realize a rider's goals. Yet few athletes or coaches understand how to interpret the data for optimal results, and few do more than consider the possibility of wattage training. Training and Racing with a Power Meter decrypts the layers of information and explains how to begin a program that effectively integrates power. Hunter Allen and Andrew Coggan have conducted extensive research and consulted with manufacturers to deliver the most sophisticated and scientific approach to training on the market, allowing riders to tap every last watt of power. The book includes cogent case studies, sample power workouts, and a chapter on the future of training and racing with these indispensable devices.