The Power Meter Handbook: A User’s Guide for Cyclists and Triathletes

slight changes found in testing over the course of a season. These changes are more likely the result of how tired or rested you are when testing; they could also be due to factors such as diet, air temperature, and even motivation, rather than how fit you are. Heart rate zones are quite constant. They change very little.
    In contrast, power zones may vary a lot during a season. And that’s a good thing. As your endurance fitness improves, you are capable of achieving greater power outputs at any given heart rate. (In Chapter 7 , I’ll show you how to use this change to measure aerobic fitness improvement.) This means your power zones will change significantly as your fitness changes— yet your heart rate zones will remain unchanged. The two sets of zones may be about the same early in the season when fitness is at a low point. In other words, in the early base period when you are riding in heart rate zone 2, you may also be in power zone 2, although they still won’t match exactly. But in the build period, shortly before your first targeted race, you may be in heart rate zone 2 but power zone 3. Don’t be freaked out by this. It’s a goodthing and will help you understand why to gauge intensity, we will use power zones, rather than heart rate, in most of your training.
MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL
    One of the great benefits of training with power comes from examining the graphs after the workout is over. In doing this, you can see if you are achieving the markers of race readiness you’ve set for yourself. You will be able to answer the questions “Am I becoming more fit?” and “What should I do next in my training?” This is analysis. It can be a very simple process involving a brief glance at certain graphs, or it can be highly complex activity with nearly as much time spent analyzing the data as it took to create it on a ride. If you do no analysis at all, then there is little reason to have a power meter. In that case, it’s just an expensive accessory on your handlebars.
Do You Need Power Software?
    The answer to that question is “yes.” You definitely need software to make your power meter a complete tool for better athletic performance. In the remainder of this book, I’ll show you how to quickly view your workout data so that you can see how you’re doing. It’s not hard or confusing or complicated. Anyone can do it who knows what to look for and how to use a computer. Viewing your data also doesn’t have to take a lot of time. A five-minute look at a few key reports after each ride, or even every few days, will reveal all you need to know.
    The greater question has to do with what software you should use. Appendix C lists all the power software available as of this writing. Your power meter probably came with analysis software; you may have already loaded it and taken a look at some of your workouts. I’m sure the data looks confusing. But don’t give up. It will all begin to make sense over time. This book will help.
    Understand that not all software shows everything I’ll explain in later chapters. And some charts on your software won’t be covered here. All of the metrics described in this book are found in the TrainingPeaks and WKO+ software (both available at TrainingPeaks.com ). If you want to use software that shows exactly what is covered here, then these are good options. TrainingPeaks is an online software service, so all of your data is stored on its servers. You must have Internet access to use the service, but it’s available from any computer. WKO+ is a desktop application, and the data is stored on your computer’s hard drive. With WKO+ you may also upload it to TrainingPeaks for backup in case something goes wrong with your computer. WKO+ is compatible only with PCs; it can’t be used with a Mac unless you have virtualization software that enables Windows software to run on a Mac.
What About a Coach?
    Some riders strongly dislike anything to do with analysis. They want to know how they are training and what they can do to get fitter and faster, but they don’t want to even glance at software charts and graphs. My wife is one such person—a strong rider who has no interest in analysis. She has me to help (I hope that’s not the only reason she keeps me around!). If you’d like help, I highly recommend hiring a coach to do your analysis and planning. I’ve trained hundreds of cycling, triathlon, and mountain bike coaches to use the methods explained here. You can find