Power cranks?

Why not? Power meters seem to be a popular way for cyclists to train nowadays. The rationale is that other aspects of riding, such as speed, vary too much according to factors beyond the rider\’s control.

Let\’s take a look at speed. I\’ve seen that my average speed on any ride can vary quite a lot according to wind conditions. I seldom get to ride in hill country, but when I do, my pace really suffers.

Training by power, it is said, does away with these variables. Regardless of your forward speed, if you can consistently crank out X more watts than you could two months ago, you\’ve made progress.

Power Cranks are designed to let you work your legs independently of each other, even while riding a bicycle. They\’re said to be good for developing the core. Power Cranks even let you pedal both legs in the same direction at the same time!

The downside to power meters, by all I\’ve heard, is their cost. A few years ago I was considering buying one of the least costly models, and even that was about $800. Before I made my move, I had to have a root canal, and I was forced to put my money where my mouth is!

Before starting to ride/train \”by instrument\”, it\’s advisable to do some tests to determine your heart rate zones and power zones. Otherwise, all these monitors are likely to me nothing more than \”expensive toys\”. I want more bang for my buck than that!