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These are also the guys behind TrainingPeaks, the number one Triathlon On-line Workout log (which offers training analysis, training plans, and more in the paid version) and their principles are also used in the WKO+ and Golden Cheetah training analysis computer programs. With their backgrounds in training and sports science, being authors of many scientific publications, the metrics and plots they propose have a high probability of making sense. Therefore, it is very interesting to start looking at what is going on in the cycling world, and Allen and Hunter are a good starting point.
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The real thing that is measured is the force accelerating the flywheel and the power you put into keeping the flywheel spinning. Another good reason is that on the erg, the concept of “distance” and “split” is an illusion. In rowing, these data will become available for those who invest in power measuring devices (like SmartOar, the products offered by Sweetzpot, and NK’s Empower Oarlock) and I think it is really time that rowers start basing their training analysis on power and force data, rather than on “splits”. But because of the stochastic nature of the data (which is a fancy way of saying that there is a large random spread in the data), cyclists had to find ways to make the data collected with their power meters meaningful, using statistics. Finally some real data that could be compared from ride to ride. The introduction of the power meter gave cyclists data on average power, instantaneous power, average pedal force, and cadence. In road cycling absolute speed doesn’t mean a lot. Also here, it may be hard to execute a maximum effort 20 minute ride on flat terrain (unless you ride in a velodrome, of course). In cycling there are traffic lights, wind, climbs, descents, and other obstacles. Also, the length of your rowing water may make it difficult to row a straight 20 minute row. Where on the erg you can dial up your 8x500m and row like a machine, in OTW rowing there is wind, stream, turns, chop, coaching launches wakes and other things that make OTW rowing a bit more adventurous (and harder to quantify). A nice site to start to read about what’s available for cyclists is DC Rainmaker’s blog about triathlon/cycling tech.Īn interesting parallel between cycling and rowing is that there are natural obstacles that make structured training messy. I have been reading through cycling and triathlon oriented discussion groups and there are many discussions on the use of power meters for training optimization, post-race analysis and other topics. Introduction – why Power measuring is coolĬycling has been in the “dark” ages for a long time, but since power meter systems have become affordable, many riders use them. We can measure speed with an impeller or a GPS unit, but data extraction was hard and analysis not really open to the general public.
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On the erg, we have had power measurements for decennia, and since the Concept2 PM3 (and RowPro) we’ve had the ability to extract data from our rows and analyze them.
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Regarding power measuring, rowing is a funny sport. The book is an interesting read for rowers, because I believe that power measurement systems for rowers are about to make the jump from Olympians (and state coaches) to the general rowing public, which means Masters rowers, and club and college programs. A few weeks ago, I ordered “ Wattmessung im Radsport und Triathlon“, the German translation of the book “ Training and Racing with a Power Meter” by Hunter Allen and Andrew Coggan.