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The Power Meter Handbook: A User's Guide for Cyclists and Triathletes
In The Power Meter Handbook , Joe Friel offers cyclists and triathletes a simple user’s guide to using a power meter for big performance gains. In simple language, the most trusted coach in endurance sports makes understanding a power meter easy, no advanced degrees or tech savvy required.
Cyclists and triathletes will master the basics to reveal how powerful they are. Focusing on their most important data, they’ll discover hidden power, refine their pacing, and find out how many matches they can burn on any given day.
Once they understand the fundamentals, Friel will show how to apply his proven training approach to gain big performance in road races, time trials, triathlons, and century rides.
With The Power Meter Handbook , riders
Power meters aren’t just for the pros or racers anymore. Now The Power Meter Handbook makes it easy for any cyclist or triathlete to find new speed with cycling’s most advanced gear.
Cyclists and triathletes will master the basics to reveal how powerful they are. Focusing on their most important data, they’ll discover hidden power, refine their pacing, and find out how many matches they can burn on any given day.
Once they understand the fundamentals, Friel will show how to apply his proven training approach to gain big performance in road races, time trials, triathlons, and century rides.
With The Power Meter Handbook , riders
Power meters aren’t just for the pros or racers anymore. Now The Power Meter Handbook makes it easy for any cyclist or triathlete to find new speed with cycling’s most advanced gear.
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
177 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 20, 2014
Required reading if you bike, own a power meter, and are serious about improving your speed and fitness. The book focuses more on making the most of your power meter and individual workouts. There is only a little information on how to build a whole training schedule. For that you should read one of Friel's "Training Bible" books.
In the credits Joe Friel recommends "Training and Racing with a Power Meter" by Allen & Coggan, going so far as to refer to it as "the most comprehensive description of the topic." I haven't read Dr Coggan's book yet, so I cannot compare the two.
In the credits Joe Friel recommends "Training and Racing with a Power Meter" by Allen & Coggan, going so far as to refer to it as "the most comprehensive description of the topic." I haven't read Dr Coggan's book yet, so I cannot compare the two.
September 9, 2020
Easy to read and the basics were clearly explained
July 8, 2018
I think the book may be good to a beginner, but seasoned riders will not benefit much. The book is outdated and most of the concepts it gives as a breakthrough use of powermeter, became an industry standard nowadays. It spends 2/3 of the book trying to convince me why I should start using a powermeter, while the main reason I read a book was that I already have one. Explanations of the key performance metrics were good, but rest of the book is very superficial. Training advises are vague and hardly can be used to plan you training plan - there are better books for that. All in all, I am disappointed.
If you are an experienced rider who already uses powermeter on a daily basis for a while, don't waste your time on it.
If you are a novice who just acquired a powermeter, or thinks about acquiring one, read it, it will not harm - the language is good, some concepts explained well. But be ready that you will finish the book with more questions than when you started.
If you are an experienced rider who already uses powermeter on a daily basis for a while, don't waste your time on it.
If you are a novice who just acquired a powermeter, or thinks about acquiring one, read it, it will not harm - the language is good, some concepts explained well. But be ready that you will finish the book with more questions than when you started.
January 3, 2024
Intended for competitive cyclists (i.e.. road racers, triathletes), explaining how to utilize a power meter to serve as the basis for their training.
Missing from the discussion is the power meter itself, which ends up mostly being a good thing. The book is a few years old, so any mention of specific products would be woefully out of date, while the interpretation of the numbers hasn't changed. The downside is that for people looking to get started, there is no guidance on what type of power meter would be best for them, let alone details of what to look for when comparing products.
To get any use out of the book, software such as TrainingPeaks must be used to analyze the data in order to properly track progress and plan future workouts. While essential to optimize performance, this may be daunting and overkill for the casual rider.
Missing from the discussion is the power meter itself, which ends up mostly being a good thing. The book is a few years old, so any mention of specific products would be woefully out of date, while the interpretation of the numbers hasn't changed. The downside is that for people looking to get started, there is no guidance on what type of power meter would be best for them, let alone details of what to look for when comparing products.
To get any use out of the book, software such as TrainingPeaks must be used to analyze the data in order to properly track progress and plan future workouts. While essential to optimize performance, this may be daunting and overkill for the casual rider.
August 4, 2019
Useful if now very dated introduction to the use of power meters in cycling.
This was probably the first mass market book dealing with the subject and it now shows (in an environment where power meter usage is widely accepted and would be ubiquitous were it not for price).
Friel spends far too long on the basics and the need for a power meter and too little detailing how to actually use one.
What it is useful for is the complete novice to the subject or someone contemplating taking the plunge with one - relatively speaking the cost of the book is trivial compared to the technology so it’s worth considering in fact-finding mode.
This was probably the first mass market book dealing with the subject and it now shows (in an environment where power meter usage is widely accepted and would be ubiquitous were it not for price).
Friel spends far too long on the basics and the need for a power meter and too little detailing how to actually use one.
What it is useful for is the complete novice to the subject or someone contemplating taking the plunge with one - relatively speaking the cost of the book is trivial compared to the technology so it’s worth considering in fact-finding mode.
July 8, 2020
I'm getting ready to become an indoor cycle instructor and this book has been recommended for those who teach with power. I found this book very helpful. I also found that it gave me at times way more information than I needed. But the author also warned you went that was about to happen. I liked that a chapter was devoted to types of cycling/racing, unfortunately the only racing that I have done and know about, mountain biking, wasn't covered : (
April 24, 2018
This is a comprehensive guide to using a power meter in cycling. The book is already showing its age, despite being only a few years old. In spite of this age, the training advice, discussion of power zones, and clear explanations of the various terminology related to cycling training and power meter usage made the book well worth the read.
December 2, 2020
This little book goes into even more depth and detail than the Triathlete Bible that I had also read. There are some additional workout ideas and a much more descriptive approach to how and why a power meter can help me. It ties in well with the bible that I already have and fits in with Joe's fitness and exercise strategies.
May 22, 2020
A great reference book...read it to get educated, then come back to it as needed.
May 18, 2013
Great book on power meter. I just need to get myself a power meter. To put all that I learn into use.
March 8, 2014
Excellent and quick overview of how to incorporate power into workouts. Will take awhile to synthesize everything, but good nuggets throughout.
September 11, 2014
a must for anyone trying to understand cycling with a power meter. A revelation really
May 28, 2013
Should come with every power meter
December 31, 2015
Not as detailed as the more famous power meter book but easy reading.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews