Source
r/Velo•
HatesWinterTraining

Track racers: what data do you collect and analyse? Also, power meter for road AND track?

An indoor velodrome finally opened near me, so I'm planning on taking up track racing this winter. I'm quite data-driven and curious about the differences between road and track.

So, my first question is what data do you guys collect and analyse from track sessions? Presumably GPS doesn't work too well indoors? Is power data as valuable on the track, or can you infer it more accurately from speed?

Secondly, I'm looking to buy a new power meter and considering future compatibility. I currently have a PowerTap, which I bought because it was cheap and competent, but now that I have more than one set of wheels I'm looking to replace it with something more versatile. I'm almost decided on a Power2Max, but not sure if I can use a road chainset on a track bike?

Posted May 19, 2015, 4:57 PM UTC

217
jackmottAeroweenie•

There is no adequate solution for road and track power meter. Stages can do it but the limitations of stages 1 sided power will be an especially big deal for track events.

Either just get one for your road bike and use lap times as your measure of pacing and progress on the track, or get two power meters.

3
rockenrenoCalifornia•

There is no adequate solution for road and track power meter.

That's not correct. The Garmin Vectors can easily be swapped between bikes. I use them on both my road and track bikes.

1
ttoc6University of Washington•

Another thing you need to consider is that you are not allowed to see your data during the race. Put the Garmin on the seatpost, or upside down on the stem.

Get cadence / speed sensors to collect that data since GPS is unreliable at the track (due to indoors and the quick changes in speed). And try to get separate ones if you can find them. Mount the speed sensor on the fork. It allows for you to change out wheels / cogs easier in the back since you are going to have differing amounts of chain slack (and thus spacing from seat tube) with different gear combinations.

2
kinboyatuwo•

The new Garmin cadence and speed sensors solve that issue. They are easy to move between bikes.

1
Flacvest•

All the speed sensors are "easy" to move, it's about not having to move them in the first place. Which is why he suggested putting it on the front.

The last thing you want to do is swap wheels and forget it isn't on there; is it drastic? No, but it's lost info that might have been really useful down the road.

1
kinboyatuwo•

Yes but the new one is a 10 second swap with o issues about worrying about magnets, zip ties and fit. Yes you can forget, you can also then put it on the front and need another for cadence.

I have yet to see a rider at a track with it on the front with a Garmin. The guys running a front sensor are running old school comps.

1
HatesWinterTrainingOP•

Interesting, I wasn't aware of that. Is that for safety or out of tradition?

Presumably heart rate isn't terribly useful either for most track races due to the quick changes in pace and short duration efforts?

1
ttoc6University of Washington•

Not 100% positive, but probably more on the safety side in mass start. I know that for pursuit races they are more strict about it though, and that is probably the tradition part.

Someone who has been racing track for longer than I have should chime I here to answer this though!

1
rockenrenoCalifornia•

I use my Garmin Vectors for collecting power data at the track. I feel like it reads too high in general on the track so I mostly use it for cadence. I would say skip the power meter at first, but cadence is useful to evaluate your gearing.

1
devilpants•

I'm just waiting for power meter prices to drop. At like $400-500 I'd add something to my track bike and leave it there or swap it between my trainer bike and track. Right now I just get speed/cadence but honestly never look at it.

I have powertap on my trainer and a quarq on my road bike.

I feel like if I got track power data it would be good for seeing if I'm hitting certain numbers and what it takes to say win off a solo 3/4 lap sprint and work on improving those numbers.

1
vertr•

I use my Stages Rival on a SRAM Omnium when at the track. Then it goes back to my cross bike when not needed. The downside is I'm using a 172.5 track crank which may or may not work for your velodrome. There is a minor Q-factor difference because of the mismatched arms, but I've never noticed a difference and I know other people using this setup.

Don't use a road crank at the track. Its the wrong BCD, 144 vs 110 or 130. Power2Max has a track specific meter, but that seems like a waste unless you are really serious about the track. The money would probably be better spent on carbon wheels.

Honestly though, I've found the data I've accumulated at the track is not all that useful for training. Maybe do some racing first before looking at meters and stick with a good cadence sensor.

0†
whiskey06•

I want to do this with my Omniums, but I've heard that Stages has different firmware for the road and track. Have you noticed anything?

3
kinboyatuwo•

I have read a few times stages may not be amazing for track (I have stages on my road bike) due to it not being awesome at power spikes and single leg impacts. People tend to have a "launch leg" that they prefer to lead out with that can cause some variance.

Just stuff picked up on forums etc. I love mine on the road.

2
vertr•

I haven't noticed anything weird, but I've never used a track specific meter to compare.

0
mountainslayer•

First time I've ever heard PowerTap described as cheap...

-1
deltree000•

When they changed the branding from Cycleops (yellow logos) to a more standalone Powertap (orange logos), lots of dealers slashed the prices of the older models. The more obscure models like track and MTB were going insanely cheap on various websites and eBay.

3
HatesWinterTrainingOP•

Well, relatively speaking. I picked it up second hand, so it was about half the price of a new PowerTap and significantly cheaper than any other power meter or a nice set of wheels.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-3