Training Plan...

[velogirl]

I've compared the published power curve for the KK and found it within 10% of my powertap readouts, so I'd say it is useful and reasonably priced. If I didn't have a PM, this method would be my choice.

10% is actully a pretty big deal if you're training with power. Let's say you're doing threshold intervals (2 x 20s) at 240 watts. Training 10% below (at 216 watts) would put you far below threshold so you wouldn't be getting training benefit. Training 10% above (at 264 watts) would probably be impossible so you wouldn't accomplish your workout. This differential would be even more noticeable with shorter intervals since you're at a higher rate of power.

But since you have a PT, why don't you just use that on the trainer rather than replacing or adding another power device? That's one of the nice benefits of a PT -- you can use it on the trainer as well. Of course, you need to know how to adjust your power zones for inside training since they'll be a bit different.

[Cassandra_Cain]

10% is actully a pretty big deal if you're training with power. Let's say you're doing threshold intervals (2 x 20s) at 240 watts. Training 10% below (at 216 watts) would put you far below threshold so you wouldn't be getting training benefit. Training 10% above (at 264 watts) would probably be impossible so you wouldn't accomplish your workout. This differential would be even more noticeable with shorter intervals since you're at a higher rate of power.

But since you have a PT, why don't you just use that on the trainer rather than replacing or adding another power device? That's one of the nice benefits of a PT -- you can use it on the trainer as well. Of course, you need to know how to adjust your power zones for inside training since they'll be a bit different.

10% can be a big deal with power training but realize that at no point have I said I'm riding my trainer and using the KK computer over my powertap.

What I have done is compare the published KK power curve, (http://kurtkinetic.com/pdfs/Power_Curves419.pdf, which indicates the wattage a rider makes at a given speed on the trainer, to my actual powertap readings. In doing so I've found the wattages given in the power curve are within 10% of the power #'s on the powertap.

So my point is that for someone who cannot afford a real power meter, that using a trainer plus the trainer's computer, can be a reasonably priced solution (say about ~$300-350 USD). One that I'd favor over spending $400 on an iBike unit or $600-700 on the polar PM.