Power meters are commonplace in the professional peloton, and increasingly so amongst the amateur ranks. But they’re no longer just for the Pros or the exercise physiologists. Measurement of rider power output is now readily accessible to all and is a valuable aid for anyone seeking to understand how best to improve cycling performance for the available training time.

Power measurement, quite simply, tells us the truth about the work we are doing on a bike. It enables us to record how hard we are pedalling, every moment, for the whole or parts of a ride, and over the course of an entire season. It removes guesswork from our training and busts the multitude of training myths that pervade the world of cycling.

Training (and racing) with power provides:

• Objectivity and insight into all factors of cycling performance
• The best means to establish current fitness and track performance changes (know the impact of your training)
• Improved understanding of the demands of target events
• A great means to ensure we train specifically to meet race/event demands
• The best tool for quantifying intensity of effort (the most important factor in training)
• An excellent method to measure, plan and manage training loads and to achieve peak performance when we want it
• A way to ensure the most effective use of your limited training time
• Accountability for both the athlete and their coach, enhancing the coach-athlete relationship
• Additional motivation for training
• A tremendous tool for assessing and improving other key elements of performance, such as aerodynamics, pacing and dietary/nutritional requirements.

Using power measurement effectively requires knowledge of how to make the most of these great tools. Professional cycling Coach Alex Simmons has been training, racing and coaching with power for many years, writes extensively on the subject as well as delivers seminars and lectures around the world.

Turbo Studio Power Sessions are well considered training programs which test your capability and sessions are set according to these tested capabilities. Specific courses and interval work using sound power based training methodologies are employed and programmed.

Clients receive a monthly report on their performance, and can see and track their own improvement providing complete accountability. Turbo Studio uses the Lab model of the Computrainer ergometer.

These units leave the factory with extra attention paid to ensure good calibration. Provided the user sets up their equipment properly, undertakes a suitable warm up protocol and correctly performs a roll down calibration (the specifics of this process we have established and execute consistently for all Turbo Studio Power Sessions), then the units are reliable and accurate in both the setting of resistance levels during training and the recording of a rider’s power output.

Whilst many regard any training as good training, well considered quality sessions are far better than unstructured training rides that offer little in the way of improvement on the bike. Investing in evidence based indoor Power Sessions at Turbo Studio and combining this investment with a regular training regime will see a marked improvement in power output and speed on the bike.

Your improvement indoors will translate directly to your performance outdoors. Sessions at Turbo Studio stem from evidence based coaching provided by power savvy coach Alex Simmons. Sessions not only provide you with results on the bike beneficial to both cyclists and triathletes, they provide you with feedback with regard to your own training and the effects that Power Sessions will have on that training.

The ability to pedal consistently without the interference of red lights and other outdoor elements is most beneficial to a good training session.

Combine this with the technology of the Computrainer and specific power based sessions and the result is a quality training session.