The Power Meter Handbook: A User's Guide for Cyclists and Triathletes Paperback – 1 Sept. 2012

Great book . A must buy if you have a power meter . Well explained in simple language with many examples. Great value , worth every penny

Just got this book, having had a Powertap since the spring. I found it very helpful to understanding how to use it better and how to use it to make my training plan for next year. I have both Friel's 'Cyclists training bible' and the Coggan book (Training and Racing with a Power Meter [Paperback] Hunter Allen (Author), Andrew Coggan (Author)). However, this new book has explained things much more quickly and in a more practical way. Using the book and my records of rides this summer has helped me to pinpoint the difference in my training that led to a boost in my power this year and I hope to use this knowledge to boost again!

If you have a power meater, then you need this book no question, its a must for power meter users, without it its like going out on a ride with your eyes shut, you cant see whats going on you can only feel it, and that tells you nothing at the end of the ride just that it took so long and ikt hurt, this book complements the training bible, Joe Friel, and the book training and racing with power Hunter Allen.

I'm a triathlete and well acquainted with Joe and his various training manuals. I like the scientific approach to training methods. It's taken me a while to bring myself to hand over the cash for a power meter. Although I have been measuring power on my turbo for some years to help my training through the winter, I've never quite been sure what measuring power on the road would give me. So the power meter felt a rather frivolous purchase. Having picked up another of Joe's manuals, this book got recommended to me and the summary looked like I might make more use of the power meter than I previously anticipated, so I thought I'd buy a copy. I am so glad I did. It has opened my eyes to another level of training, a level whereby I can take the doubt out of a lot of training and performance questions - such as monitoring training load, and most importantly for me, predicting your performance for a given race. As Joe says, it's almost like cheating. I certainly feel now that I was at a disadvantage without one in races. It's all there in the data, you just need to know how to elicit it and use it. Although most helpful for steady-state races such as triathlon and time-wise, Joe also examines a power meter's usefulness where races require surges (match-burning) to be a contender as the finish line approaches. In many ways this is is the best of Joe's books that I own. I really want tri friends of mine to read it to understand how beneficial a power meter can be, and to influence them in buying a power meter.

This is a really good choice for anyone who has just bought a power meter for their bike. It explains theory and practice of using a power meter to develop your cycling strength in an straightforward an easily understandable way.

Pros - An easy to read book that provides the opportunity to improve your performance if you are selectiveCons - There is very little detailed advice on how to build a training programme - you'll need to buy one of Friel's Bibles to get that!I've read and re-read this book and it is helpful, hence the 4*'s. However, as an advanced cyclist I began to realise after the second reading that there is a distinct element of the 'emperor's new clothes' about this topic. The Power Meter is just the latest craze in getting faster. Yes, I've changed my training programme (without the aid of one of Friel's bibles) but I'm still undecided about getting a power meter. Having discussed the rapid improvement of a fellow time triallist who saw some significant improvements in 2013 and who put it down to Power Meter usage I then probed exactly what he did. Most of his improvement came from awareness of what he was doing wrong and a lot of it had little to do with the Power Meters (yes, plural!) that he had invested in. So, treat this book with caution. Read it, analyse it and draw your own conclusions. In places this book is little more than an overt attempt to sell Friel's other books and his involvement in TrainingPeaks on line offer.

Brilliant book, complete page turner. I read it whilst injured after ordering a power meter to cheer myself up. I've since re-read as I've started to use the power meter. It's too early to see the improvements but I don't see why it should not succeed!

Great book - if you're serious.Lots on information, tips and tricks... lots of explanations! Definitely something a serious rider, with power should buy!