Powercrank results ... Are they any good??

[Paul H]

[quote]CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that 6 weeks (18 sessions) of training using an uncoupled crank system does not result in changes in any physiological or performance measures in well-trained cyclists.

*Edit, added links*
Recent paper, with control and well defined groups:
http://ecite.utas.edu.au/52288/1/Willia ... cranks.pdf
In it they also speculate on the reasons for disparity in the Luttrell and Potteiger paper.

[Paul H]

[quote]Or, stop f*****g about looking for quick fixes and shortcuts and do some painfully fast cadence work on a normal bike with normal cranks and small gears.

[-Adam-]

No offence to anyone on concerned with this thread, but I don't believe anyone on this forum has reached the level of fitness where using power cranks would really seriously provide a real tangible benefit, and I include myself in this.

When your body fat is 6% and your power to weight is 5.5w/kg+, by which time you'd probably be being supplied with these ''power cranks'' for free you'd hope, then by all means experiement.

At the levels that we are all at, the most important thing is just training right on a normal bike, and resting even better. I'm not of the belief that my training over this winter has been that much tougher than last, yet my current condition is the best it has ever been. I'm going as well now as I was in August last year when I was able to be competitive in Belgium and the Prems. Why? Because the absence of study towards a degree has meant that all my time off the bike is either sitting on my bed or on the sofa. I have become exceptionally good at resting. I have also made subtle changes to what I eat and when I eat it, and over all it seems to be working. I have barely even started doing ''speed'' work, yet I was able to match all the guys at Hillingdon recently, who have raced all winter. In another 6 weeks, I'll be f*****g flying.

All without the help of power cranks. Cover all the simple bases before looking for advantages from crazy cranks...

[Snoop Doug]

Hey Adam - great post. I reckon I could have you on the resting bit mind.....You'd have to go some to spend as little time as me on a bike and still call yerself a cyclist.

I'm pleased you're in such good nick, looking forward to reading and watching all about it in 2010 - good luck feller.

Mr Snoop

[George]

Its very very easy indeed to knock these Power cranks but if you haven't used them then I'm afraid your just being negative, without giving them a try.

Negative thinking appears to be more prevalent than positive thinking in this thread.

This forum won't be the same without Adams persistent Narcissism
Good Luck in Belgium dood

[quote="George"]Its very very easy indeed to knock these Power cranks but if you haven't used them then I'm afraid your just being negative, without giving them a try.

[Jon H]

Get some of these cranks
[img]http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/Italian/PMPcrnkL.jpg[/img]

...with some of these rings
[img]http://www.highpath.net/cycles/images/ovals/durham.jpg[/img]

...and you'll hardly need to pedal at all

...especially if you get some dimples
[img]http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/charles/tech/808close1.jpg[/img]

[Elliot M]

Don't forget those ActiveSpoke wheels with sprung weights sliding around your spokes...
http://www.activespoke.com/HowItWorks22.html

[Elliot M]

And fill your tyres with helium - remember rotating weight counts double

[Paul H]

Well we all like our toys dont we. Some peoples kit they wear on the club run cost more than my powercranks. Not mine obviously.

[quote]No offence to anyone on concerned with this thread, but I don't believe anyone on this forum has reached the level of fitness where using power cranks would really seriously provide a real tangible benefit, and I include myself in this.

When your body fat is 6% and your power to weight is 5.5w/kg+, by which time you'd probably be being supplied with these ''power cranks'' for free you'd hope, then by all means experiement.

At the levels that we are all at, the most important thing is just training right on a normal bike, and resting even better

[Andrew G]

Last time I rode with you Paul I was also FUct.

[nick de meyer]

Realistically there are 3 ways to improve your fitness
1. Improve your lactate threshold
2. Improve your aerobic capacity
3. Improve your economy / efficiency

which one of those doesn't have an upper limit based on genetics or physiology that won't cause you to be injured, overtrained, or burnt out? if you train the top 2 correctly using periodisation then you may get away with it, everyone is different in how much training they can take, how much stress they can take, and how much time they have available to train, i would just ask which one is likely to produce the largest gain for the amount of time?

[nick de meyer]

I am a Uk dealer for them yes marco, i put the post up for more information than anything else not really with my selling hat on at all,

[-Adam-]

LOL

Lets face it, if you can afford power cranks, you may as well go the whole hog (pun intented), and go get some EPO. That really will make you go fast.

[Paul H]

Is that what you did when you bought your Zipps?