Training and Racing with a Power Meter

In only a few short years, power meters have become an essential training tool for amateur and pro cyclists and triathletes. The first edition of Training and Racing with a Power Meter was largely responsible for popularizing what was once an arcane technology understood by only a few elite coaches and trainers. Now the updated and revised second edition provides significant updates on technology, software tools, training protocols, and workouts, making the benefits of power-based training available to everyone. The new edition also includes specific information for triathletes—the fastest-growing segment in endurance sports—including a complete triathlon training plan. Other significant updates include reviews of the latest hardware, refinements and additions to training plans, additional case studies, more on monitoring fitness and chronic training loads, and revised and clarified artwork, charts and tables throughout. Training and Racing with a Power Meter, 2nd Ed., will continue to be the definitive guide to the most important training tool ever developed for endurance sports.

Power meters are rapidly becoming an invaluable part of training and racing among professional cyclists and triathletes, amateurs looking for a competitive edge, and gear fiends. For coaches and athletes, these devices offer enormous potential for targeting and timing training to realize a rider's goals. Yet few athletes or coaches understand how to interpret the data for optimal results, and few cycling resources do more than mention the possibility of wattage training. "Training and Racing with a Power Meter" decrypts the layers of information and explains how to begin a program that effectively integrates power. Hunter Allen and Andrew Coggan have conducted extensive research and consulted with manufacturers to deliver the most sophisticated and scientific approach to training on the market, allowing riders to tap every last watt of power. The book includes cogent case studies, sample power workouts, and a chapter on the future of training and racing with these soon-to-be indispensable devices.

Hunter Allen has raced for 17 years worldwide, is a USA Cycling Elite Coach and power meter expert. He lives in Bedford, VA. Andrew Coggan, Ph.D., is a research associate at Washington University and renowned for his work on power. He lives outside St. Louis, MO.