Hardware for...Indoors & Outdoors w/ multiple bikes...for MTB :)

[David_Phillips]

The big idea…my goal is to get faster on my MTB, I’m a CAT 3 (lowest) racer and I’ve really only dabbled in it a few times.

I want to get faster and stronger to race in the local race series and do some longer 6 hours duo events, 25-50 milers, etc.

That’s my goal above.

Current situation:
FTP 177 (getting back into it…low volume, week 1…but have been as high as 197, but still not consistently training)
Trainer: Wahoo Kickr Core w/ 29" 2012 Jamis XC MTB and trainer tire (1x12 GX drivetrain)
Older Garmin 520, heart rate monitor, speed sensors for 2 bikes
Bikes:

• Jamis XC mentioned above
• Scott Genius trail bike (heavy, but fun)
• Giant XTC 27.5 hardtail ($1800 bike new…for context) on 2.1 gravel style tires (I really only ride this bike in the neighborhood and am considering selling this and maybe the Jamis to get a newer style XC full suspension bike (Scott Spark or maybe even an IBIS Ripley (sort of an xc/trail bike), on the other hand, it’s nice to have an extra ‘beater’ bike…

I typically train indoors on the wahoo using the smart trainer in erg mode.

I’ve done a few RPE workouts and that’s just a moving target for me. I’ve got a pretty good route in the neighborhood for intervals that aren’t too crazy hilly, but I’d love something with more accuracy and not have to constantly set timers for intervals

So, now that you know what hardware I have, I’d love to choose a bike and just go train.

The new Garmin SPD pedals seems like a no brainer, but I’m not willing to spend $1k for the dual sensors, so it would have to be one.

What other options are there? I’m SURE many of you have been down the same road.

[Brettn13]

There is the Favero SPD Hack option that will come out a bit cheaper than the Garmin pedals, the thread stays pretty up to date on here. Seems like a lot of good experiences with it, up to you personally if you’d trust that with your riding.

A Wild idea for Favero Assioma pedals [MTB SPD Hack]

This week Favero released version 4.04 and new pedal bodies. When I saw the pedal bodies I thought of an idea. Why not 3d print bodies which can fit on the pods of Favero Assioma’s with Shimano SPD double-sided clipless mechanism? Example: I and other people want powermeter pedals for road as well as MTB riding. This would be a nice solution. Are there people with expertise in 3d printing or pedals based powermeters who think this is possible? Or impossible (please give a reason why)

Other than that a crank or spider based option can work across bikes, but I highly doubt you’ll find one option that fits across the current bikes. Even finding a match between the Genius and a new XC bike could require a bit of swapping around.

Unless money isn’t a factor for you I’d get a newer XC bike and enjoy that for a long time before going for power. Many people on the forum will tell you that they don’t really use the power on trails like they though they might.

Power Meters for MTB

I’ve been on the fence with pulling the trigger on the NGeco for my mountain bike. Looking at the month I’ve done ~15 rides and 32 hours on it versus 4 rides and 4 hours on the trainer with power. Hard to really say I’m keeping to a training plan completely guessing on effort for most of the riding. Only worry is that the money for the power meter comes out of a tight budget that might also go towards a groad bike (and by then I’d be hooked on the PM and need to upgrade that too). @mcneese.cha…