Introduction

“I love the idea of training and racing by feel but, in the most part, those days are numbered.” So says Chris Boardman, one of the key men behind the growth of cycling science, in James Witts’ feature in this supplement on the use of power meters in professional cycling. And while Chris might have been talking about the pros, the growth of power meter usage among us amateurs means more and more of us are ‘riding by numbers’ too.

So we should probably be making sure we’re using them properly, which is where this supplement steps in. In here you’ll find guidance from the experts on how to get the most from your toy, what you need to know to get started, what sessions to do in training to use the information at your fingertips to become a stronger cyclist, and what the pros are up to with theirs. And if you haven’t taken the plunge yet, we look at six of the best.