Yes
There is a significant difference in price between a Power Tap and SRM, and you would need to purchase two Power Tap wheels; one for training and one for racing, in order to get the same value of both training and racing with a power meter. Expert Jeff Jones explains. Power meters can provide essential data that can help you improve your efficiency on the bike. A power meter is a way of measuring how many watts you’re putting out on the bike and it’s the most accurate way to gauge your fitness. The trend is definitely toward the adoption of power meters in road racing, triathlon and mountain biking. Many are leaning that a power meter will help them race faster. Start setting aside a few bucks aweek so that some day you can get one. XC riders that put their weekday intervals in on the road then have fun on the trails on the weekend would be best suited by putting the power meter on their road bike. One big advantage to this is that since it is easier to do prescribed workouts on the road, you can completely dial in your training and intensity. For some athletes a power meter will simply be a more expensive bike computer. Unless you are willing to take the time to learn the device, its use, and function, it will be of little value to you. If you are not technically-minded and have trouble working your cell phone, a power meter may not be a good purchase. Hoke put his first power meter on his road bike, though now every bike is equipped with a power meter. Gravity riders tend to stick to just one or two bikes, so the choice is a bit easier for them. Cole has one on his DH and XC bike. A power meter will NOT make you a better cyclist. It is an instrument and a data recorder and does not power the bike. The two main advantages to a power meter are that it acts as a “carrot” to help push you to new levels and serves as a tool for analysis of training efficacy, or lack thereof. The short answer is that you simply are more likely to achieve your race goals by training—and racing—with a power meter than without. It is the most affective tool you can get to go faster on a bike. Here’s Why. Don’t get me wrong, heart rate monitors are great intensity-measuring devices, also.
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1439 http://www.triradar.com/training-advice/how-to-use-power-meters/ http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2012/01/why-you-need-a-power-meter.html http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/should-i-buy-a-power-meter-for-my-mountain-bik-(1) http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1439 http://home.trainingpeaks.com/blog/article/should-i-buy-a-power-meter-for-my-mountain-bik-(1) http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1439 http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2012/01/why-you-need-a-power-meter.html
do you need power meter for your road bike