When using the PowerEdge power meter app, it is easy to create profiles for different users who will be using the same device and for multiple bicycles for the same user. For example, if you will be using your power meter on your road bike and your time trial bike, you may create two profiles named “Julie’s road bike” and “Julie TT” in your user profiles. If you will be sharing your device with Mark, then you can also create a profile for him.

The default units for the user profile are US Customary, which use pounds for weight, miles and feet for distances, and seconds for time. If you want to change these to metric units, you may do so under “Settings” in the main menu prior to creating your user profile. Power is always displayed in Watts.

New Profile

Tap on the New button in the User Profile screen to create a new user profile.

Rider and Bike Information

For each profile, first choose a name, then enter your weight, and then your bike’s weight by tapping on each of the text boxes. If you don’t know your bike’s weight, an easy way to get an accurate measurement is to weigh yourself holding your bike and then again yourself only and to take the difference.

Threshold Power

To complete your profile, you will need to enter the your power output, or wattage, at your lactate threshold. This is the highest effort you can sustain for a substantial period of time. Tests that you can conduct on your power meter are one of the best ways to determine your threshold power. Power threshold determined in this way is easily and functionally translated into training intensity levels.

If you know this value from earlier testing or rides, you may enter it by tapping on the threshold power window and typing it in. If you do not know it, you can refer to the graphs in the manual for an estimate, or do the simple test in  “A No-Hassle Way to Measure Your Threshold Power”. In the meantime, you can leave it in the default setting until you carry out these test rides. (This will not affect any of your test results). The default threshold power value is set at 150 Watts.

Tire Pressure

Enter the tire pressure that you normally set for that bike.

Advanced Settings: Aerodynamic Drag Coefficients

PowerEdge uses sophisticated formulae to calculate your aerodynamic drag coefficients using the information you entered and your position on the bike. It also determines the coefficient of rolling friction for your bike based on its weight and the tire pressure you entered. However, there are two advanced features in the profile menu that you can also adjust manually if and only if you have independent measurements of your frontal surface area, drag coefficients, and/or the coefficient of rolling friction for your bike. You may do so by tapping on the CdA and CR tabs at the bottom of the profile menu. If you don’t know these quantities independently, the software will automatically adjust to your personal values using the information you just entered and you should not change these.

PLEASE NOTE: If you change the CdA and/or CR by mistake, you can revert to the correct values simply by re-entering your weight (for CdA) and the tire pressure for your bike (for CR).

Power Zones

Power zones are defined with respect to the rider’s threshold power and are set to the levels described below. You can change these ranges using the Settings menu in your app.

PZ 1: Active Recovery: Performed to recover from hard workouts, to cool down after a workout, or between interval efforts. Power is below and up to 55% of the threshold power.

PZ 2: Endurance: This zone is used for building an endurance base and to improve aerobic fitness. It is the typical power range for “long slow distance” rides. The power zone is 56%-75% of the threshold power.

PZ 3: Tempo. A tempo ride feels faster than an endurance ride, requires more work and concentration, and builds muscular endurance. Power range between 76% and 90% of the threshold power is the typical tempo zone.

PZ 4: Lactate Threshold. This zone covers a power range that is just below to just above an athlete’s threshold power, from 90% to 105%. Training in this zone improves the threshold power. Focus and considerable effort are required in this intensity level.

PZ 5: Aerobic Threshold. Performed up to 120% of the lactate threshold power. Training at this intensity level improves VO2max, the maximum oxygen uptake. Due to the hard effort, training in this zone is typically carried out in short intervals of 5 minutes or less.

PZ 6: Anaerobic Threshold. Any training intensity that exceeds 120% of the threshold power is the anaerobic threshold zone. Training at this intensity is characterized by short, intense efforts that cannot be sustained for longer periods of time.

That’s it! You are ready to start using your cycling app and get great benefits from training with your accurate power meter.