The Power Meter

I bought a bicycle power meter a couple of weeks ago.

If you've already got one, tell me where you think I'm wrong or could use some advice.  But for those that haven't ridden with one:

• Prepare to be humbled.  At least I was.  Nothing like cold, hard, wattage numbers to put a reality check on how things are going.
• When you aren't humbled the first time, be prepared to be humbled when you don't believe the first numbers you're getting.  Think you're going to hold 20-30 more watts than your test shows for even a 20 minute interval?  Good luck with that one.  
• The power meter IS very satisfying for rides in varying conditions.  One of my recent rides was in a 30 mph (+ gusts) wind at a slight diagonal, relative to my squarish route.  As they say, a watt is a watt is a watt, regardless of wind and hills.  And it turned out to be interesting that I could achieve a bit more than I thought into the wind, just by holding the watts.
• I have sure learned what I am or am not doing on downhills.  I'm not sure I want to pedal hard when I'm already going 40 mph because of gravity, but it is interesting to see what's happening in less drastic conditions, like a 1-2% downhill grade.
• At least when fatigued, I was interested to learn that I don't put a heck of a lot more force on the pedals by standing up (unless of course, you yank on the bars).  It's different, and "easier" in a way because the muscles are different, and more adapted to slower rpms, but I'm surprised it's not a lot more torque.  Will keep an eye on this one.
• Intervals feel different.  I tended previously to use even HR, and (presumably) somewhat falling speed/watts.  Now trying to do them appropriately so that my power is constant.  Sometimes that means the HR goes up when it's pretty aggressive.  But that darn meter lets you know what you're doing.
  

 More to come...