The Wattage Thread
Discussion
I don't buy that argument - (I've got both a stages and a powertap). As long as it measures consistently who cares how it measures it?
You know that a P2Max doesn't actually tell you how hard you're pushing the pedals either? They claim an accuracy of +/-2%. That's a 12 watt range of inaccuracy at my FTP
Then on the plus side for the stages it weights 20g. I.e. nothing.
You know that a P2Max doesn't actually tell you how hard you're pushing the pedals either? They claim an accuracy of +/-2%. That's a 12 watt range of inaccuracy at my FTP
Then on the plus side for the stages it weights 20g. I.e. nothing.
BMWBen said:
I don't buy that argument - (I've got both a stages and a powertap). As long as it measures consistently who cares how it measures it?
You know that a P2Max doesn't actually tell you how hard you're pushing the pedals either? They claim an accuracy of +/-2%. That's a 12 watt range of inaccuracy at my FTP
Then on the plus side for the stages it weights 20g. I.e. nothing.
I'm sure Stages measures what it measures consistently. However it's unlikely your left-right balance is constant over the season, throughout a long ride, or across wide ranges of power. That's a lot of extra inaccuracy to layer on top of whatever drops out of the sensor itself - add another 12 watts to your range if your L-R shifts from 49-51 to 51-49. I'm a bit sceptical with regard to their approach to measurement too - there are a few extra forces to take into account measuring the deflection of a crank arm compared to the torque through a spider, and measuring cadence with an accelerometer is fraught with problems, though they seem to be making a reasonable fist of it.You know that a P2Max doesn't actually tell you how hard you're pushing the pedals either? They claim an accuracy of +/-2%. That's a 12 watt range of inaccuracy at my FTP
Then on the plus side for the stages it weights 20g. I.e. nothing.
If they were £250 or something, I'd buy one in a heartbeat to stick on a winter bike or a spare to get a rough idea - but with other products on the market for a little bit more money that do as proper a job as is possible of measuring your power output, it's a no brainer for me.
I have a P2M one of the Type S ones and it is great. It compares very well with the Powertap and in my case was a good deal as I already had compatible cranks which dropped the overall cost. I wouldn't personally go for with Stages but I know people who use them and they're happy enough. The P2M was reliable at altitude in Tenerife, it's pretty compact. The one downside is it seems to be a bit laggy with cadence, you get used to it but it's not as instant as some. The deal on the classic is very good, I might have to go for one and flog the PT finally.
yonex said:
I have a P2M one of the Type S ones and it is great. It compares very well with the Powertap and in my case was a good deal as I already had compatible cranks which dropped the overall cost. I wouldn't personally go for with Stages but I know people who use them and they're happy enough. The P2M was reliable at altitude in Tenerife, it's pretty compact. The one downside is it seems to be a bit laggy with cadence, you get used to it but it's not as instant as some. The deal on the classic is very good, I might have to go for one and flog the PT finally.
Same goes for the vectors - Far as I can tell all accelerometer based cadence sensing is the same.FWIW I'd also go for the p2max at the 'entry' price point right now. I went powertap->vector due to having various wheels making powertap a pain - otherwise it's a great solution.
Having vector, I do get L/R balance, and (for me) it is very inconsistent. Consequently left only seems rather pointless.
For anyone not in touch with the UK time trailing scene .. http://www.velouk.net/2014/08/31/report-ctt-10-cha...
Funny thing this power stuff.
Did a threshold test on the trainer tail end of last week having been 'just riding' the last few months rather than having any structure. Set out assuming the same threshold value as May, blew up 15 mins in (20 min test - which is my usual 'protocol'). Pretty dispirited.
Come Sunday was out on H25/4, despite a bit of a snafu and late plan change, finished up turning in a PB for me and a new hour best power by 10w (OK, so that means I'm not sub 60, and the wattage is pretty average, but it's still progress) Pretty happy now..
Would like to do more TT's actually, seems to suit me. Also wondering if I can squeak sub-60 given a 'fast' course.. Gt Missenden is a bit hilly, convinced that kills me, though I may be deluded!
Did a threshold test on the trainer tail end of last week having been 'just riding' the last few months rather than having any structure. Set out assuming the same threshold value as May, blew up 15 mins in (20 min test - which is my usual 'protocol'). Pretty dispirited.
Come Sunday was out on H25/4, despite a bit of a snafu and late plan change, finished up turning in a PB for me and a new hour best power by 10w (OK, so that means I'm not sub 60, and the wattage is pretty average, but it's still progress) Pretty happy now..
Would like to do more TT's actually, seems to suit me. Also wondering if I can squeak sub-60 given a 'fast' course.. Gt Missenden is a bit hilly, convinced that kills me, though I may be deluded!
Dowks said:
Rotor similarly have a cheapo version of their crank-arm based PM coming out which does left only. Clearly a response to Stages entering the market and eating some of their lunch. Again, for reasons stated above, I wouldn't buy any of them
upsidedownmark said:
Funny thing this power stuff.
Did a threshold test on the trainer tail end of last week having been 'just riding' the last few months rather than having any structure. Set out assuming the same threshold value as May, blew up 15 mins in (20 min test - which is my usual 'protocol'). Pretty dispirited.
Come Sunday was out on H25/4, despite a bit of a snafu and late plan change, finished up turning in a PB for me and a new hour best power by 10w (OK, so that means I'm not sub 60, and the wattage is pretty average, but it's still progress) Pretty happy now..
Would like to do more TT's actually, seems to suit me. Also wondering if I can squeak sub-60 given a 'fast' course.. Gt Missenden is a bit hilly, convinced that kills me, though I may be deluded!
Trainers can be quite hard to put out the same power on - I believe due to the issue you have with heat (your body, not the trainer). I thought it might just be a motivation thing, but then I rode a bit in Croatia earlier this year when it was 30 degrees, and just like on the trainer my threshold seemed to be 20-30w lower than I can do on a chilly English morning.Did a threshold test on the trainer tail end of last week having been 'just riding' the last few months rather than having any structure. Set out assuming the same threshold value as May, blew up 15 mins in (20 min test - which is my usual 'protocol'). Pretty dispirited.
Come Sunday was out on H25/4, despite a bit of a snafu and late plan change, finished up turning in a PB for me and a new hour best power by 10w (OK, so that means I'm not sub 60, and the wattage is pretty average, but it's still progress) Pretty happy now..
Would like to do more TT's actually, seems to suit me. Also wondering if I can squeak sub-60 given a 'fast' course.. Gt Missenden is a bit hilly, convinced that kills me, though I may be deluded!
Sandersports said:
Good work Okgo ... happy with your ride? Did you get it all out ? Nice PB time for some bragging rights .
Yeh, not a bad ride. So close at the sharp but not razor sharp end of things. 17 seconds from 16th to 8th!!I think I went well but always wonder if I could have gone harder on the way out..hopefully a bit more power and a few aero tweeks and on the regular course I should be good for a short 18. And on a freak day I won't rule out a 17 tbh with a few more watts.
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