Stages powermeters
Discussion
Morning chaps, I'm thinking of spending some cash on a Stages powermeter.
I've noticed the older Stages were blue, now some I see advertised are black, has there been some big improvements which the change of colour designates?
I've read bits about the seals being a bit rubbish and battery life being a bit short. Has these things improved any?
I'm interested in a Stages as they are available for Cannondale cranks which I have on my bike.
Any advice is gratefully appreciated
Cheers
Mike.
I've noticed the older Stages were blue, now some I see advertised are black, has there been some big improvements which the change of colour designates?
I've read bits about the seals being a bit rubbish and battery life being a bit short. Has these things improved any?
I'm interested in a Stages as they are available for Cannondale cranks which I have on my bike.
Any advice is gratefully appreciated
Cheers
Mike.
http://www.power2max.de/europe/en/Produkt/bestsell...
940 Euro/£670 for true (both leg) power with the Power2Max, and no "battery per day" habit, versus £699 for the Stages: http://www.cyclepowermeters.com/stages-cannondale-...
940 Euro/£670 for true (both leg) power with the Power2Max, and no "battery per day" habit, versus £699 for the Stages: http://www.cyclepowermeters.com/stages-cannondale-...
Hate to buck the trend on this thread, but I have been training with power for almost 6 years and was also cynical about "one-legged" power measurement etc. but decided to give it a go on the basis of being able to easily move a crank from one bike to another (chainsets = hassle, MTB PowerTap cannot run SRAM 11speed).
£499 from Germany.
The issue with battery life and seals is gone. Just don't jetwash the battery cover.
Very pleasantly surprised about consistency of power reading from PowerTap to Stages.
No issues at all.
Maybe Team Sky know what they are doing after all....
£499 from Germany.
The issue with battery life and seals is gone. Just don't jetwash the battery cover.
Very pleasantly surprised about consistency of power reading from PowerTap to Stages.
No issues at all.
Maybe Team Sky know what they are doing after all....
I have a Stages on my mountain bike but also own Vector pedals and a Powertap wheel for road bikes. Due to an imbalance I get quite different readings on my mountain bike. I would only buy a Stages if I had confirmed parity between my legs and there were no other options.
In terms of functionality I have no complaints, battery life hasn't been an issue for me.
In terms of functionality I have no complaints, battery life hasn't been an issue for me.
I've being using Stages power now for about 18 months. First unit failed on me about 3 weeks before my 'A-race' of the season which was less than ideal but I got a brand new updated replacement which sorted the seals and battery life issue. No issues since.
I generally set the Garmins to read a 10s average power and have calibrated this against my Wahoo KICKR... the numbers are consistent and accurate to within 1.5% from 0 to 1000+W, so the FTP numbers I train with in the house are as near as dammit identical outside. Handy that the crank also provides cadence info.
I can change the cranks over in 2 minutes, so an easy swap between TT and road bikes.
Overall, despite the initial failure I'm pretty happy with them. I'd like dual sided power so the inner geek in me could pour over more data although that would probably just serve to confirm I'm nowhere near as good as I'd like to be.
DC Rainmaker does a good review (usually every September), 2014 version is here: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/09/buyers-guide201... - enjoy!
I generally set the Garmins to read a 10s average power and have calibrated this against my Wahoo KICKR... the numbers are consistent and accurate to within 1.5% from 0 to 1000+W, so the FTP numbers I train with in the house are as near as dammit identical outside. Handy that the crank also provides cadence info.
I can change the cranks over in 2 minutes, so an easy swap between TT and road bikes.
Overall, despite the initial failure I'm pretty happy with them. I'd like dual sided power so the inner geek in me could pour over more data although that would probably just serve to confirm I'm nowhere near as good as I'd like to be.
DC Rainmaker does a good review (usually every September), 2014 version is here: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/09/buyers-guide201... - enjoy!
The only powermeter that my coach won't use in velodrome aero testing sessions because the data is not reliable enough - stages, I went with a bloke who had stages and he had to borrow a powertap. Suppose if you're 50/50 all the time then its ok, but most people aren't, and even a small percentage out makes it useless for aero testing.
Quite amusing looking at some of the numbers people on stages are apparently doing...
Quite amusing looking at some of the numbers people on stages are apparently doing...
Sandersports said:
Like how st my numbers are ?? LOL
haha, no, there is a particular TT rider I know who uses one, the figures it gives out are laughable, he'd be pro if they were right, he must have a fairly big imbalance. For me most of my rides of no particular effort are almost 50/50, but when I throw in some sprints or really push on, the difference is a bit more than that, and when you multiply the error x2 it does quickly get out of hand!
That's 6700, old kit one generation behind current - I'd say £499 is strong money for that.
Also, the OP already has a Cannondale SiSl crankset - he'd need his head examined swapping that for last-gen Ultegra.
I think the Stages is a good produce given unrealistic billing by the marketing (and merchandising) department, it should go between the PowerCal and a proper direct force power meter (just like the single-sided Vectors I have for my track bike), and be priced accordingly.
As it is, they are more expensive than proper direct force power meters, which is bonkers.
Also, the OP already has a Cannondale SiSl crankset - he'd need his head examined swapping that for last-gen Ultegra.
I think the Stages is a good produce given unrealistic billing by the marketing (and merchandising) department, it should go between the PowerCal and a proper direct force power meter (just like the single-sided Vectors I have for my track bike), and be priced accordingly.
As it is, they are more expensive than proper direct force power meters, which is bonkers.
Dammit, you've given me another option I didn't know about.
Just doing some sums and with new chainrings I'm up to about £760 on the current exchange rate. Hmm, choices choices.
Thanks for the good advice from all, makes a nice change to see this rather than the usual trolling on other parts of the forum. :-)
Just doing some sums and with new chainrings I'm up to about £760 on the current exchange rate. Hmm, choices choices.
Thanks for the good advice from all, makes a nice change to see this rather than the usual trolling on other parts of the forum. :-)
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