Power meters.... Talk to me!

[E65Ross]

Hi guys,

I'm really interested in getting a power meter for my bike, but I'm unsure as to what to use. I see you can get hub, pedal or Crank based systems. Ideally I'd not want a hub because I often switch wheels..... I'd ideally like a pedal system but I don't like look keo cleats and shimano don't currently offer one with spd-sl pedals.... But apparently they have a patent on this, so any ideas as to when they might release something?

Then that leaves Crank systems. I'm currently only running a FSA Gossamer crankset which isn't compatible with something like the stages power meter.... So I'd also need a new bottom bracket and a new crankset....

Thoughts?

The bike I have was around £2200 when new but has had numerous upgrades (wheels, pedals, saddle, handlebars) to means of all parts were new it's around a £3k bike. But having been using power training on a wahoo kickr for the last 5 months I really would like something similar for road riding..... But I'm also willing to wait if shimano release something in the next 6 months or so.

Thanks.

[okgo]

No idea what is going to be released but still one of the most robust options, based on LOTS of people I know, and of course a fair few pro riders is the power2max unit.

https://www.power2max.de/europe/en/Produkt/bestsel...

That one would mean you should be able to keep your bottom bracket, and chainrings, and just attach to that unit. Pretty reasonable too, its actually the cheapest version they do (the FSA one). If you do go with that then be sure to invest in a torque wrench, the tightening of bolts etc with many crank and pedal based systems is vital to it giving reliable and repeatable data.

Personally I think crank is still the way to go, robust (I know a few who have destroyed Vector pedals for example), shouldn't have any issues with battery, water ingest, pairing etc and allows you full flex with regards to wheels/pedals.

[964Cup]

Stages do have a suitable crank arm for the Gossamer, AFAIK.

[E65Ross]

okgo said:

No idea what is going to be released but still one of the most robust options, based on LOTS of people I know, and of course a fair few pro riders is the power2max unit.

https://www.power2max.de/europe/en/Produkt/bestsel...

That one would mean you should be able to keep your bottom bracket, and chainrings, and just attach to that unit. Pretty reasonable too, its actually the cheapest version they do (the FSA one). If you do go with that then be sure to invest in a torque wrench, the tightening of bolts etc with many crank and pedal based systems is vital to it giving reliable and repeatable data.

Personally I think crank is still the way to go, robust (I know a few who have destroyed Vector pedals for example), shouldn't have any issues with battery, water ingest, pairing etc and allows you full flex with regards to wheels/pedals.

Thanks very much for that, it looks ideal! I'll need to find out what type of bottom bracket my bike has. It's the original BB and also original chain rings so may be worth getting the lot done.... But it'll be around 900 Euros..... Not too bad considering!

Many thanks OKGO

[okgo]

E65Ross said:

Thanks very much for that, it looks ideal! I'll need to find out what type of bottom bracket my bike has. It's the original BB and also original chain rings so may be worth getting the lot done.... But it'll be around 900 Euros..... Not too bad considering!

Many thanks OKGO

I only suggest that as presumably that will fit your bottom bracket already if you have FSA currently?

Certainly you can also buy cheaper chainrings than the praxis ones they sell, though I have got them and they seem to be lasting really well, so maybe they're worth the extra outlay (not sure I buy the stiffness garb, and at 60kg you won't be worried about that!).

Personally I would never buy a stages unit, unless they were £99.99 or something. I just cannot see the point of spending 90% of the price of a far superior unit in terms of build, reviews, basic tech etc - probably said it a million times on here, but most of the folk I know with them have had issues, and of the ones that don't, the numbers often are questionable - while the defenders of the unit will say that 'as long as they're repeatable it doesn't matter what they actually read' - why spend £500 on something that doesn't give accurate numbers, there is no need to with the competition now being so keenly priced.

[Gruffy]

Whispers of a potential Shimano power meter https://twitter.com/inrng/status/68759872513339392... Even if it is that though there's no telling how long before it actually comes to market.

[simonF10]

Another vote for power2max. I went for the type s version for campagnolo chorus. Can't fault the system at all.

When my bike is on the kickr I use the power2max to control the kickr resistance as my kickr always seems to be about 25 watts higher than my power meter.

[neenaw]

If you're interested in a used power meter, I've just removed my Quarq Riken to move to a pedal based system so that's going to be up for sale.
Obviously I'm a bit biased but it's a great piece of kit, pretty much fit and forget. Let me know if you want any details about it.

[NerveAgent]

okgo said:

I only suggest that as presumably that will fit your bottom bracket already if you have FSA currently?

Certainly you can also buy cheaper chainrings than the praxis ones they sell, though I have got them and they seem to be lasting really well, so maybe they're worth the extra outlay (not sure I buy the stiffness garb, and at 60kg you won't be worried about that!).

Personally I would never buy a stages unit, unless they were £99.99 or something. I just cannot see the point of spending 90% of the price of a far superior unit in terms of build, reviews, basic tech etc - probably said it a million times on here, but most of the folk I know with them have had issues, and of the ones that don't, the numbers often are questionable - while the defenders of the unit will say that 'as long as they're repeatable it doesn't matter what they actually read' - why spend £500 on something that doesn't give accurate numbers, there is no need to with the competition now being so keenly priced.

Whilst I'm not disagreeing that stages aren't as good as a "proper" power meter I think the price difference is being under-played a little on this forum. For a lot of people something like the power2max with is potential associated bits is going to cost a lot more than a £400 stage units (particularly those with shimano groupsets). It will be interesting to see if the new gen2 stages units have solved the water ingress issues.

[stongle]

I'm using Quarq Elsa on both my bikes (well the ones I ride) and Praxis rings. One thing though, if you want shorter crank lengths (I needed 165), the lead times are long so worth checking if you a smaller rider. Having year round power data is worth every penny.

[AyBee]

neenaw said:

If you're interested in a used power meter, I've just removed my Quarq Riken to move to a pedal based system so that's going to be up for sale.
Obviously I'm a bit biased but it's a great piece of kit, pretty much fit and forget. Let me know if you want any details about it.

Why are you moving from crank to pedal? I'm interested in details about the Quarq please

[okgo]

NerveAgent said:

Whilst I'm not disagreeing that stages aren't as good as a "proper" power meter I think the price difference is being under-played a little on this forum. For a lot of people something like the power2max with is potential associated bits is going to cost a lot more than a £400 stage units (particularly those with shimano groupsets). It will be interesting to see if the new gen2 stages units have solved the water ingress issues.

What are the costs? New chainrings, not too bad I don't think?

[Sandersports]

okgo said:

Personally I would never buy a stages unit, unless they were £99.99 or something. I just cannot see the point of spending 90% of the price of a far superior unit in terms of build, reviews, basic tech etc - probably said it a million times on here, but most of the folk I know with them have had issues, and of the ones that don't, the numbers often are questionable - while the defenders of the unit will say that 'as long as they're repeatable it doesn't matter what they actually read' - why spend £500 on something that doesn't give accurate numbers, there is no need to with the competition now being so keenly priced.

100% not starting a Friday morning PM debate .. But i cant help but be drawn into the power of marketing by Team Sky's use of Stages . Being totally presumptuous that they would only use totally accurate tools to measure power as its such a important aspect of training and racing . Surly the fact they have continued into a 2nd year of using the units must mean they basically work accurately and well . I realise Sky as a business are being paid to use them but i would have thought there is a high standard Stages have to adhere to. Would love to quiz a Sky mechanic on how they are 'truly' getting on wth them rather than some marketing PC bks .

[okgo]

I understand they are using a double sided prototype one potentially. Folk on the TT forum also noticed that they were using disc covers on roadbikes at the Mallorca track when they were using the Alphamantis (which I will be using in 3 weeks with Xavier) aero kit - a few smart folk have said that the likely reason is because they are using powertaps as stages for aero testing is just not consistent or accurate enough and the only way to hide that (it was on GCN) was to use wheel covers. Certainly when I went to the velodrome the first time for some aero testing, the chap I was with had stages and was promptly given a powertap for the day by Xavier vs using the stages...

I've just seen too many horror stories, if Sky were not using them they'd be sunk I reckon. Its only the blind love of anything Sky does that has kept them going through all of issues I think.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/froome-testing...

[NerveAgent]

okgo said:

What are the costs? New chainrings, not too bad I don't think?

Well the the power2max you linked (I think the FSA cranks are the cheapest option?) with chainrings added is about £200/50% more than the cheaper stages units. So I guess we will have to disagree on the meaning of "not too bad" ! I guess it depends on budgets involved.

[E65Ross]

I have sent then a message with my bike model and have asked what I'd need exactly and await to here back.

Will keep you posted!

Many thanks!

[E65Ross]

This is the bike

http://m.evanscycles.com/products/bianchi/infinito...

Any idea on the bottom bracket type, and whether I need 110 or 130 bcd or whatever it is?

Cheers

[neenaw]

AyBee said:

Why are you moving from crank to pedal? I'm interested in details about the Quarq please

The main reason was that I wanted a unit that I could use on both bikes, the problem was that my Trek has a BB92 bottom bracket and the Diverge has a threaded one so it meant swapping BB's if I needed to move the Quarq from one bike to the other. Something wheel-based was a non-starter as one bike is rim brakes and the other disc so I ended up going for a set of P1 pedals.

I'll fire you an email across with photo's and details of the Quarq.

[okgo]

Looks to be a FSA bottom bracket, with currently 110BCD - you can change to 130 if you want more larger chainring options, 53-39 being the most common.

£200 small price to pay for something that does as advertised IMO Nerveagent.

Neenaw, I had that issue, just bought another qaurq - easy!

Edited by okgo on Friday 15th January 14:27

[E65Ross]

okgo said:

Looks to be a FSA bottom bracket, with currently 110BCD - you can change to 130 if you want more larger chainring options, 53-39 being the most common.

£200 small price to pay for something that does as advertised IMO Nerveagent.

Worth getting a new BBC? Which of these would I need?


Thanks again for the help