Power Meters / Powermeters (SRM, Powertap, Quarq, Ergomo, Vector, Stages, power2max, P2M, 4iii, InPower, Cinch)

I think it is actually the unit that has to have Bluetooth rather than just firmware.

Sorry, wasn't clear. I'd read somewhere that all wattbike pro and atom models had the hardware for doing bluetooth from the start but the older pros needed a firmware update to get it to work properly. Looks like the bike I'm using have the updated firmware as I didn't have a problem.

Anyway, tried it today, worked quite well, enough for me to sign up to Zwift on the rolling monthly contract.

Current HR strap (Garmin HRM-Tri) only does ANT+ but my watch (Forerunner 945) can rebroadcast the wrist based HR over bluetooth so used that. Can link the ANT+ HR strap to the wattbike but not sure whether it will rebroadcast that over bluetooth.

Will probably look to get a bluetooth HRM strap to use for Zwift.

Good points:

• Something else to look at other than people swimming in the cool water of the pool
  
• Motivation
  
• Will be able to use it for some structured training
  
  

Bad points:

• No air, the gym is cool but I generate a fuckload of heat and there's no proper airflow over/past me
  
• iPhone 12 mini screen is small, might have to try taking the 14" laptop next time although it'll be tricky to balance on the wattbike bars and avoid dripping sweat on it.
  
• Gym slots are 55 minutes long, but I might see if I can book two back to back to get a longer workout
  

Assioma Duo pedals for £520 (after their spendsave21 code is applied) at chainreaction right now.

Now I’m cash-poor but data-rich 💪🏽

Is it possible to buy the SRAM Red AXS power meter spider only without the rings?

No. The spider and the rings are a single unit. When you wear out the rings you have to replace the entire unit, including the power meter.

That's messed up. How come the spider comes up in some places but doesn't seem very common?

https://www.cyclepowermeters.com/quarq-power-meter-spider-red-force-axs-d1-107bcd.html?utm_source=google_shopping&m=simple_associated&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2NyFBhDoARIsAMtHtZ4rOk94ZQuhYLGUBnTCr-0xOGYc94_vqIJTamoMjD-jfN1dgg052tAaAtkiEALw_wcB

Hmmm, may have changed. DCRainmaker said this about the AXS power meter:

'Now, there is one big downside here: With the new chainring and DZero design for AXS, it comes as a single cohesive unit. This means you can’t swap the chainrings anymore. One could posit that means throwing away your power meter when you have to swap chainrings.'

It seems that red 2x is all one piece but there is a force power spider available.

Seems plausible. I'm not that well up on SRAM stuff days because, well, Fucking SRAM. To quote Bauke Mollema. And me.

Annoyingly, I paid 599 last week. Still worth it.

Red quarq is direct mount chainrings fused with the power meter. I think you get a 50% discount once it needs replacing. Force are just a spider with separate chainrings. In rival AXS is in the axle. Why they just don't do an axle PM and direct mount chainrings for all levels.

Wahoo HRM (which will do bluetooth direct to my phone) purchased so all set now. Starting the Back to Fitness plan this week, will do the two sessions on Wed/Fri after a swim which should complement the existing Monday spinning class.

Ramp test gave me a 217W FTP estimate, which at 94kg has me a long way off my eventual goal of 3.7W/kg (~280W FTP at 75kg). Many years ago I got to ~240W at 75kg with no specific training other than lots of Audaxing but life and lager has taken its toll on the body since then.

Might do the ramp test monthly to keep an eye on things.

I'm sure I could get there quicker if I dedicated more time to it but my training is predominantly swimming and running right now and those leave me feeling tired enough.

Starting the Back to Fitness plan this week

Of course I hadn't actually enrolled and so I can't start it before next Monday. Fucking arbitrary shit from Zwift there. Did a "Pre-Training" workout instead, anything up near/over FTP is fun without a fan...

A new powermeter pedal is trying to enter the market via Kickstarter https://www.cycloptim.fr/kickstarter-english

8 months.

30 hours battery life? Hard pass.

Ha, was just going to post that...

"
30 h of battery life.
Because among us, who has ever done 50h of cycling in a row?
"

Think my PowerTap track hub SL+ is finally on its way out - it's had 6 years of heavy use.
I'd like to believe I've had a 21w FTP jump after a weekend of bikepacking but no.

Is it worth trying to get something that old serviced and calibrated? (it's pre G3 and not on the list but might have the same internals)
https://www.cyclepowermeters.com/powertap/powertap-service-centre.html

I've currently got a Rotor Track crankset on with track axle and track BB - looks like the best option is the p2m Track NGeco? Though it will require changing to a 24mm road axle and probably BB too.

Please note: the power meter is not compatible with the Rotor Track Axle.
https://www.power2max.com/en/product/ngeco-rotor-aldhu-power-meter-track/

I should maybe get a pedal based PM but I just ride everything with SPD, not sure about the Garmin XC100 and the other bikes have their own PMs anyway.

I've had lots of Powertap serviced. Most when Paligap were doing it but some with the new mob. Assuming they can do it, it seems sensible if you've got a wheel built around it and it's not too expensive compared to another system.

Oh, pre-G3 you might struggle. I have a vague feeling they started running out of parts for them but I'm not 100% sure.

I've had lots of Powertap serviced. Most when Paligap were doing it but some with the new mob. Assuming they can do it, it seems sensible if you've got a wheel built around it and it's not too expensive compared to another system.

Looking at £700 with a wheel re-build to a regular hub, seems sensible to try and get it serviced first. Will contact Cyclepowermeters who seem to have taken over.

I should probably get rid of my old Powertap laced to Zipp 808 with wheel cover but it makes for a great spare wheel. At some point it'll die though and then it likely won't be worth rebuilding given how little TTing I'm doing now.

Think my PowerTap track hub SL+ is finally on its way out - it's had 6 years of heavy use.
I'd like to believe I've had a 21w FTP jump after a weekend of bikepacking but no.

Could just be the battery being on its way out. I tend to find my older Powertaps becoming strangely generous with average power readings just before the battery waves its final white flag and gives up.

eBay still has some older PowerTap hubs/wheels every so often. might be easier to risk replacing like for like.

I scalped a really old hub (SL but with the ANT+ update) for just £100 last year, works perfectly for my commuting bike (not that I ever commute any more).

(P.S. Over-Unders on Zwift this morning after a swim session. No fan in the gym and I was melting after the first half, fuck me that was horrid, but it got done.)

Could just be the battery being on its way out. I tend to find my older Powertaps becoming strangely generous with average power readings just before the battery waves its final white flag and gives up.

You might be onto something there. Will put some fresh ones in before getting out the money gun.

Could just be the battery being on its way out.

Thanks, that has corrected my mid-week fitness bump :')

Got a repair quote, hopefully get a few more years from it..

The only solution is to replace the torque tube with the newer G3.
This would cost £320.00.

I need to borrow this tool to fit a spider on a Rotor 3D24 crank

Who has?