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

fuck that. Shitty customer experience.

But they are German - it would be OK.

It's pretty much how most of their e-commerce transactions take place IIRC.

Yeah, if I was spending that much I would want to be able to buy it on credit card or whatever to be a bit better protected as a customer. I'm sure it's all kosher, but..

Yep. In Switzerland it's quite common to order things without payment being taken, and then an invoice is sent with the goods on delivery. You then pay the invoice by bank transfer.

http://amplewritings.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/replacing-powertap-hub-bearings.html

Bearings swapped and the 'tap is back in action.

I now have 8 spare sets of Powertap bearings if anyone is looking for some.

Stages are a kind of halfway house between the PowerCal and a proper powermeter, but given their price I can't see why you'd get one over a Powertap.

Can you explain this? Surely Stages is the same as Power2Max, i.e. using strain gauges on one crank and then estimating the power for the other leg (not that knowing the left/right balance seems to matter in the end)? Or have I missed something?

The Power2Max replaces the spider on a normal crankset, so it goes between the chainring and both cranks, the cranks being joined together by the crank spindle. It therefore measures the power applied by both cranks, rather than just one, in the same way as any other spideresque power meter (SRM or Quarq) does. So it's not the same as the Stages system.

Power2max (like SRM and Quarq) measure the strain between the spider and the chainring.

Force is applied to the axle via the crank arm on either side, but the P2M simply ascribes a certain % of that force to each side based on crank position- it is estimating the split.

Stages measures the deformation in the left hand crank, then doubles it to get overall power.

So- P2M (and others) measure total power and halves it, Stages measure half the power and doubles it.

The P2M/SRM/Quarq approach is considered better from an accuracy point of view as it measure total power output rather than guessing half of it.

Thanks both.

I want something I can swap between bikes without involving a large amount of faff. Stages looks far better for that than anything else (other than Powertap, but I'd require at least Powertap enabled rear wheels).

Power pedals garmin/look is even more flexible but so limiting in supported cleat systems.

I think that the Stages is a nice bit of kit that is (now) far too expensive, given the price cut that Power Taps have recently enjoyed.

Power pedals garmin/look is even more flexible but so limiting

They (the pedals) have to be fitted with quite a demanding degree of precision- swapping a crank is reputedely easier/faster.

Calibration when refitted?

Power pedals garmin/look is even more flexible but so limiting in supported cleat systems.

I ride track, road and cross. In an ideal world I'd have something that could work on all three bikes.

I think that the Stages is a nice bit of kit that is (now) far too expensive, given the price cut that Power Taps have recently enjoyed.

It's significantly less than a power2max though, and arguably as accurate, plus I'd only need one whereas for Power Tap I'd need to buy a minimum of two, maybe more.

Calibration when refitted?

More that it has to be very precisely shimmed for the crank arm, and torqued up within a very specific/narrow range else it gives the wrong figures, and this must be done with a tool that few people have.

I am a compulsive tool-buyer and hoarder, and I don't have one.

It's significantly less than a power2max though, and arguably as accurate, plus I'd only need one whereas for Power Tap I'd need to buy a minimum of two, maybe more.

Which one are you looking at?

Have a look at the DC Rainmaker review, he does say that he'd use Stages now, whereas he wouldn't when they first came out.

I was/am considering one for my Serotta, but it's yet another product that is £500 in the US and £800 here.

Sorry, £699 here, $799 in the US of A.

I've read the DC Rainmaker review. I especially like the fact that you can update the firmware yourself, and that Stages Cycling are doing so based on customer feedback.

£800 for a Dura Ace one, or £700 for Ultegra, £600 for 105. Or order through a friend in the US.

It's tempting either way.

£495 for the Ultegra if you buy through a friend in the US, which is what I'd do if I were to get one.

At that price, yes - it is tempting, but I still suspect that the market will adjust downward next year.

Depends, therefore, on when you want to get it of course.

Let me know if you go the America route and I might join you. If I have got my new job by then, and paid for the new stove.

It'll be for the revised cross bike mainly, which is getting upgraded after the end of this season.

I would think, with 75% probability, I'll be in the US for a week at some point next year. (I could've gone out there next week if I didn't need to be here to look after children).

One nice thing is that it's the only sensor on the bike- keeps it nice and clean, and less to get knocked off.

Also mulling over stages. Was wondering if a 105 arm could be swapped between everyday bike / tark bike / cross country mtb. Would a road crank arm clear the chainstays on an mtb frame?

Edit: I suppose given that I have an ultegra crank on the airnimal I can test in the comfort of my own home.

It's racist that they dont have a campy arm

^Campy wont supply them

Maybe they will release a powermeter with their vapourware road disc brakes in 2015