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

DC Rainmakers point about what's Quarq going to do in response to both the Powertap price cut and the Vectors entering production was interesting.

I'd take a Powertap over a Quarq 100% of the time given the price, and the ongoing "some are great, some aren't" issue that seems to dog the Quarqs.

Power2Max is roughly equivalent to a fully built wheel with a Powertap in it, so that's an interesting one- I'd still go crank based power if given the choice, but that's more to do with my own preferences I guess.

The pedal pod thing just looks ugly. Whereas an SRM looks alright, as you say.

Yeah, but it's more than looks. The other stuff is proven - people KNOW the faults and know how to work around them. There's lots of documentation and support for them. Plus, the cost! SRM can afford to stay high because they're proven and pro teams use 'em. Vector doesn't have this luxury.

We'll see.

^ indeed. Is the left-right pedal balance going to be a useful training aid or one of those features that's fun to play with but doesn't add any value do we think?

I guess the obsessives (I'm looking your way Dammit) will use it to try and even out their pedal stroke or something but I wouldn't bother with it. I care about total power output not intermediate steps.

^ indeed. Is the left-right pedal balance going to be a useful training aid or one of those features that's fun to play with but doesn't add any value do we think?
For the pros? Mebbe.

For the vaaaast majority of purchasers?...

For the pros? Mebbe.
For the vaaaast majority of purchasers?...

For the pros? To do what with? Lots of them are just as ignorant about power as we are.

Pro triathletes on the other hand.. they will be all over that shit :)

They will fucking lap it up. As will "pro" agegroupers. And any old slevless douches.

And they'll wear compression socks while doing it...

Love me those compression socks.

Apparently R/L balance is completely unimportant and of no bother thinking about.
Given it's an aerobic sport, not strength, I'd tend to agree.
Oxygen is the limiter.

It's been pointed out that Garmins pro riders weren't using Vector- some SRM's in evidence though.

Apparently R/L balance is completely unimportant and of no bother thinking about.
Given it's an aerobic sport, not strength, I'd tend to agree.
Oxygen is the limiter.

You could use Vector pedals to work out if the Stages meter would be any use to you.

L/R balance is Meh.

question is whether the ease of transference onto multiple bikes is worth the extra cost above a Rotor P2M

Bet it would take longer to swap 2 pedlas than 1 Gossamer SRM.
Given how long it takes me to remember which way a pedal threads in.

Two piece, single bolt crank swap in around 40 seconds I reckon.

Pedal swaps: ages and always results in blooded knuckles.

At least the vectors have flats for wrenches though. Small mercies.

Powertap. Winning the power meter speed change race.

True. Wheels are specifically designed to be removed quickly, pedals and cranks aren't.

Why are you all so rubbish at switching pedals?!

Because who ever switches their pedals?*

You could say that about cranks, but it's usually only one fecking bolt** and requires zero thought to do.

*if you do, why not just buy more pedals?

**OK Hollowgrams take a darn sight longer ;)

The Look/Polar pedals had to have the axle aligned very precisely- this requires using a combination of washers of varying thickness to adjust how far the pedal axle screwed into the crank.

In comparison the Garmin pedals look a lot easier- again there is a requirement for washers to be used, but from what I can gather from reading the various reviews there seems to be no specific alignment required.

So- put them on, check you've torqued them to 25Nm and that the washers are ok, or fit, check, remove, add washer, fit, check etc, then clip the transmitter pod on and you're away.

I was watching (and bidding on) a pair of Look/Polars just as the Powertap price-drop was announced, someone paid almost £700 for those pedals which I find quite remarkable.

Howard- I've had a certain amount of practice it is true, but I can remove and refit Hollowgrams pretty fast now.

That said, Rotor are amazingly quick, and that's swapping between BB standards as you go.

Still not as easy as swapping a wheel between frames- but I've swapped my SRM between my road bike and my CX bike, which would have been tricky with a wheel.

Because who ever switches their pedals?*

I was running one set of atacs on everything up until last week :(

Why are you all so rubbish at switching pedals?!

I'm not. Move along.

Powertap. Winning the power meter speed change race.

Unless your TT bike has track ends, in which case 3 1/2 weeks is the average time taken to swap over a wheel.

My old TT bike has track ends. Depending on how dirty you want to get (ooh nurse) it takes about 10s longer to remove/insert. If you want to avoid touching the chain add a minute to find some gloves.

Fully removing the skewer makes it easier if you're struggling - less to catch on the derailler so you don't need to move it out of the way so far.

No. It still takes 3 1/2 weeks.