POWER METERS: Crank, Hub or Pedal-based?

[V12man]

 

only available in North America

 

 

 

Unless you know a cycle shop in the USA run by Saffers...

[SwissVan]

Unless you know a cycle shop in the USA run by Saffers...

 

Getting one would not be much of a problem, just the back up support might be a problem.

Wonder how reliable the system is?

[V12man]

Getting one would not be much of a problem, just the back up support might be a problem.

Wonder how reliable the system is?

 

Probably as reliable as any of them - and only physical damage is a problem to deal with - easily solved by DHL or some such..

 

DCrainmaker did review it - http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/06/stages-review-update.html

 

Personally the big issue seems to be if you need accurate left right power numbers - and the research on that at the moment seems at best inconclusive. The stages meter just doubles the power applied to the left crank - so it's accuracy is questionable - but having used a cycleops power meter for a while as a training tool, I believe it is more than accurate enough to get what you need from it as a training device - as all you are primarily after is repeatability of the measurement.

[Bicycle Supply Chain]

www.stagescycling.com

 

 

Very good and seems well priced

[SwissVan]

Thanks, I remember now I saw it on his website.

 

If I ever get a power meter that's one of the functions I would like to have (L + R leg comparisons) so I guess its the Look Keo(?) or Garmin option at the moment which are not ideal either as I ride mtb a lot more than road.

[MTB_Roadie]

I got me the Power2Max Rotor crank, it also gives your pedal stroke, etc. The garmin pedals is going to be very expensive, and another thing is should you crash you might need to replace the pedal (I had a crash where my pedal broke). The Power2Max comes with a 3 year crash replacement policy.

 

I was sceptical to buy Power2Max...but I am very happy I did and overall I get everything I need. It also looks cool

[V12man]

Thanks, I remember now I saw it on his website.

 

If I ever get a power meter that's one of the functions I would like to have (L + R leg comparisons) so I guess its the Look Keo(?) or Garmin option at the moment which are not ideal either as I ride mtb a lot more than road.

 

I also thought it was something I would like to have - but I don't think it is that useful - especially if you use a hub based meter - you can always pedal 1 legged to check to see if there is a difference left to right...

 

And off-road, a power meter is not very useful - unless you are doing some structured training off-road - the variances during a ride are very high - even compared to riding on the road - understanding the differences however should change how you train differently between road and mtb - I have an example someone else did - http://www.fascatcoaching.com/mtbpower.html

 

I get the most utility out of the power measures on a trainer - at least that is reasonably comparable session to session.

Edited August 8, 2013 by V12man

[BicyclePower]

Madison, WI—August 1, 2013— Just seven weeks ago, Saris Cycling Group – which owns the Saris, CycleOps and PowerTap brands – made a commitment to ramp up its efforts and dedicate additional resources to the PowerTap brand. PowerTap is already seeing gains from these efforts, and is passing them along to the customer.

 

“More and more cyclists are in the market for a power meter, but all too frequently price is a barrier to purchase. We’re happy to say that with our new pricing structure – owing to our dedicated focus on PowerTap – we’re able to lower this barrier,’ says Jesse Bartholomew, PowerTap and CycleOps Category Manager. “Owning a power meter has never been easier or more affordable.”

 

Effective August 1st, PowerTap is lowering the MSRP of its best-selling PowerTap G3 Power Meter hub and wheelsets, which will aggressively position PowerTap to continue its leadership role in the category. PowerTap G3 hubs will carry significantly reduced MSRP of R9995 (from R12 995), with G3 alloy wheelsets at R13 000. PowerTap will also offer its Reynolds Carbon wheelset for R21 995. These reductions in pricing will allow PowerTap to legitimately lay claim to offering the most durable, accurate and affordable power meter on the market.

 

“Over the course of our 15 years working with power we’ve seen the benefits of training with power on countless occasions,” says Bartholomew. “Our goal is simple: we want everyone to be able to experience the benefits of cycling with a power meter. Affordability to the end users and allowing our Preferred Dealers to maintain their margin has been critical for us through this process.”

[BicyclePower]

there were some more specials put up on twitter not that long ago: https://twitter.com/BicyclePowerSA

[Johan Bornman]

The differences are minuscule. You just need something that is constant. Hub technology is very accurate.

 

I fully agree. The absolute number is irrelevant, as long as you have a consistent reading and you'll get that from a few of these systems.

 

It is like a bathroom scale - the number is irrelevant but the deviation from the norm is what you want to know.

[SwissVan]

I also thought it was something I would like to have - but I don't think it is that useful - especially if you use a hub based meter - you can always pedal 1 legged to check to see if there is a difference left to right...

 

And off-road, a power meter is not very useful - unless you are doing some structured training off-road - the variances during a ride are very high - even compared to riding on the road - understanding the differences however should change how you train differently between road and mtb - I have an example someone else did - http://www.fascatcoa...m/mtbpower.html

 

I get the most utility out of the power measures on a trainer - at least that is reasonably comparable session to session.

 

I agree.

its just I have an issue with my left leg when training hard and have always wondered which leg is working the hardest and by how much... would be a once off test and thereafter not much use unless its a set up problem causing the issue which then could be tested again and again to see if any set up changes have an effect.

 

I have a CycleOps equipped Spinning bike which I use in winter or bad weather times but that obviously works off the hub so does not help much for a L and R comparison. Never thought of testing one leg at a time on it....that's a plan for the next time I ride it. Although tbh I think a realistic riding situation (using both legs at the same time) would give a more accurate indication.

 

@MTB_roadie - Damn nice set up u have there

[V12man]

I fully agree. The absolute number is irrelevant, as long as you have a consistent reading and you'll get that from a few of these systems.

 

It is like a bathroom scale - the number is irrelevant but the deviation from the norm is what you want to know.

 

It is not completely irrelevant - sometimes it's useful for comparison to other peoples figures - especially useful for team selection work.

 

But for an individual's use - not so much useful - nice to know, but not all that useful.

[Dubber88]

Best thread I've seen for a long time on the Hub.

 

 

Thanks guys.

[V12man]

 

Although tbh I think a realistic riding situation (using both legs at the same time) would give a more accurate indication.

 

 

 

Probably - although current research shows that l/r balance seems to move around all the time during a ride - with no clear reason for why - so in the absence of any specific pathology one is trying to analyse - I would say it's not a huge requirement - unless you are looking for that last 0.01%.

 

When you do the test 1 legged - you may well find that you can put out more than half of your max seated two legged power with either leg.... try it - you will see...

[SwissVan]

Probably - although current research shows that l/r balance seems to move around all the time during a ride - with no clear reason for why - so in the absence of any specific pathology one is trying to analyse - I would say it's not a huge requirement - unless you are looking for that last 0.01%.

 

When you do the test 1 legged - you may well find that you can put out more than half of your max seated two legged power with either leg.... try it - you will see...

 

Any ideas on what kind of procedure to follow for a single leg test? Previous experience tells me that fatigue sets in rather quickly...

[V12man]

Any ideas on what kind of procedure to follow for a single leg test? Previous experience tells me that fatigue sets in rather quickly...

 

Fairly short 20 - 30 sec max power interval after warmup - do a couple L R R L in that order and average the max 3 sec powers.

 

Saw this review too - just released.

 

http://reviews.mtbr.com/stage-power-meter-accurate-and-affordable-for-mountain-bikers