Team Zwatt

pinno

Anyone joined?

I sent them a few emails but no reply because it looks like the only option I can take will require a BB change. So, not only have I got to fork out for a different BB, I have to basically fund their project.

I plan to make home brew beer. Buy a kit from me and send me the beer, you can keep a couple of litres for yourself.

prhymeate

I just came to make a similar post. I've been following them for a while and it looks pretty interesting. Decided to back the Zimanox one because I'd like a power meter but would never consider paying the usual price for one. I don't really see it as just funding their project and getting nothing in return. You can always cancel within 30 days fwiw.

pinno

Prhymeate wrote:

I just came to make a similar post. I've been following them for a while and it looks pretty interesting. Decided to back the Zimanox one because I'd like a power meter but would never consider paying the usual price for one. I don't really see it as just funding their project and getting nothing in return. You can always cancel within 30 days fwiw.

They could at least respond to my emails or else I am just scrabbling around in the dark.

prhymeate

Pinno wrote:

They could at least respond to my emails or else I am just scrabbling around in the dark.

True. I haven't tried to contact them directly yet so have no experience of their service. I'm in the second wave of those to receive the Zimanox. Hopefully if there are any major teething problems with the first ones they send out, there is a chance they'll fix them for the second lot.

sungod

hands-on review here...

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/08/hand ... meter.html

the subscription bit is novel for a powermeter, but does raise the question of what happens if they go titsup, will they do a final 'unlock' to allow use?

pinno

"That means you can use it with a Garmin, Polar, Suunto, or your phone."

I have none of the above. I emailed them to ask them if you could download to PC/laptop. No response. I asked them what BB I would need as I currently have a Campag UT BB/Campag Chainset. No response. I asked them what chainrings would fit on the spider - 135 bcd or 110 bcd and if it would take standard chainrings. No response.
Do I sign up, pay some money and then receive an item that isn't compatible and I don't have the facility to download and then get a refund when I cannot make it work?

pinno

...oh and you can only choose a 172.5mm crank arm length on the spider. I've run 175mm's for eons. I did have a 172.5mm compact for a while and hated the thing.

"Last but not least, it’s worth pointing out that if you’re looking at the Zimanox variant (left-only side), they’re only offering 172.5mm cranks. They noted that’s the size preferred by 70% of riders, which is probably about right. Down the road they’ll expand crank arm length options, but for now…that’s it."

Man Of Lard

Likewise I'm out (175mm cranks) and by the time the £140 + 23 monthly fees is taken in to account that's getting quite close to the £350 that 4iiii want for a LH 105 crank arm for a product that is actually shipping (so that's where I'll be going... Plus I have £200 of Evans vouchers from Tesco Clubcard boost to soften the blow)

webboo

Team Zwatt shirley that's a spelling mistake and its Team Twatt :?:

sebbyp

Seems a little negative on here!
I've backed them for a Zimanox. Super early bird so should have one of the first production models sent out.
Its like £125 delivered! for a power meter! stages are still around £500 are they not? Sure I have to pay £90 over two years for updates and stuff, but surely that means its warrantied as if it breaks or fails they are not going to force you to pay for it until you get a working PM.
not of this coin cell battery nonsense either.
172.5mm suits me fine and I can swap it between the 10speed road bike and 11speed TT bike, both running Ultegra.
Only thing ever stopping me getting a PM was the initial outlay.
Like the look of the company and it's tech, DC rainmakers review just confirmed my trust doesnt look misplaced.
Roll on Team Zwatt

paul2718

Pinno wrote:

"That means you can use it with a Garmin, Polar, Suunto, or your phone."

I have none of the above. I emailed them to ask them if you could download to PC/laptop.

It's a power meter with ANT+ and BLE compatibility. So you can connect it to your PC if your PC is within wireless range and you have a widget, otherwise you will need another device to display and store the data. Are you really expecting to use a power meter completely offline?

I asked them what BB I would need as I currently have a Campag UT BB/Campag Chainset.

They are doing a Shimano compatible left crank or an FSA based spider which they state is BB386EVO and they provide an exhaustive list of BB converters.

I asked them what chainrings would fit on the spider - 135 bcd or 110 bcd

They state 110mm, 4 bolt, Shimano compatible.

and if it would take standard chainrings. No response.

See above.

Do I sign up, pay some money and then receive an item that isn't compatible and I don't have the facility to download and then get a refund when I cannot make it work?

It would be worth reading their page before asking further questions. And doing some research regarding what a power meter is and how it is used.

(I haven't emailed them, so they've not replied. I just looked at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/te ... ower-meter )

Paul

TeamZwatt

Pinno,
Sorry about the no reply thing. Not sure how you fell through the cracks. We have Erling on full time answering emails... Lots of answers that are in the FAQ or on the page already, but still. We really try to be responsive within reason.

Paul,
Thanks for answering the actual questions

pinno

TeamZwatt wrote:

Pinno,
Sorry about the no reply thing. Not sure how you fell through the cracks. We have Erling on full time answering emails... Lots of answers that are in the FAQ or on the page already, but still. We really try to be responsive within reason.

Paul,
Thanks for answering the actual questions

I am very pleased to see that you took note of this and responded. I'm slightly reluctant to take an offer of a power meter up.
Not only will I have to fork out for a different BB, I will need some sort of moving ANT+ or Blue tooth (?) device as I don't own a smartphone or Satnav device such as Garmin/Tom Tom. I do not intend to buy one of these either.
The 172.5mm cranks are not my cup of tea but it's only small detractor. The overall cost plus the instalments is as previously stated, come close to the cost of a rival 4iiii set up.

I thought perhaps initially that if it were relatively cheap and even if I handed the unit back to you on completion of whatever you're trying to establish i.e Form, function, reliability, ease of use, software development, price etc etc, I would have been happy to get involved.
The other side of the coin, which I am sure you are well aware of, is that I think the power meter in the amateur market is at the beginning of the revolution so to speak and many many more power meters will come on to the market in the near future which maybe a little bit more versatile, offers more choice and will be cheaper. Who knows?

It may be that at some point in the future I will get one but it will be out of initial sheer curiosity and at a later point (when I am not up to my eyeballs in work, being Dad and everything else), use one for practical purposes.

Ultimately, I wish you luck developing this.

bobmcstuff

Pinno, I don't think there is a single power meter out there which records all data internally and doesn't require some sort of external data recorder...

Additionally I would have thought the population of potential power meter customers who don't have some sort of GPS or head unit let alone a mobile phone (!) is next to none, so if you really want power you may find yourself forced to join the 21st century! Although any cheap Android handset should do the job so it wouldn't set you back much at all.

pinno

bobmcstuff wrote:

Pinno, I don't think there is a single power meter out there which records all data internally and doesn't require some sort of external data recorder...

Additionally I would have thought the population of potential power meter customers who don't have some sort of GPS or head unit let alone a mobile phone (!) is next to none, so if you really want power you may find yourself forced to join the 21st century! Although any cheap Android handset should do the job so it wouldn't set you back much at all.

My job consisted of mainly driving, processing cans and fixing machinery. I didn't need a smart phone because I didn't have time to surf the net or send emails and besides, phones mixed with oil and filth never lasted long and I would always be on my laptop at some part of the day. I do have a mobile phone BTW. It may do/have done the job.
I hope your sitting down because I can also read a map.
If I saw an Android, i'd tw@t it with a cricket bat.

Power meter sends signals to a head unit with an LCD current display and saves info. Head unit plugs into USB port. Head unit is provided by Power Meter manufacturer with zero compatibility issues and download software provided online.
Job done.
How's that for an idea?

Man Of Lard

And now the main reason for my not backing (crank length choice) is gone (along with the super early bird packages :roll: ) the choice of backing or not is much harder - also it appears 4iiii aren't shipping until November now (was originally July 1, slipped to mid August, now November 1 - at least at Evans)

stevie63

No good for me, still no 165mm option