Picking a power meter
pirnie
Posts: 242
I know there are a bunch of threads out there already on this topic, but my current set of bikes has left me in an awkward position as to what the best power meter to pick is. I'd like to go dual sided as I feel like left only power has limitations (changing leg ratios at different powers etc). I have 2 bikes and would really like to be able to use the setup on both bikes. They are currently set up as:
Winter bike/turbo bike: Shimano 3 x 9spd and I can't put an 11spd cassette on the rear hub
Summer Bike: Campagnolo 2 x 11spd
Both using Look pedals.
As I see it the best choice is to go for a pedal based system, but there are drawbacks with both of them:
Garmin Vector 2:- There still seems to be some questions about consistency of readings after install. Also the 90kg weight limit is a concern since if I get lazy and get a bit above race weight I can easily slide into the 90s.
Powertap P1:- More expensive than the vectors in the UK, and cleat compatibility is a concern since as far as I can tell, you have to use the P1 speicific cleats, Look cleats don't work, which means I would need to change cleats on all my shoes and if I didn't want to use the P1 get a different set of pedals to use that would work with their cleats (I'm not keen on switching cleats since getting them in the wrong place gives me knee issues).
Alternatively, I could go crank based, but as far as I can tell the only way to do that would involve changing the groupset (and possibly the back hub) on the winter bike making it an expensive option, and switching the power meter between bikes would be harder.
These are the options I have come up with so far. At the moment I'm leaning towards the Vector 2 but I was wondering if anyone had any insight into what they'd pick in my situation? Or any options I haven't considered? Cheers in advance!
Winter bike/turbo bike: Shimano 3 x 9spd and I can't put an 11spd cassette on the rear hub
Summer Bike: Campagnolo 2 x 11spd
Both using Look pedals.
As I see it the best choice is to go for a pedal based system, but there are drawbacks with both of them:
Garmin Vector 2:- There still seems to be some questions about consistency of readings after install. Also the 90kg weight limit is a concern since if I get lazy and get a bit above race weight I can easily slide into the 90s.
Powertap P1:- More expensive than the vectors in the UK, and cleat compatibility is a concern since as far as I can tell, you have to use the P1 speicific cleats, Look cleats don't work, which means I would need to change cleats on all my shoes and if I didn't want to use the P1 get a different set of pedals to use that would work with their cleats (I'm not keen on switching cleats since getting them in the wrong place gives me knee issues).
Alternatively, I could go crank based, but as far as I can tell the only way to do that would involve changing the groupset (and possibly the back hub) on the winter bike making it an expensive option, and switching the power meter between bikes would be harder.
These are the options I have come up with so far. At the moment I'm leaning towards the Vector 2 but I was wondering if anyone had any insight into what they'd pick in my situation? Or any options I haven't considered? Cheers in advance!
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http://www.dcrainmaker.com
If it has an 11 speed shimano freehub then you can use a shimano/sram cassette with your 2x11 campag bike, then swap to 9 speed shimano cassette with a spacer for the other bike.
Can be had pretty cheap eg ex rental stock here http://www.cyclepowermeters.com/sale.html - although I'm not sure those have 11 speed freehubs.
Other options than those you've already identified are rather limited because you have a triple chainset on your 3x9 - if you changed that for a double (or just upgraded to a 2x10/2x11 group on that bike) then it would open up quite a few other options for crank based powermeters that would work with both bikes.
Other option is the somewhat unconventional powerpod -
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/03/pow ... eview.html
I have one, and I'm basically happy with it, but the big issue for me is that I find it hard to fit intervals or other power based training sessions into my commute - too busy dodging traffic and staying alive - and I have limited riding time outside that. Still, I've only had it for a few Winter months, during which most of my proper training has been on the turbo anyway (where pseudo power can basically suffice).
Avoid the p1's.
I'm now on my 7th set. The build quality & bearings are complete and utter shite!
Hub based is an interesting idea I hadn't really considered. At the moment I don't run lots of wheelsets and changing a cassette isn't any harder than switching pedals over. Thanks for that!
The powerpod not working on the turbo is a bit of a limiter for me unfortunately, since I do a fair bit of indoor training and I'd rather have consistent data.
I had looked at the bepros, but to me the position of the pods looks awkward. It just looks like the shoes will catch on the pods (I run my cleats so my shoes are almost rubbing on my cranks already). Also the bespoke installation tools put me off slightly, at least a torque wrench for the vectors is a universal tool (and I already have one)
Reports of this are one of the reasons for leaning towards garmin!
+1 I got through 3 sets in 1.5 years
I'm a campagnolo man with the same needs as yourself and went with a dzero.
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Aero 09
Cervelo P5 EPS
www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=13038799
I spent ages researching and planned to go for the Stages for Campag but they had huge issues getting consistent readings from the carbon crank arm. Given their well trailed issues anyway, I decided Incould be spending my life chasing a warranty.
To further complicate things, I made a decision last year to move over to speedplay and bought Speedplay specific Sidi shoes which further limited my choices.
In the end , I went with a Power2max PM, fortunately pre-Brexit when the exchange rate was better and picked up an old style crank arm - which I preferred anyway. Have to say it's been faultless and also looks great.
It hasn't solved my problems as my winter bike has Ultegra and I've just picked up a TT bike which has an FSA SLK carbon crankset......so, in hindsight, maybe Garmin vector pedals would have been the way to go!
@Bigmitch_racing
2010 Specialized Tricross (commuter)
2014 Whyte T129-S
2016 Specialized Tarmac Ultegra Di2
Big Mitch - YouTube
Road, rather than TT. I used to use virtual power on the turbo and have since got a smart trainer, but I'd like to be able use power on my outdoor rides as well and get consistent power data between the two
Of course this is an option for an N+1 to harmonise your groupsets... It'll save you money in the long run....
Power2max
Stages
Pioneer
vectors
I would use again only the pioneer and power2 max. vectors (version 2) are utterly unreliable, and get loads of dropouts. stages are crazy for dropouts and physically they are not up to british weather.
This. I've had no issues with Vectors in the 2+ years I've been running them. All my bikes are Campagnolo and I've been using Look pedals for a long, long time so it was a done deal.
Vectors - on race bike and used with Zwift - no issues
I was one of the early adopters into vector, purely because I had 3 bikes with different bb's etc and portability was key. I had real issues with firmware which meant the vectors weren't usable for about a year. Garmin swapped them twice, the pair I have now have been rock solid but it took a long while to get there. I also run a p2m which I love, it just works every time. Great piece of kit.
From the experiences I would probably go crank based and standardise group sets if possible. My plan b would be something like a power tap and finally I would go pedals once I had exhausted those options. Crank based (whether it's p2m, quarq, et al) seems to have the least issues and be least compromising on installation. But this is purely based on my experiences over 3-4 years of playing with power.
Member of http://www.UKnetrunner.co.UK - the greatest online affiliated running club
I didn't know it had that functionality! Fair play, that's a big deal for them. However, it's the same issue as with virtual power from TrainerRoad which I already use, numbers between outdoors and indoors won't be consistent as they are coming from different measurement sources, which is something I'd like to avoid if possible.
Overall, it looks to me like Vectors are still the best option for me I think, switching groupsets and going crank based works out far more expensive. Thanks for all the input from everyone