Is it more a problem with power meter pedals rather than just Garmin?

Abstract

Powermeters have traditionally been integrated into the crankset but several manufacturers have designed new systems located elsewhere on the bike such as inside the pedals.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Keo power pedals during several laboratory cycling tasks.
METHODS: Ten active male participants (mean ± SD age 34.0 ± 10.6 y, height 1.77 ± 0.04 m, body mass 76.5 ± 10.7 kg), familiar with laboratory cycling protocols completed this study. Each participant was required to complete two laboratory cycling trials on an SRM ergometer (SRM, Germany) which was also fitted with the Keo power pedals (Look, France). The trials consisted of an incremental test to exhaustion followed by 10 min rest and then three 10 s sprint tests separated by 3 min of cycling at 100 W.
RESULTS: Over power ranges of 75-1147 W the Keo power pedal system produced typical error (TE) values of 0.40, 0.21 and 0.21 for the incremental, sprint and combined trials respectively, compared to the SRM. Mean differences of 21.0 W and 18.6 W were observed between trials 1 and 2 with the Keo system in the incremental and combined protocols respectively. In contrast the SRM produced differences of 1.3 W and 0.6 W for the same protocols respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The power data from the Keo power pedals should be treated with some caution given the presence of mean differences between them and the SRM. Furthermore, this is exacerbated by poorer reliability than that of the SRM powermeter.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....ubmed/24896154/

You'd think that the face Team Garmin's headquarters is literally across the highway from Stages (maybe 1/2 mile as the crow flies)...that if Garmin steps out, they'd pick up Stages as a power meter sponsor. I mean...they're right there & they could walk across the highway. Great opp for pro team research on product & whatever else. Seems like a marriage that would be logical.

Minus the fact that Team Garmin is called...uhh...Team Garmin, not Team Stages. ;)

Fwiw, I've sent over a note asking for an official reasoning.

I also find it a bit odd that they didn't at least keep up appearances and fit the units with pods.

The 910XT/Vector thing is a 910XT thing, not a Vector thing. It occurs on other PM's (Stages and Quarq most notably) in the aero position, depending on frame, body position/composition and just pure luck. Garmin came about as close as you could get to an admission that something was up with the 910XT's and reception for some PM's back late last year, but has since sorta backed away on that (though, it's clear that's really the issue).

I have a hard time believing that a professional cycling team would use a completely different power meter for training as they do for racing. I seem to recall several benchmark studies showing that the data points don't map consistently across the different platforms.

He has a Stages and PowerTap to train with

we never see any riders with much more than 1% difference over the course of a whole ride.

I wouldn't recommend worrying to much about L/R balance.

We talked about that. He was saying that most of the riders he trains/races with, or the trainers aren't ever worried about left/right balance.

Kind of skeptical about the whole issue. Unless you're in the 3-5% of people who have had physical issues with one leg or the other, we never see any riders with much more than 1% difference over the course of a whole ride. That could also just be the 1% error from a power meter.

I wouldn't recommend worrying to much about L/R balance.

When training with power, if you're making your numbers, you're good. If not, you need rest :D

That's interesting....so I'm understanding that after 90ish miles or so, you start seeing the difference in your leg balance??

Definitely could be a "stronger" leg taking hold of the fatigue in the other. Maybe some more single leg or functional strength, isolating the legs.

That's interesting....so I'm understanding that after 90ish miles or so, you start seeing the difference in your leg balance??

Definitely could be a "stronger" leg taking hold of the fatigue in the other. Maybe some more single leg or functional strength, isolating the legs.

That's what totally baffles me. At least try to keep the appearance of using the units.

I just mis-read his statement about it happening due to the wind, and just a suggestion.

Are you saying that functional strength training is bad in general? If not trying to build "strength", what about for better posture on the bike and injury prevention.

The imbalance begins recording as soon as I hit crosswinds and spans entire time of the ride, no connection with fatigue. I rode extensively East-West during those times and our prevailing winds are S-SW, many days of high and gusty winds, so not really related to fatigue.