Year end bonus is coming up, and among the things I want to buy is a power meter. Here is my situation:
I do 95% of my bike sessions indoor, on the trainer (winter conditions, work schedule, family schedule, etc.). I have been using a Cycleops Fluid2 trainer with TrainerRoad and Virtual Power for a while with good results (I'd say I range in the top 20% in most races I do, sometimes in top 10%). I have come to a point though where I am starting to get annoyed with the variability in Virtual Power (trainer wheel pressure on tire, tire pressure itself, tire wear, etc.). Hence my interest in a more accurate power reading. I like the trainer, but I cannot rely on it as my power reading.
I also have to add that I will need a second trainer for my wife, as I'm fed up of switching bikes back and forth.
My bike is a road bike (Argon 18 Krypton) built with Shimano 105 (and a few minor pieces in Ultegra - cassette, chain - upgraded when worn out).
I kinda narrowed it down to 5 possibilities that would probably fit the budget. I'm not sure which way to go.
1- Stages PM and a second basic trainer. Straightforward to install, cheap. Would get me more or less stuck with a 105 crank (if I ever wanted to upgrade to Ultegra). Single leg power. Would take care of the second trainer issue as well.
2- Garmin Vector S and a second trainer. Fairly straightforward to install, relatively cheap. Single leg again. I would think about upgrading it to a full Vector in the future, but I'm always annoyed about paying more for something I could have had cheaper if I had bought it complete to start with. Would also take care of second trainer issue. Also... would I need to change other pedal, or can I use different cleats (pedals are 105 currently)?
3- Power2Max. Both legs. A tad more complex to install. A little more expensive - unless I'm wrong, I'd need to get it with Rotor crank to be compatible with groupset. Would need the BB tool as well. Chainrings? I doubt I can fit a second trainer in there when all the tools / accessories are added up. I do most of my minor maintenance, but I've never fiddled with BB and don't have the tools for it (although I have a ½" torque wrench).
4- Garmin Vector. Ideal, but not sure I can fit it in budget.
5- Wahoo Kickr. Would take care of second trainer and constant power reading during training, but obviously useless on race day.
Ideally, I'd like a full Vector set. Should I just wait until I can add up a little money to the bonus? Or is Power2Max easier than I think to install? Or Stages good enough for what I want to do? Thoughts?
I do 95% of my bike sessions indoor, on the trainer (winter conditions, work schedule, family schedule, etc.). I have been using a Cycleops Fluid2 trainer with TrainerRoad and Virtual Power for a while with good results (I'd say I range in the top 20% in most races I do, sometimes in top 10%). I have come to a point though where I am starting to get annoyed with the variability in Virtual Power (trainer wheel pressure on tire, tire pressure itself, tire wear, etc.). Hence my interest in a more accurate power reading. I like the trainer, but I cannot rely on it as my power reading.
I also have to add that I will need a second trainer for my wife, as I'm fed up of switching bikes back and forth.
My bike is a road bike (Argon 18 Krypton) built with Shimano 105 (and a few minor pieces in Ultegra - cassette, chain - upgraded when worn out).
I kinda narrowed it down to 5 possibilities that would probably fit the budget. I'm not sure which way to go.
1- Stages PM and a second basic trainer. Straightforward to install, cheap. Would get me more or less stuck with a 105 crank (if I ever wanted to upgrade to Ultegra). Single leg power. Would take care of the second trainer issue as well.
2- Garmin Vector S and a second trainer. Fairly straightforward to install, relatively cheap. Single leg again. I would think about upgrading it to a full Vector in the future, but I'm always annoyed about paying more for something I could have had cheaper if I had bought it complete to start with. Would also take care of second trainer issue. Also... would I need to change other pedal, or can I use different cleats (pedals are 105 currently)?
3- Power2Max. Both legs. A tad more complex to install. A little more expensive - unless I'm wrong, I'd need to get it with Rotor crank to be compatible with groupset. Would need the BB tool as well. Chainrings? I doubt I can fit a second trainer in there when all the tools / accessories are added up. I do most of my minor maintenance, but I've never fiddled with BB and don't have the tools for it (although I have a ½" torque wrench).
4- Garmin Vector. Ideal, but not sure I can fit it in budget.
5- Wahoo Kickr. Would take care of second trainer and constant power reading during training, but obviously useless on race day.
Ideally, I'd like a full Vector set. Should I just wait until I can add up a little money to the bonus? Or is Power2Max easier than I think to install? Or Stages good enough for what I want to do? Thoughts?