Hi there – hoping for some recommendations.
Just ordered a new TT rig with disc brakes (new to me) and Shimano 12-speed setup and I need to figure out a power meter solution.
Background
I am still using Power Tap wheels (rim brakes) and over the years I’ve owned 9 of them (I still have 5 in active duty) and they have been flawless. As long as the batteries are changed, set it and forget it. Always work, never a doubt on reasonable accuracy and stable with both connection and readings.
Every other solutions I’ve tried in past years to move to something else than my trusty powertap hubs have been fails.
Obviously with the new bike being disc brake, I need to get a different PM solution. I do not want power pedals so I am thinking one of the crank based solutions, that will work well with Shimano 12-speed chain rings. Must also be double sided.
I am also looking at something very reliable and that I can trust just like I could with the powertap hubs.
From my own research, I’ve identified 2 candidates, looking for feedback on those (or other recommendation if you think you have a holy grail for my expectations…)
1) Stages’ new LR crank sets for Shimano 12 speed)
($865 Ultegra, $1,225 D-A or appealing $530 for sending in the Ultegra crank that will come w my new bike)
Shane Miller (GP Lama) in his recent videos tested them, they did awesome and he called them the best options for Shimano 12-speed users. High praises from him.
From my past experience w Stages, I am worried about the connectivity issues w Garmin head units.. Is it a lot more stable now?
Also concerned by the other post on slowtwitch about scary customer support on a new Stage stationary bikes..,
Should I be concerned about the lack of support?
The price point of the install service by sending your own crank for upgrade ($530, ~4 week turn around) seems pretty appealing.. Anyone did that? Were you happy with the results?
2) Power2Max NG w Aldhu R 24mm crank w Ultegra chain rings ($1,299 assembled)
NG’s have been out for a while.. still relevant? Price is much higher that above.. but if a better option fine.
Reliability?
Worth the higher price?
Any issues for current users?
What else is out there I should consider and why?
Thanks for your recommendations, tried a few things in the past and been burned, hoping the next time will be a better experience..
---------------------------------
T. Guertin / Spocket
Just ordered a new TT rig with disc brakes (new to me) and Shimano 12-speed setup and I need to figure out a power meter solution.
Background
I am still using Power Tap wheels (rim brakes) and over the years I’ve owned 9 of them (I still have 5 in active duty) and they have been flawless. As long as the batteries are changed, set it and forget it. Always work, never a doubt on reasonable accuracy and stable with both connection and readings.
Every other solutions I’ve tried in past years to move to something else than my trusty powertap hubs have been fails.
- Stages (1 sided, gen 1 or 2 not sure) crank arm on my mountain bike: signal to Garmin head unit was often dropping.. I do not use that bike often, most of the time I went to use the bike after a period of inactivity the battery was dead (of course I was already out by the time I saw that.
-
- Quarq Elsa RS (bought used I concede) – flawless on the trainer, frequent power drops on the road (vibrations). Sent to SRAM/Quarq.. they went through a bunch of test, returned it saying it was fine.. same issue. I still have it, but ride it on the trainer as secondary power source.
-
- Garmin Rally pedals (Shimano) – Looked promising at first, matched my power taps within a couple of watts after calibration of both.. but it soon became clear the power readings were drifting on long rides (likely due to temperature changes over the course of the ride). I won’t go in the details here, but I know it was the pedals not the PTAP that had an issue. I gave it a chance, waiting for a few firmwares to come out and test, no joy. Sold them.
Obviously with the new bike being disc brake, I need to get a different PM solution. I do not want power pedals so I am thinking one of the crank based solutions, that will work well with Shimano 12-speed chain rings. Must also be double sided.
I am also looking at something very reliable and that I can trust just like I could with the powertap hubs.
From my own research, I’ve identified 2 candidates, looking for feedback on those (or other recommendation if you think you have a holy grail for my expectations…)
1) Stages’ new LR crank sets for Shimano 12 speed)
($865 Ultegra, $1,225 D-A or appealing $530 for sending in the Ultegra crank that will come w my new bike)
Shane Miller (GP Lama) in his recent videos tested them, they did awesome and he called them the best options for Shimano 12-speed users. High praises from him.
From my past experience w Stages, I am worried about the connectivity issues w Garmin head units.. Is it a lot more stable now?
Also concerned by the other post on slowtwitch about scary customer support on a new Stage stationary bikes..,
Should I be concerned about the lack of support?
The price point of the install service by sending your own crank for upgrade ($530, ~4 week turn around) seems pretty appealing.. Anyone did that? Were you happy with the results?
2) Power2Max NG w Aldhu R 24mm crank w Ultegra chain rings ($1,299 assembled)
NG’s have been out for a while.. still relevant? Price is much higher that above.. but if a better option fine.
Reliability?
Worth the higher price?
Any issues for current users?
What else is out there I should consider and why?
Thanks for your recommendations, tried a few things in the past and been burned, hoping the next time will be a better experience..
---------------------------------
T. Guertin / Spocket