2021/2022 Power Meters

I feel like I am kinda of answering my own question here some.

Not bought a new PM since in 2017 after having 2 quarq’s die on me and moving all 3 of my bikes to SRM.

Now I have 2 new TT builds coming one is already going to have a quarq the other is a frame up build… I have to pick a new power meter to pair with a Shimano build.

I am trying to be a little cost conscious so was looking at the following:

  • Stages: at they better now in 2021 then they have been in the past? Easy adaptation with crank arms to a DA crank. Bike shop likes Stages and says any issue new parts in 24-48 hours from CO.
  • Rotor: 24mm spindle works with t47 trek, friends use it plug and play they say no issues.
  • SRM: most expensive but plug and play, rock solid
  • Shimano PM: Read will be updated this year and more accurate then last models but still unknown due to being brand new.

Thoughts anymore?

any pm on a shimano right crank is subject to accuracy issues, including the new ones https://gplama.com/2021/11/24/shimano-duraace-r9200-p-power-meter-initial-lama-lab-test-data-review/
as best i can figure you might as well save some money and go left-only if you already have an idea of what your power balance is like

i’d add 4iiii to the list - have/had a few and all good, like stages except without the history of problems
.

If you use Look or SPD-SL pedals already, I’d strongly consider the Favero Assioma Duos. You just missed their Black Friday sale, but they’re still price competitive, extremely reliable, and easy to swap between bikes if you want to have one power meter.

I had just watched that video tonight. Really good detailed stuff.

If you use Look or SPD-SL pedals already, I’d strongly consider the Favero Assioma Duos. You just missed their Black Friday sale, but they’re still price competitive, extremely reliable, and easy to swap between bikes if you want to have one power meter.

Staying away from pedals since will have speedplay on my main other 2-3 bikes and done want to need one paid of shoes / race shoes for one bike.

I just took delivery of a new wireless SRM to replace my 14 year old wired system(that still worked perfectly). Unfortunately my P4 is finished, so the move to a new frame was required, and not a choice. Wired SRM had about 120,000 km on it, so it didn’t owe me anything. Durability and accuracy is what I look for in a purchase. I have no doubt my new system will perform admirably.

I just took delivery of a new wireless SRM to replace my 14 year old wired system(that still worked perfectly). Unfortunately my P4 is finished, so the move to a new frame was required, and not a choice. Wired SRM had about 120,000 km on it, so it didn’t owe me anything. Durability and accuracy is what I look for in a purchase. I have no doubt my new system will perform admirably.

I have 24k miles btw 3 different bikes /srm now and zero issues

Power2Max is worth looking at. Have a reputation as drop-dead reliable. And that’s my experience with them on 2 bikes after having your same Quarq problem (went through 4-5 trips through warranty service over the years).

Second hand SRM? Cheap and still bullet proof. We run second hand SRMs far over 100 000 km the last decade without problems.

I just took delivery of a new wireless SRM to replace my 14 year old wired system(that still worked perfectly). Unfortunately my P4 is finished, so the move to a new frame was required, and not a choice. Wired SRM had about 120,000 km on it, so it didn’t owe me anything. Durability and accuracy is what I look for in a purchase. I have no doubt my new system will perform admirably.

I have 24k miles btw 3 different bikes /srm now and zero issues

I had an SRM PM7. Chain drop bent the housing on the spider and it stopped working. They (SRM USA) charged me $700+ a few years back for a replacement unit. On top of that losing the unit for a week to a month to replace the battery depending on their service times and shipping from wherever I was to Colorado Springs was enough for me. I’m looking at a Power2Max track spider here shortly for my Rotor cranks. I wouldn’t be opposed to a updated Quarq DFour if that gets released either.

add 4iiii to the list - have/had a few and all good, like stages except without the history of problems

Seconded this.

They have some decent prices too, just saw a 105 left crank arm “recycled” ( arm still looks new ) for $280 Canadian

Nothing but positive reviews from anyone I know.

I had a 4iiiii single sided pm, “okay” is about as high as I’d rate it.
Built up a new training bike with an xcadey pm bolted to a set of gxp crankarms, and the numbers are far far better when compared simultaneously with my hammer turbo.

If you can live with something other than a shimano chainset, I’d seriously consider one of their other options (available for rotor etc)

Power2Max is worth looking at. Have a reputation as drop-dead reliable. And that’s my experience with them on 2 bikes after having your same Quarq problem (went through 4-5 trips through warranty service over the years).

I have several Power2Max power meters and least 8 among friends. All have been reliable. I installed all of them and they’d come back to me if anyone had a problem.

I have two second generation (with the big triangle) and three newer NGeco’s. The second generation you have to zero after about 30 min of non-stop pedaling on the trainer. The NGeco adjusts itself.

I have friends with the Quarq but the only issues I’ve heard of were from the Cinqo / Saturn.

Edit: I didn’t install any of the Quarq’s

Power2Max is worth looking at. Have a reputation as drop-dead reliable. And that’s my experience with them on 2 bikes after having your same Quarq problem (went through 4-5 trips through warranty service over the years).

I love my Power2. Never have to think about it. Just works. It’s consistent. like it a lot.

You are probably going to be unhappy with anything other than an SRM at this point, but if you want to save a few bucks I would look at 4iiii.

You are probably going to be unhappy with anything other than an SRM at this point, but if you want to save a few bucks I would look at 4iiii.

Rodger that, kinda of my thoughts as well.

I did notice not one person has said Stages! Is the accuracy still a problem like it was in the the 2012-2016 range. Been years since really even thought about power meters.

I did notice not one person has said Stages! Is the accuracy still a problem like it was in the the 2012-2016 range. Been years since really even thought about power meters.

Double-sided you might be OK. Single-sided I can corroborate the known data quality issues oft-discussed here.

The latest generation, the reliability seems good. I’ve had none of the excessive battery draw or connection issues I saw on the older generation.

Since I have 5 bikes, I just throw it on bikes I don’t really care about super high quality measurement on, e.g. where I just want my training load to stay reasonably well up-to-date if I take that bike out.

I did notice not one person has said Stages! Is the accuracy still a problem like it was in the the 2012-2016 range. Been years since really even thought about power meters.

I have no experience with Stages, but I had an old SRM and switched to 4iiii. The measurements seemed to be pretty close (based on RPE and heart rate on erg workouts where the PM was matched to the trainer). YMMV, as countless threads will support. I’m not within 1-2 watts of a World Championship, so I don’t care.

Any reason you’re not looking into pedal based power meters? I have two sets of Favero Assioma Dous and they are excellent.

Any reason you’re not looking into pedal based power meters? I have two sets of Favero Assioma Dous and they are excellent.

Yes two reason:

  1. Running speedplay now and dont want to switch that out on all the bikes.
  2. Aerowise speedily still seem to be the best for racing: but maybe thats changed in past few years?

If I am incorrect about these let me know please