Power meter choice
Quarq or Vector pedals? Pros & Cons? Please Help
Just make it quick and simple, like that will happen here on ST
Yes i know my seat is to high!
Thanks in advance
Darryl
The short answer: Quarq. Vector, at this point is still less proven, and the Quarq is somewhat more bullet proof. Everyone I know who has a Vector has broken one of the little pods. Of course everyone I know who has a Quarq has had to send it back to the factory, but I still give Quarq the edge.
Longer answer: We need more information. Do you plan on sharing between multiple bikes, and, if so, do they have the same bottom bracket?
The short answer: Quarq. Vector, at this point is still less proven, and the Quarq is somewhat more bullet proof. Everyone I know who has a Vector has broken one of the little pods. Of course everyone I know who has a Quarq has had to send it back to the factory, but I still give Quarq the edge.
Longer answer: We need more information. Do you plan on sharing between multiple bikes, and, if so, do they have the same bottom bracket?
Well the newer Quarq Elsa and Riken (I got the Elsa) are what I ended up with. You can swap out chain rings and need not recalibrate, also with Qalvin you can diagnose the PM and recalibrate yourself if you really think it needs it.
Install and set up was really easy and if you a have different bikes with the same bottom bracket, swapping it out will take just a few minutes.
i don’t plan on sharing between bikes
i can get the vectors for a good price, manage a running store but i want a PM that will not be a big issue/bother
Thanks
.
Stages? Lots of locals here have Stages & despite adhesive issues quoted here on ST, I personally have not known anyone with issues yet using it.
You can swap out chain rings and need not recalibrate, also with Qalvin you can diagnose the PM and recalibrate yourself if you really think it needs it.
Yes you can, but I was referring to defects beyond calibration - in my own case it was “zero offset” an order of magnitude off the usual range. Quarq immediately told me to send it in. Quarq service is great, and my Red PM has only been out of service for about a week in well over a year of use. That beats most of the Vector people I know.
You should seriously consider the Stages power meter. There is no better power meter for the money out there. PowerTap has responded to the value competition by drastically lowering their prices – Wheelbuilder has a deal right now for a DT Swiss Wheelset with a PowerTap for UNDER $800. But for the same price (or less) you can have crank based power from Stages and run any wheelset you like. The only problem with mine is when I do Isolated leg training intervals, I get no data when the left foot is unclipped. Other that that, very happy. I could buy one for my road bike AND my TT bike and still spend hundreds less than a Quark!
I just got a Stages a few weeks ago and the left leg only is blown out of proportion… I was concerned at first, but then did a ftptest and realized that when you’re fatigued, both legs are at their limit age you can’t manipulate the results. Very simple, works great for me and worth considering.
At easier efforts the values can float around, but that just makes you pay attention to what your doing with both legs.
Except you’re limited to Shimano DA, Ultegra, 105, SRAM Rival, Cannondale Hollowgram, and FSA. Not a complete variety of optimal crank choices. Also, that’s JUST for the NDS crank arm. You still have to buy or have a crank for each bike and they’ll possibly have to be the same make/model. Or, you’ll have to do the crank swap each time you swap bikes (no big deal for me, but others yes).
For OP, 1x SRAM Rival full shebang is $900. Crank AND NDS crank arm PM. Not bad.
'Cuz those are such awful crank options you need others? What exactly are you not getting from those options (from a performance perspective, not material)?
Power meter choice
Quarq or Vector pedals? Pros & Cons? Please Help
Just make it quick and simple, like that will happen here on ST
Yes i know my seat is to high!
Thanks in advance
Darryl
Therein lies the rub.
Here’s a good resource: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/09/power-buyers-edition.html
Quarq. Simpler electronics, only 1 battery to worry about going low, less delicate, flaws are well known and easy to account for.
I know you asked about Quarq & the Vector specifically, so I apologize if you’ve already considered the Power2Max and I’m bringing it up. If you haven’t considered it yet, I would take a look at it. I’ve had mine for several months and it simply works. It comes in much cheaper than the Vector and less than the Quarq. The customer service is top notch as well IMO.
Good luck in your buying decision.
If people are going to throw Stages in the mix I’ll throw in Power2max.
Excellent product and the FSA Gossamer crank version is only $899 shipped. So just a little more than the stages and about half the price of a Quarq.
jaretj
I really like the vectors. In 5-10 minutes I can have power on my road bike or tri bike without having to take them to a shop. Haven’t done it yet, but I could put them on my mountain bike if I wanted to!
Quarq. Simpler electronics, only 1 battery to worry about going low, less delicate, flaws are well known and easy to account for.
Care to give a quick outline on the more well known problems with a Quarq? I’ve got a Quarq Red on a USPS truck headed my way. Thanks!
Not much different than any other power meter.
Temperature changes require zeroing, some models are affected by chainring installation, that kind of thing.
Vector may be no different it just hasn’t been around long enough for us to all know. RC Rainmaker’s reviews suggest it is pretty solid, and if for some reason pedals were way more convenient than cranks I would go for it.
Quarq. Simpler electronics, only 1 battery to worry about going low, less delicate, flaws are well known and easy to account for.
Care to give a quick outline on the more well known problems with a Quarq? I’ve got a Quarq Red on a USPS truck headed my way. Thanks!
'Cuz those are such awful crank options you need others? What exactly are you not getting from those options (from a performance perspective, not material)?
You’re joking, right? Performance is bred from material.
What if you’re sponsored by or ride all Campy? Not an option. How about Specialized specific crank? No can do. Why did they bother w/ Rival? Quarq is owned by SRAM, May as well have skipped it. No Zipp. Ever hear of a little brand called Rotor who makes killer cranks? Yup, no option. Even if you ride all SRAM, say Red b/c you get a shop deal or like their best stuff, you’re stuck w/ a Rival crank or some bastardized Red crank w/ a Rival NDS arm.
What is a person not getting? Freedom to choose their brand of crank they want to use or currently already own.
I just got the Vector pedal system and I think it gives good bang for the buck if you have all the tools. I can switch my pedals in a few minutes and I get true L/R balance which I actually found out to be important for me. I’ve had multiple surgeries all on the left leg and turns out after about 45min-1hr my balance goes from 50/50 to 40/60 (60 being the right leg) not sure if that’s really “bad” but I know that my left leg felt like it was working just as hard as my right leg.
Both options are great and that was just my 2cents. Everyone is going to justify the PM they own. Hence all the people telling you about ones you didn’t ask about. My brother in law has the Quarq and it works great as well.
Quarq. Simpler electronics, only 1 battery to worry about going low, less delicate, flaws are well known and easy to account for.
Care to give a quick outline on the more well known problems with a Quarq? I’ve got a Quarq Red on a USPS truck headed my way. Thanks!
The S975 had a lot of problems, too many to be coincidence. I had two fail on me. The first one started to drop data, then the offset went to 2000+, then it died. Quarq replaced it. The second one read low over time. It would drop 2-5% per month. As I was coming back from injury, this was a big problem. I kept getting stronger but my Quarq kept telling me I wasn’t. This time Quarq replaced it with a Riken. No issues so far. The Red uses the newer electronics so you should be fine.