i seem to recall this being discussed already in another thread, but i can’t seem to locate it. if someone wants to link that would be great, otherwise, can people give a run down in differences between the two units and whether there is a tangible training value in the $200 extra for the pro version.
I have two of the PowerTap CPU’s and one PowerTap Pro CPU. I never use the non pro CPU’s any more.
The Pro downloads faster, is capable of recording every 1.26 seconds instead of every 2.52 seconds, can record for a longer time period, and the battery lasts much longer, and with the right harness can record real cadence.
I too was skeptical of the value of the Pro but had the opportunity to upgrade cheaply. If you download every ride (if you are using powermeters you should) this difference alone makes it worth it.
Sorry. Can’t help you out. I ride with just a wristwatch these days. It’s pretty simple. If I am heading out for a two hour ride, I make sure that I am turning back towards home at the one hour mark! Works like a charm unless the wind is howling and then I have to make some minor time adjustments.
Fleck
Wristwatch? Is that some sort of new technology? I have not heard of it. It would be great if it could tell you the time rather than having to rely on these damn sun dials!
Skip the first PT, consider a PT Pro, GET a PT SL.
The Pro version, which is supposedly much better than the first, still has a frequent fail rate. I know several who’ve had issues, all requiring shipment back to Cycleops/Graber. Mine went back two weeks ago when it crapped out.
One problem is moisture (Cycleops admitted this to me). Sure, some will ride forever in floods w/ no issue, but not many will be so lucky. Mine was clearly affected by just a few rainy rides, and eventually stopped working completely, a month after last getting wet. The SL supposedly is another level better for water protection, but I’d just stay as dry as you can with any of them.
If you live where it never rains, or rather, where your roads are never wet, then I’d suggest that the Pro is fine.
GET?
i live in phoenix and am not overly concerned about wet weather failure…
I have the standard. I can tell you it records every 1.26 sec like the pro. It will do ~3 hrs of recording that way, and 6-7 every 2.5.
The pro has a real cadence sensor. That might be nice, the std can get confused if you change cadence quickly or alter your pedal stroke. I’m not quite sure what sets it off actually. It just gets confused. The pro can also drop zeros from the avg on the display I think. I’m not sure anyone uses that.
How does the price on the new sl compare?
i think prices are 999, 899, 699. for sl to standard, respectively.
i’ve been training in the old school fashion of late. heck, i wasn’t even using a wristwatch for a lot of my runs towards the end of imaz training. (possibly a mistake as my run wasn’t good). my speedo on the bike conked out as well, so i wasn’t very technical there either.
anyways, sometimes i feel as if i am lacking in focus on bike workouts. i know when my heart is going to explode while running or swimming, so i have a good idea i am doing the level of work i want, even without gadgets. i don’t feel as confident about that when it comes to riding. i won’t call something junk miles, because most anything helps. but i don’t know if i am getting what i want accomplished, accomplished…
Ah. I have the old PowerTap CPU’s that only record every 2.52. I get seven hours at 1.26.
I think it is one of the best upgrades you can do for triathlon. Especially if you ride alone a lot, knowing that every second is “going in the chart” keeps you motivated. Its very helpful to be able to compare workouts also…I came down sick 3 days before IMAZ but raced anyway, and I can look at my HR vs Power from that ride and compare with a couple weeks ago and see the affect, as well as compare with my IMNZ last year. Very interesting data (at least to an engineer).
I ride Ergomo and think it is worth considering. Water resistance is a huge issue for me because I use it inside a lot and it is typically directly under the point where sweat falls off my nose and chin. The Ergomo seems pretty reliable. Are you more likely to switch between wheels or between bikes.
As I understand the hubs are the same for both the Standard and the Pro. The advantage of the Pro is that it downloads faster, can show cadence, heart rate and time simultaneously and you can use it as a computer/HRM with a standard wheel. Its disadvantage is that 1. The yellow is fugly and 2. The extra wire and sensor for the cadence is also fugly
I hate fugly, so I went back to the standard computer. I wish they would bring out a wireless cadence/power pickup ala cateye.
the ergomo has the benefit of being able to race any wheel. not that i have real race wheels, but what i do have is slightly better than the mavic open pro that seems to be a standard set up with a power tap. although i typically shift between a road and tri bike in training, so a quick swap of wheels would be a bit easier than swapping a bb.
also, this will have to be a price based decision. ergomo’s are a bit steeper than the power taps no?
but where the rubber meets the road in terms of collecting and collating the relevant data, is there much difference? cadence is nice, but isn’t the bottom line the wattage numbers?
For my $, the only PT to consider these days is the SL. The standard doesn’t have the capabilities in the CPU department. The Pro (which I have had for almost 3 years) suffers from substandard drive-side bearing/race problems (enough that its worth replacing them with good grade 25 bearings and Dura Ace cone immediately. The SL solves both of these issues with the better CPU like the Pro AND 4 sealed cartridge bearings (as opposed to the 2 sealed cartridge bearings/1 standard drive side cup/cone bearing). Aside from the early production hiccups they had with the SL…now that they’ve got that ironed out, the SL is the way to go. I have one on order with a Zipp rim as we speak.
I should have added that I’ve ridden my Pro model in all kinds of crap, slop, sleet and driving rain with ZERO sealing problems.
uh, anyone want to sell me a powertap? 
Price-wise I think they are fairly close, but haven’t compared dollar for dollar. You have to factor in what is included or what you have to replace with each one…ie, if you go Ergomo and you are not already set up for a Campy tapered bottom bracket, you may need to buy a new pair of cranks (they may have the Shimano available now, not sure). You get a bottom bracket with it, but since you probably alread have one then you just wind up chucking the one you have. With the Power Tap you may wind up building a new rear wheel up, which has costs also. Ergomo comes with the cycling peaks software, don’t know if that is the case for power tap.
If you want to switch bikes a lot, I’d probably go for the power tap. You can get a second bottom bracket for the Ergomo but it is pretty costly. Sounds like you are not hung up on having to race with the newest Zipp disk, so the race wheel benefit may not mean much to you.
The power tap will read lower numbers than the Ergomo or SRM, not as good for your pride. For maybe slightly more money you can sometimes find an SRM on Ebay.
There is no way one is going to find a worthy SRM Pro for less than 2000 on EBay. The SRM Amateur is only slightly better than the Polar power measuring unit due to the Amateur’s history of fluctuating accuracy from what I’ve read.
A PT SL with a Zipp 404 clincher rim would make a good, sturdy racing AND training wheel…and not super heavy either. Make it the 28 spoke version and it will be strong enough for everyday riding.