I know this topic gets hashed out to death but I am having difficulty understanding all the different options for a powermeter and which one would be best for me. Being a longtime heartrate training guy I understand the limits of that which is why I’ve decided to make the plunge. While I’ve never been one to allow money to be my deciding factor I don’t necessarily have $1600 to drop on the Vector pedals or a crank based system which is why I was leaning towards a Powertap.
I keep thinking that a Powertap is the best option for me, money wise and functionality. I don’t swap wheel sets, I ride ENVE 3.4’s whether I’m training or racing. I am seriously considering a tri-bike purchase within the next year or so (I am on a Venge currently). If one is going back and forth between a road and tri bike and wants to always have power available to train by would Powertap be the best option?
I’m not relishing the idea of losing my Chris King hub that I shelled out extra for when I bought the ENVE’s. Is that something I should be able to sell easily or am I just stuck eating it?
So I know I sound like I have talked myself into Powertap however I’d still like some validation that my line of thinking is correct. I’d also welcome any other ideas or opinions on the best route to go. Thanks in advance.
You sound sold on the Powertap as an idea, but have you considered the used market? I was able to get a Quarq S975 for <900 about a year ago in very good spec. Quarq has an upgrade program now too, so I’m not sure if that’ll impact availability (or what Quarq is doing with these used S975’s). A used crank unit will place you in the same price as a new Powertap though minus labour to swap out your Chris King’s to the Powertap and re-lace, so it’s hard to argue your line of thinking.
For swapping powermeters, you’re right – Powertap will be easiest. I’d argue that Crank will be easier to swap than Pedal (no recalibration to figure out install angle with vector, no fiddly tooling like required for Look Pedal) assuming you have the same BB on both bikes. Someone posted a video here of a crank swap and torqued in under 60 seconds once. Can’t find it now though.
I don’t have experience with anything other than PowerTap but my experience has been great. I bought a used PowerTap laced to a bullet proof wheel that has lasted 3+ years with nothing other than a battery change.
Having owned two Powertaps and a Quarq Elsa, I think you can’t go wrong with a Powetap G3 laced to your Enve’s. Powertap is very much a set it and forget it system. You have speed, cadence, and power all in one unit with no need for any other extra sensors, etc. The data is very reliable, and is a low maintenance unit. My Quarq is just overall more finicky than the Powertap ever was.
I purchased a Stages power meter that I could swap between my tri bike and road bike since both are equipped with Ultegra cranks. I can swap the crank arm in about one minute. The Stages power meter has been great so far and I like the fact that the cadence sensor is built in. The purchase price was 899.
I love mine. I have read some negative stuff on here about them but it mostly quite old now, I think they have ironed out a lot of the issues (mainly the battery running down quickly). I have three bikes I swap it between and it takes about 30 seconds. The unit firmware can be updated using Bluetooth from a phone as well.
Some people might call in to question the accuracy, but as long as I always use the same Stages the data is personal to me, ie if I produce more power then I am stronger, if I am riding at 80% of FTP then it is 80 of an FTP that I measured with that unit.
Happy hunting, whatever you go with you wont regret it, power changes your \approach to training and racing completely!
