Does anybody know how SRM Power meter calculates average power, ie if you are not pedaling on downhill or straight (but still moving) …does it record the power as ‘zero’ and in that way drives the average power lower or the meter eliminates those idle spots and only records power when there is a cadence > 0?
If SRM is smart enough to eliminate those idle spots, I guess that would mean that SRM’s average power is close to what Joule 2.0 would present as ‘normalized power’ (probably not the same but close). Comments?
The SRM can be set up to show average power with zeros included, average power without zeros, or both alternating. You are correct that average power without zeros gives a decent approximation of NP but it isn’t perfect. To show average power with zeros, in the options menu choose “time speed > 0”. To show average power without zeros choose “time cadence > 0”. To show both alternating, check both. I like to have both checked personally.
The power meter’s head unit shows a wattage output that is being produced by the rider. In other words, when you pedal (and produce power), the SRM crank measures how much power you are producing and transmits that value to the head unit attached to your handlebar (whether it is a SRM Powercontrol, Joule, Garmin, etc.). Neither the SRM crank nor the Powercontrol head unit is programmed to show normalized power (NP).
If you want a NP calculation, you have to download the data from your Powercontrol into a program like WKO+ or use the Joule…