Barrettscv 

Now that Garmin has an almost affordable pedal mounted power meter, I'm thinking of taking the plunge next year. This is a great guide and review: The Power Meters Buyer?s Guide?2014 Edition | DC Rainmaker

Anyone using a power meter?

tony2v

I have a PowerTap G3 custom wheelset (Velocity Deep V rims, 24H & 28H) on my Moots Compact. On my Alchemy I have the Enve SES 3.4 clinchers with a PowerTap G3 hub. I was running the PoweTap SL+ on Enve Classic 45 clinchers upgraded to G3 electronics, but sold it to get the Enve SES wheels.

jyl

I'm planning to get the 4iiii crank-mounted power meter. Precision - 4iiii Innovations Waiting for a full review by DC Rainmaker, also to confirm I can attach it to my vintage Campy cranks (the crank needs to have a flat backside, so should work). $400 for left crank only, $750 for both cranks. I'll start w/ left only.

JTGraphics

I have a hand built Powertap SL+ hub laced to a Kinlin XR-270 rim 24r/2X using CXRay-Black spokes on the Drive Side and laced 2X using XRay-Black spokes on the Non-Drive Side and DT-12mm-Brass-Silver nipples.
Light and very good stiffness its been a very good wheel.

volosong

I have had a Stages PM for almost a year now. I switch it from bike to bike as needed. Still learning how to use it correctly. Or more accurately8 . . . how to understand the output better.

dbg

I think they are VERY cool. But they are still way down on my list of things to spend money on (below dura-ace, below Di2, below exotic bike trips, below exotic anything trips, belgian beers, ...)

(And deep down I'm not sure I want a device to tell me what a wimp I am --or worse, that my wimpy-ness is increasing at an increasing rate)

kingfishr

I have both Garmin Vector and a Quark crankset. Using a power meter has been a huge help in time trialling, and for rides longer than 30-40 miles. Knowing your ftp makes it much easier to stay within your limits to avoid bonking. I am planning on picking up the new Vector for my third bike.

no sweat

When I feel like I want numbers, I'll fire up Strava. That way, there's enough uncertainty built into everything that if I don't *like* the numbers I see I can just blow 'em off.

Edit: and besides... what I really want is a power AMPLIFIER..... Arrrrrrrrrrr!

mr645

I have the Polar WIND power system. Works well, just not easy to get data off the computer, but it displays power and all the other data while riding

CrankyOne

Powertap w/ Garmin head. I don't race anymore so didn't need it for anything serious but it is kind of fun to see the numbers. Bike shop made me a good deal on the Powertap when I bought my bike a few years ago. Theoretically it should give you more accurate calorie burn and stuff but I've not noticed a huge difference with or without the powertap.

Hermes

I have Power tap, Quarq and Garmin Vector Power meters. I use the Quarq on the road and TT bikes and the Garmin Vector on the track bike and tandem. My Power Tap is installed in a set of Williams System 30s that I have on a spare road bike. I have used Training Peaks WKO, Golden Cheetah and most recently Cycling Analytics software. Cycling Analytics software is the best match for my needs for analysis and computer / system compatibility.

I was an early adopter of the Quarq and got one of the first compact doubles that they offered. There have been some reliability problems with the early versions of the Quarq and I had to send back all the units I purchased for replacement. With the Garmin Vector, all the pedal pods have failed and Garmin has replaced them all under warranty.

My primary use of the Vector is at the track where I swap it between bikes. I have found that it misses the initial 7 seconds of my 500 meter sprint. I have discussed this with Garmin and they gave me a revised calibration protocol. I am going to put my track Power Tap on my track bike along with the Vector and do some testing. I suspect that the accelerometers are not fast enough to capture the standing start. Roadies would not not this since the accelerometers are sending data. But a standing start is a different animal.

Cycling Analytics captures left and right leg data. In general, I am 50/50 but.... I have recorded some efforts 60/40. So recording only one leg may be a problem from time to time but the user will never know that there is a problem. IMO, it is not so much the absolute power but the repeatability of the measurement that is more important.

My wife and I have 6 years of power data from races, rides and vacations that we annotate with our personal notes. It is great to have a database of information such that when you return to a ride, one can review the power profile and generate a plan for the ride.

Allegheny Jet

I have a PT Pro+ wheel build with a 30mm Kinlin rim that I use on my road bikes and cross bike. I have used the PT wheel for 5 seasons and had to replace the bearings twice with no other problems. On my track bikes I use a Stages Track PM built into a Dura Ace Crank arm. Stages only makes the track specific crank with Dura Ace due to the crank arm needing to be solid. As for being only able to measure the left side power, for me that's a non issue since my left ankle is fused and the right side has severe arthritis. If I have an imbalance between sides it doesn't matter since I can't really address the issue due to my limiters. Unlike Hermes issue with the Garmin during the 500 TT and Pursuit starts the Stages begins recording data the moment I blast off. The Stages data is displayed every 1" when I see it downloaded to the computer. Over the winter I intend to find out of it's the Stages software, program software or other reason that may be limiting additional time points with data. My PT data when loaded onto the computer shows time, distance, cadence, power, HR, and torque. The Stages meter does not record torque but does record temperature. I load both power devices into Power Agent software where I can do analysis and tracking of workouts. Both devices use ANT+ and the Stages also will transmit in Bluetooth. At first I tried to pair the Stages with a Wahoo RFLT+ computer head that communicated the data to my iPhone via Bluetooth. For indoor workouts it worked fine when the iPhone was next to me on the pool table or mounted on the bar. Being able to send ride data to my computer with a double tap on the cell phone was fantastic. Once I moved outdoors and put the iPhone in my jersey pocket the BT would not transmit from the computer head through my body. (keep fat jokes to a minimum please)

madoneboy

I am waiting for the release and reviews of the Precision 4iiii. In the meantime, I have been using an iBike Newton which expresses power through a system of sensors and algorithms-e.g. grade, accelerometer, altitude, wind pressure. It has been tested against strain gauge meters and fares well. It is easy to switch between bikes.

bowzette

lol-+1

jdon

Nope. Zero use and zero interest.

badger1

"Rule #74 // V Meters or small computers only.
Forego the data and ride on feel; little compares to the pleasure of riding as hard as your mind will allow. Learn to read your body, meditate on Rule #5 , and learn to push yourself to your limit. Power meters, heart rate monitors and GPS are bulky, ugly and superflous. Any cycle computer, if deemed necessary, should be simple, small, mounted on the stem and wireless."

kingfishr

Maybe good advice for the 30-somethings. But I would never be able to keep up with them week in an week out without the feedback from my power meter...

fastcarbon

I'm considering the Stages Power Meter as it is an Ant device that is compatible with my Garmin 705 and I can just get a DA 9000 left crank arm with the power meter already there. At my age (72) I don't care if the left and right sides are slightly different. It is ok if the numbers are repeatable (precision). I only do TT's these days due to taking blood thinners. Maybe I could get my 40k times under an hour by training with this device.

howellhandmade

I have a Stages PM. Works very well for me. I can't say if it's accurate, but it is consistent, so I find it a valuable training tool.

RChung

Yes. I've been using one for a while for an accurate and precise record of my decline.

Jarrett2

What use is a power meter to a recreational rider?

I love crunching ride data, so this thing has me interested, but I'm just not sure what useful info I'll get as a solely rec rider if I make the investment.

I've heard weight loss is one, but not sure how. Also heard bonk avoidance is another, but don't understand how it works. Can anyone inform a power meter newb?

fietsbob

Just the Mains, that supplies the house & they read that one then send me a Bill .

RChung

It measures your power, it's not a bolt-on motor or a mind reader or a fitness coach. If you want to lose a few pounds a bathroom scale can be a useful tool -- or maybe not and it might just give you an accurate record of your ballooning weight and an approximate record of your burgeoning despair. For some, a bathroom scale can provide incentive and feedback so they can learn what works and what doesn't. For others it'll collect dust under the bathroom sink. If you're the kind of person who can use a bathroom scale to achieve goals then maybe a power meter will give you information to help you achieve goals, too. The data may speak for themselves but their voices are soft and sly so you'll need to learn to listen.

Biker395 

If I bought one of those, I'd be sleeping in the garage with it.

kingfishr

That's just crazy... I keep my bikes in my bedroom.