pretzelface

I'm trying to start training with power, but I'm on a pretty restricted budget, so wireless seems like an extravagance. However, I'd like to be able to use a power meter on both my road bike and my commuter/CX bike.

Thing is, I like to hammer the heck out of my commute/around-town riding with heavy panniers - it's sort of like weight training, and it's made noticeable improvements in my seated climbing ability.

Would I get substantial benefit from having power numbers for those rides? Enough to justify the difference in price?

J.Lockdown

Well first you can get the PowerTap wired comps from Compeative Cyclist for about $650 (I have been using it for almost a year) and then purchase a 2nd wiring harness for about $40 for your commuter. This will allow you to switch the wheel out between the two bikes fairly easy, and wont burn to big of a hole in your pocket as some of the wireless configurations.

The 2nd item is, would you really be training while on your commuter? Part of training is working in particular power zones or limiting yourself to some, so if you can do those on your commute then it might not be a bad idea.

pretzelface

Wow, that solves my problem pretty handily. Much cheaper than buying a wireless unit - I'll just have to live with not being able to talk to a hypothetical future GPS purchase.

merlinextraligh

If you can you really do want to have power for all your rides, including the commuting. All of the rides add when you're tracking CTL ATL TSS etc.

kukusz

I had wired power on my race bike and CX bike and switched the wheel out without a problem. I'm pretty sure you can score this pretty cheap these days:

https://www.saris.com/p-366-powertap-comp.aspx

I saw one go for $350 used on my local cycling listserv.

Psimet2001 

FWIW - Saris does not list the wired comp model on their 2010 OEM price list. Only wireless units.