Leibowitz, Flo
The only catch I have experienced with the Powertap (which I otherwise love) is that if you are going to both race and train with the Powertap-hubbed wheel, you are likely to have to choose in a time trial between racing with the PT wheel and racing with a disk or a trispoke or the like. In the lower cats, this doesn't have to matter a whole lot but at your level, surely it does.
I suppose a compromise is to build the PT hub onto a deep dish wheel, like Hed Alps or something. However, then you have to use it for training, too. To repair it, if it is hurt in training is expensive, but maybe that is a price a person can pay. At my level of riding, it isn't worth to me. I wonder also whether there are circumstances where you just wouldn't use a deep dish wheel....in which case, you'd have to do without the PT, too, on that occasion.
My PT is built on a very inexpensive wheel. I use it to race with when I want the PT -- which is all the time! At my level of racing, though, it doesn't matter a whole lot to have a fancy wheel...in my view, anyhow. The value of the PT info wins every time.
________________________________
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org on behalf of Russell @ Upper Echelon Fitness
Sent: Tue 8/19/2008 1:23 PM
To: melissa@melissasanborn.com
Cc: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Power Meters
Melissa -
It's an endless discussion on which is better, or best for each person. I've used SRM and Powertap extensively for many years, and they both work well. From a reliability standpoint, the SRM is going to hold up better. Powertaps have gotten a lot better, though. For most people I work with, a Powertap is their choice. Why? $1500 Vs $4,000 is a big difference. SRM is out of reach for most. They both work fine, though. If you can build a wheel you can both race and train on, then Powertap is a good choice. The wireless is the absolute way to go. one of the most common failures in the system was the wiring harness, and this allows you to swap from bike to bike very easily. In the NW, being able to switch the wheels from race bike to rain bike is important. Because power data is good for objective feedback during your training and communicating this with your coach, if you have one. But data from every ride needs to be recorded if you are going to get everything out of it and incorporate the performance management applications. So, no right answer for everyone. I think it's best to have an SRM on every one of your bikes.... but that's not going to happen. So get a Powertap you can both train and race on, and go with it. That works for most. The Quark seems to be working alright for folks too, but I'm giving that some more time before I make any conclusions. The wattage forum is a great place to get questions answered since every questions. No doubt, if you are looking for clear, objective training data, power is the essential. And if you are communicating your data with someone else, then that's an even great reason to use wattage.
RC
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Russell Cree, DPT, CSCS
Upper Echelon Fitness
CONNECT Bike Fitting
Portland, OR
503-501-8121
On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 12:48 PM, Melissa Sanborn wrote:
I've been using a PowerTap on and off for about 6 years. First it was the standard model, then the Pro, and now the 2.4 wired carbon SL model. Power is a GREAT training tool when the tool works! Several riders/clients I know use both the PowerTap and the SRM with some mixed feelings. I'm thinking about the cost of these things and upgrading my wired model to a wireless model. However, I'm a little hesitant due to their reliability but I'm also not convinced an SRM is the answer either and an even greater expense than a PT. I am wondering what others have experienced and what their preference is for training and racing with power. Of course, training with power is only great if you can race with it, too... which is another problem in itself. What wheel to lace the PT to or what bike to install the SRM on? Is it easy to swap an SRM from the winter bike to the race bike? The wattage forum might be a helpful place to start as well and I think others on this list may be asking the
mselves the same questions.
Thanks,
Melissa Sanborn
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--
Russell Cree, DPT, CSCS
Upper Echelon Fitness
CONNECT Bike Fitting