John F. Wilson

I have not seen any posts about an SRM computer flying off the handlebars :)

John Wilson

-----Original Message-----
From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Seth Hosmer
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 2:42 PM
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] power meters

Both SRM and Power Tap are high quality units - the main complaint I hear
about SRM is the cost, and the main complaint about PT is "I don't want to
race with a heavy wheel". Plus, you don't really want to be racing on a
tire that you train on due to tire wear/damage issues.

If you can swing the SRM, it allows the best wheel choice flexibility and
both the splined BB models and newer two piece designs are relatively easy
to swap between bikes. I regularly rotate an SRM between my road, TT and
winter training bikes and it takes about 5 minutes. Not as easy as a
wheelchange with the PT, but then I am not limited with wheel choice for
racing or training.

The SRM is rock solid in wet weather. I haven't used the newer PT in wet
weather to provide first hand experience, but I hear it performs well. The
older PT models were unsatisfactory in wet weather in my experience.

Wireless models of SRM and PT should increase reliability as the wired
harness can be a source of trouble. Plus, at $60+ per wiring harness, if
you are switching between bikes, you eat some of your savings. Powermeters
are all going wireless anyway, so it is probably good to go that route.

Further, with some of the new wireless models using the ANT+ wireless
protocol, you can use different computers...e.g. use a Garmin 705 with the
SRM.

As far as service goes, both SRM and PT have excellent customer service.
SRM is easier/cheaper to ship than shipping a PT wheel if that is required.

If I had it to do all over again, I would still choose the SRM. Reliability
has been stellar, I can use whatever wheels I want, and switching the cranks
between bikes isn't a big deal. The Quarq power meter looks promising, but
they just started shipping...initial impressions seem to be favorable but
long-term reliability is thus far unknown.

Seth Hosmer, DC, CSCS
Health & Performance Chiropractic
www.HPChiro.com
503.227.2279

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