Powermeter advice...
Discussion
Christmas is fast approaching and I'd like to treat myself with a powermeter.
I currently run SRAM Red, so carbon cranks rule out systems such as Stages. I quite like the idea of the Quarq crankset available for SRAM Red, however I have the non 22 version, and it seems quite hard to find this crankset on a compact chainset and 172.5mm cranks anywhere online. Also this limits any future upgrades.
This leaves me with the Garmin Vectors, which seems like a great solution, but I have yet to speak to anyone who uses them, only online reviews. So does anyone on here use them, and how are they getting along? Online reviews seem to suggest they are accurate and consistent, so they are currently my top choice.
Any experience of both Quarq or Vectors welcome, as well as any other suggestions. However I do not want a hub based system due to multiple sets of wheels.
I currently run SRAM Red, so carbon cranks rule out systems such as Stages. I quite like the idea of the Quarq crankset available for SRAM Red, however I have the non 22 version, and it seems quite hard to find this crankset on a compact chainset and 172.5mm cranks anywhere online. Also this limits any future upgrades.
This leaves me with the Garmin Vectors, which seems like a great solution, but I have yet to speak to anyone who uses them, only online reviews. So does anyone on here use them, and how are they getting along? Online reviews seem to suggest they are accurate and consistent, so they are currently my top choice.
Any experience of both Quarq or Vectors welcome, as well as any other suggestions. However I do not want a hub based system due to multiple sets of wheels.
Edited by ChrisMCoupe on Monday 3rd November 09:10
ChrisMCoupe said:
I don't have Red 22 mate, it's the previous (Red 20 if you like) version. It's BB30.
Yeah I have heard of the accelerometers can break quite easily, but from a data point of view i've not seen anything bad said about them.
Plenty of bb30 qaurqs out there...Yeah I have heard of the accelerometers can break quite easily, but from a data point of view i've not seen anything bad said about them.
Speak to Matt at cyclepowermeters.com
ChrisMCoupe said:
Thanks Rob. Am I right in saying that I can buy a BB30 ELSA or Riken system (chassis only) without chainrings, and put my existing SRAM Red chainrings on?
Yep, the Red unit is just a rebadged Elsa anyway. And yes you can put your existing rings on, but you'll need a torque wrench,.Vector user here:
Short version: it just works.
I had an early version, and had problems with the pods eating batteries (apparently a failure to go to sleep) - 3 emails with garmin support and they swapped them out for a new set, no problems since. I'm lead to believe that they changed the material they manufactured the pods from to be a different alloy as the original was a little brittle, hence the snapped pod syndrome. Frankly if you install them in the orientation suggested, and take half decent care of your bike, I can't see the problem, you'd be a bit of a klutz to be whacking them on things.
Downsides are the torque wrench / crowfoot adapter requirement. I heard they come with an adapter these days, but it's a faff. Mine actually run as a power crank - I just move the whole chainset when I'm swapping between the TT and the roadbike rather than taking the vectors out, requires an allen key and 2 minutes.
Upsides
1) if I do go away and hire a bike, I can take the pedals standalone and have power no matter what.
2) Compatible with any BB on any bike I might buy in the future.
Short version: it just works.
I had an early version, and had problems with the pods eating batteries (apparently a failure to go to sleep) - 3 emails with garmin support and they swapped them out for a new set, no problems since. I'm lead to believe that they changed the material they manufactured the pods from to be a different alloy as the original was a little brittle, hence the snapped pod syndrome. Frankly if you install them in the orientation suggested, and take half decent care of your bike, I can't see the problem, you'd be a bit of a klutz to be whacking them on things.
Downsides are the torque wrench / crowfoot adapter requirement. I heard they come with an adapter these days, but it's a faff. Mine actually run as a power crank - I just move the whole chainset when I'm swapping between the TT and the roadbike rather than taking the vectors out, requires an allen key and 2 minutes.
Upsides
1) if I do go away and hire a bike, I can take the pedals standalone and have power no matter what.
2) Compatible with any BB on any bike I might buy in the future.
I have just switched to the Quarq Red and picked it up from Pro Bike Kit for only £840 and even have a set of SRAM Red chainrings to sell now.
I think I forgot to realise is that Sram Red uses a 'hidden bolt' chainring as one of the chainring bolts is blocked from the front by the crankarm, so I had to tap the bolt out of the original chainrings and press it in to the chainrings I wanted to use.
Also its worth noting they seem to take a little while for the zero offset to settle (mine took about 5 hours and a few all out sprints) but now seems very stable.
I think I forgot to realise is that Sram Red uses a 'hidden bolt' chainring as one of the chainring bolts is blocked from the front by the crankarm, so I had to tap the bolt out of the original chainrings and press it in to the chainrings I wanted to use.
Also its worth noting they seem to take a little while for the zero offset to settle (mine took about 5 hours and a few all out sprints) but now seems very stable.
Thanks upsidedownmark. I do like the idea of a pedal based system for the reasons you mentioned, however I think to be on the safe side i'll go with a crank based system. I only have 1 bike (blasphemy I know) and just swap wheels in summer/winter, so works for me.
Fromage, thanks for that. I guess that was for the Riken, single crank system? A very good price. I have a very good relationship with my club LBS and just been offered a nice discount on an ELSA cranks only setup, so think I'm going to go with that.
Fromage, thanks for that. I guess that was for the Riken, single crank system? A very good price. I have a very good relationship with my club LBS and just been offered a nice discount on an ELSA cranks only setup, so think I'm going to go with that.
ChrisMCoupe said:
Christmas is fast approaching and I'd like to treat myself with a powermeter.
I currently run SRAM Red, so carbon cranks rule out systems such as Stages. I quite like the idea of the Quarq crankset available for SRAM Red, however I have the non 22 version, and it seems quite hard to find this crankset on a compact chainset and 172.5mm cranks anywhere online. Also this limits any future upgrades.
This leaves me with the Garmin Vectors, which seems like a great solution, but I have yet to speak to anyone who uses them, only online reviews. So does anyone on here use them, and how are they getting along? Online reviews seem to suggest they are accurate and consistent, so they are currently my top choice.
Any experience of both Quarq or Vectors welcome, as well as any other suggestions. However I do not want a hub based system due to multiple sets of wheels.
Vector user here,I currently run SRAM Red, so carbon cranks rule out systems such as Stages. I quite like the idea of the Quarq crankset available for SRAM Red, however I have the non 22 version, and it seems quite hard to find this crankset on a compact chainset and 172.5mm cranks anywhere online. Also this limits any future upgrades.
This leaves me with the Garmin Vectors, which seems like a great solution, but I have yet to speak to anyone who uses them, only online reviews. So does anyone on here use them, and how are they getting along? Online reviews seem to suggest they are accurate and consistent, so they are currently my top choice.
Any experience of both Quarq or Vectors welcome, as well as any other suggestions. However I do not want a hub based system due to multiple sets of wheels.
Edited by ChrisMCoupe on Monday 3rd November 09:10
Got them back in July, and had no issues with mine whatsoever, batteries have lasted through from then, I use them mostly on the TT bike, but at the end of the season switched them to the road bike for about 6 weeks, nice and easy to switch from one bike to the other, 5 minute job, now they have changed the calibration, bit easier to set up prior to each ride. The flexibility they provide as mentioned is the main benefit, but the balance etc really helps you concentrate on weaknesses in your riding style etc and helps you concentrate on improving these and seeing if the work i'm doing outside of cycling is helping this (stronger left glute than right and subsequent exercises).
However I could not justify paying full price, I managed to get them heavily discounted, however at the RRP, I would have plumped for a stages.
Has anyone seen the 4iiii's crank based system like the Stages? You bond it on yourself and calibrate the strain gauge yourself using a calibrated load cell they send you. They are due to ship the first units in December, if price is important to you I would give this unit some consideration! They claim an accuracy of <1% with dynamic temperature compensation done by an algorithm rather than clever use of the gauge layout...but who knows. Bonding it to carbon cranks they say they are working on but with the right surface prep and adhesive you shouldn't have a problem if the crank surface is flat. I instrumented my own strain gauge system to my own sram red cranks a few years ago and they're still on strong with very little creep/ hysteresis in the bond.
I'd like a full fat power meter but I just can't bring myself to spend the eye watering amounts of money. If i needed one i'd be a pro, and if i wanted to train better i'd lose some weight!
I'd like a full fat power meter but I just can't bring myself to spend the eye watering amounts of money. If i needed one i'd be a pro, and if i wanted to train better i'd lose some weight!
Ok so the decision has been made and there is currently a Quark ELSA crankset sitting in my LBS ready to go on the bike. 
One of the managers there (who races cat 2 so is fairly knowledgable) said that a couple of the guys he races with have had issues with their Vectors (build quality), so this was enough to tip me over the edge to Quark.
Just got hold of a copy of Coggans training book too, so better get reading. I will update with initial thoughts when it's on the bike next week
One of the managers there (who races cat 2 so is fairly knowledgable) said that a couple of the guys he races with have had issues with their Vectors (build quality), so this was enough to tip me over the edge to Quark.
Just got hold of a copy of Coggans training book too, so better get reading. I will update with initial thoughts when it's on the bike next week
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