Training & Nutrition - Looking for a power meter. Any recommendations.

I'd like to get a power meter and want to know if anyone has some good feedback from any they've used or researched. Thanks.

The choices are ERGOMO, SRM, and PowerTap for "strain guage" types of powermeters, or Polar (chain vibration). Many of these can be gotton on eBay.

Landis used a PowerTap during "le Tour". Armstrong's book "War" infers that he used an ERGOMO during training.

Other devices like the Hac4 and iBike (production release is still vaporware) use an algorithm to approximate power. The Hac4 can be purchased on eBay, too.

There is an excellent book on the power meters and their use in training and racing, I think it's written by some of the folks involved in Cycling Peaks software- look for "Training and Racing with Power Meters", or something close to that. It has reviews of all the major meters (I don't recall if the iBike meter is in there; it may be too new), as well as info on structuring training plans around their use.

This site has a FAQ from the Wattage Forum at Topica.com. It may be able to answer your questions about the differences in powermeters for bikes:

http://www.midweekclub.com/powerFAQ.htm

Here's another that does a comparison of wattage data from four different powermeters:

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rechung/wattage/

Careful, Armstrong never used an Ergomo. He instead used the SRM power meter. The SRM is considered the gold standard by which all others are tested. The Polar, well, I've yet to read any review that was favorable.

A bottom bracket type certainly gives you the ability to use different wheelsets for training and racing purposes, while still allowing you to record data during both activities.

The SRM is the best - but I bought a Powertap SL and have been really happy with it.
If I would spend so much money on other toys, I would have gotten the SRM.

Maybe on my track bike . . . :)

I have a PowerTap SL and am very happy with it. Buddy of mine just got a great deal on SRM on eBay, and I can see the advantages, since he can use it with different rear wheels (disc for TT, training wheels, race wheels, etc).

We just had a trainer come and speak to our club, and he described the 3 types. The most reliable and the simplest, most affordable is probably the ERGOMO. The Power Tap is a pain in the neck as you have to put it in hub of the the rear wheel. The ERGOMO is installed in the bottom bracket. I believe the SRM is prohibitively expensive. I hear the ERGOMO is around $1300, but you can possibly get a deal on them.

I have been very happy with my PowerTap. Best "real" power meter for the price.

Careful, Armstrong never used an Ergomo. He instead used the SRM power meter. The SRM is considered the gold standard by which all others are tested.

Hmm... I'll have to reread the chapter in his book, "War". I thought it described that his sensor was built into the BB, but I could be wrong.

How much does the PowerTap cost? It seems so elusive to find a link online for it.

How much does the PowerTap cost? It seems so elusive to find a link online for it.

$700-1200 depending on the model, for the hub and computer unit.

I read some reviews on MTBR.com, and the powertap did not far well. That's a lot of money.

I read some reviews on MTBR.com, and the powertap did not far well. That's a lot of money.

I've been using a powertap sl for about six months now and I love it. I don't think I can go back to training without wattage.

How much does the PowerTap cost? It seems so elusive to find a link online for it.

Try here:

http://www.cycleops.com/c-11-power-meters.aspx?skinid=2

...but your best deals are on eBay.

I looked in to that website and it seem like PowerTap SL has least significant disadvantages then SRM. The whole replacement of a crank every year just doesn't seem right to me. Also website seems to be outdated, when I went to cycleops website, it listed cadence sensor for SL.

I looked in to that website and it seem like PowerTap SL has least significant disadvantages then SRM.
how does anyone get past the ugly srm cranks?

how does anyone get past the ugly srm cranks?

I guess it depends on if you are more worried about looks or getting fast. ;) Personally I like the way they look though.