Road Bike Racing - 2008 powertap or wait until 2009

Thought I would enlist a few BF guru's on Powertap choices.

1. 08 or 09 (heard 09 out in Sept. (on time?))?
2. Wired or Wireless?
3. Use expensive bike or less expensive bike (look 381) in (cat5 - crit/rr's)

Have determined FTP & vo2 via formal testing and feel the need to take it to the next level.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

I'd go wireless, but it depends on your budget.

I'd wait until the ANT compatible PT is out.

Don't race what you can't replace. Just how expensive a bike you care to risk, depends on your budget,and risk tolerance. One view is to race your nicest bike, because that what you bought it for.

1)The sooner you have the power tap the sooner it can help you. That being said, by the time you get it and get enough data to effectively change your training and see a result from it the season may be over. But you will be ready and (hopefully) know exactly what you need to do for the off season. The only reason to wait that I can see would be if you really want to use it with a Garmin. If you don't, and you can get a reasonable price now, don't wait.

2)Buy the 2.4. It is super cool and the data transmission is perfect.

3) Race your good bike. It is silly to have a really nice bike which you presumably bought to maximize your performance and then not use it when the performance counts. If, god forbid, something should happen to it, you have a back up to use until you can afford to (or want to) replace it.

If you're concerned about missing out on something, buy used today, and wait for things to settle down in early 2009. Sell the used for about what you paid, and upgrade.
.
It's about the data, not the device. I honestly stopped admiring my PowerTap about a week after I installed it. I really could care less what's on there, as long as I get the data... and I do get the data

Wait for the ANT Wireless Powertap

I have heard that the 2.4 is going to be upgradable to the ANT technology.

If you don't care to use the Garmin why wait? I have the 2.4 and it works great, I actually don't miss the GPS data at all (I used to have a Garmin).

All Carbon-shell'd PT's are upgradeable to ANT, not just 2.4's.

Thanks guys... still mulling it over...

Thinking of buying a used PT and upgrading after the kinks are worked out of the new version (if I have to have it). I'll demo one (2.4 wireless) this next week and see how good my will power is.

I appreciate all the comments - have a good 4th.

David

Where can I find information in the new PowerTap? I'm extremely curious. Thanks.

Where can I find information in the new PowerTap? I'm extremely curious. Thanks.



http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2008/features/saris_powertap_launch_08

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/sariscycleopspowertap-launch-2009-range-17073?CPN=RSS&SOURCE=BRGENNEWS

No need to wait for ANT+ .....

Im waiting for the '09 to come out so I can pick off a cheaper used unit on ebay this off season. Figure between "new tech" and a lower priced entry level used $$ is going to go down. Selling a few more old wheelsets, ect off to build up the paypal balance while I wait.

All Carbon-shell'd PT's are upgradeable to ANT, not just 2.4's.


So a wired SL can be upgraded to be ANT and wireless?

So a wired SL can be upgraded to be ANT and wireless?

Yes and yes

how much?

All Carbon-shell'd PT's are upgradeable to ANT, not just 2.4's.

What's the difference being shelled and carbon-shelled? You need to ride a carbon fiber bike to be carbon-shelled? :D

Don't race what you can't replace. Just how expensive a bike you care to risk, depends on your budget,and risk tolerance. One view is to race your nicest bike, because that what you bought it for.

Seriously? Some of us can't race a semi-modern tech bicycle without stepping out of the "replace" zone. Should we not race? My rule is different: race what you've got, but only IF you are willing to accept the possibility of losing it, bearing in mind that you season goes, too. I lost my only racing bike in a race two and a half weeks ago, and have way over-extended my budget to replace it. Yeah, it sucks, but if the alternative is not racing at all, I know what my choice is. Race the best you've got!

As for the PT, why not wait until '09? You'll see a lot more benefit for the '09 season than the '08 season anyway.

Are there any physical differences between the 08 and 09 versions? From what I've looked at it seems to be mainly the technology and hardware.

It looks like the major physical differences will be what freehub body and axle the model is using. The technology is pretty much the same across the board: ANT+.

The Elite+ has my eye. A bit heavier than the current 2.4, but less expensive.

Seriously? Some of us can't race a semi-modern tech bicycle without stepping out of the "replace" zone. Should we not race? My rule is different: race what you've got, but only IF you are willing to accept the possibility of losing it, bearing in mind that you season goes, too. I lost my only racing bike in a race two and a half weeks ago, and have way over-extended my budget to replace it. Yeah, it sucks, but if the alternative is not racing at all, I know what my choice is. Race the best you've got!

As for the PT, why not wait until '09? You'll see a lot more benefit for the '09 season than the '08 season anyway.

If money's that tight, why not race a Canondale CAAD 9 frame, or heck even a Leader? You can have a perfectly competitive race bike, and in the case of the Leader, you're spending $200 if you trash the frame.

Personally, I wouldn't race a bike that replacing the frame would put a dent in my net worth. And if one crash destroyed my season, I'd definitely be looking for a less expensive alternative.

Don't get sucked into the idea you have to have the latest and greatest. Look at Waterrockets.

Replacing the "nice bike" would hurt a bit... It is really nice :) that was why I was considering learning to race on the Look kg381. I built it up for that purpose and am expecting it to hit the pavement a time or two while working my way up to cat4. So the "race it if you have it mantra" might not be the best option for me at this point in my new racing venture.

I'm trying a 2.4 PT demo now and... damn...(insert self-loathing from pcad here - something about being old and fat). Guess this explains why I go OTB on fast group rides with any incline.

Thanks for the input everyone,
David

get a working powertap ASAP. You will spend the rest of this season and the off-season learning how to use it, and then you'll be ready to rock when the 09 racing season gets started.

I have a wired model and I wish it was wireless. Don't buy anything with an aluminum freehub body or you'll be replacing it more than you'd like. The aluminum freehub body saves some grams, but creates a lot of headaches, esp. if you're on the stronger, heavier side.

BA.

If money's that tight, why not race a Canondale CAAD 9 frame, or heck even a Leader? You can have a perfectly competitive race bike, and in the case of the Leader, you're spending $200 if you trash the frame.

Personally, I wouldn't race a bike that replacing the frame would put a dent in my net worth. And if one crash destroyed my season, I'd definitely be looking for a less expensive alternative.

Don't get sucked into the idea you have to have the latest and greatest. Look at Waterrockets.

I think you misunderstand me. For some of us, that CAAD 9 is not the thrifty alternative, but near the upper limit of what we can afford outright. I'm lucky - I got to upgrade to a very nice frame because it had been sitting unsold for four years. If not for that, a CAAD 9 would have been about the best I could have hoped for. In terms of outright race frames, it doesn't get much less expensive than that. So when I say that some of us couldn't race without accepting the possibility of a major loss, I want you to understand exactly what I mean.

Solution: Buy a 2.4 now, use it for a few months until the 2009 stuff comes out, then upgrade. Sell me the 2.4 for cheap because I gave you such a brilliant idea. :)

Don't get sucked into the idea you have to have the latest and greatest. Look at Waterrockets.

:D After I won the AT&T crit, I rode over to see a friend who was a course marshal, and he had a couple racer friends there with him. He told me that after I left, his friends were saying, "Well f*ck, I guess equipment doesn't matter. Hairy legs too. ****."

or heck even a Leader? You can have a perfectly competitive race bike, and in the case of the Leader, you're spending $200 if you trash the frame.



Thanks dude! I'll sleep easier from now on.