Training & Nutrition - Power Meter recommendations

I've been training with a bike computer and a HR monitor for awhile now. I think I could benefit from getting a power meter, but I have no idea which brand to get, or what features are important. Also, price. I have no idea what prices are reasonable for these.

Please give me some suggestions and places to shop for any bargains you may know of. thanks in advance.


RD

There are a few different kinds of powermeters on the market right now.
iBike - estimates power from various measurements, not entirely accurate.
Polar - uses chain vibration, clunky to set up and also has accuracy issues according to some.
Powertap - hub based, so you build up a wheel and are stuck with it, though transfering bike to bike is usally pretty simple (especially if wireless). http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/product-accessories/2009-cycleops-power-tap-compdt-rr-1.1-complete-wheel-5905.351.0.html - this may be the cheapest, reliable power meter on the market right now.
SRM - Crank based power meter, very accurate, very expensive.
Quarq CinQo - Crank based like the SRM, but about half the price.

FWIW - I currently own a powertap and have been happy with it for the most part, but hate having to choose between having power or running race wheels. A Quarq CinQo is currently being shipped to me. I have used a CinQo in the past and have been waiting to get my own for some time now, IMO they are the best of the bunch.

first, decide how many wheels and/or bikes you want to have power with and how much money power measurement is worth TO YOU. That will pretty much make the decision for you.

jmechy, how does the CinQo transfer between bikes? It seems built into the cranks?

It is the crank (for all intents and purposes)...switch the crank, switch the Cinqo.

Yeah, the CinQo replaces the crank spider, so it essentially becomes part of the crank. Switching a crank out is fairly easy, especially if you have the same bottom bracket on both bikes. Even with different bottom brackets it shouldn't take too long.

Yeah, the CinQo replaces the crank spider, so it essentially becomes part of the crank. Switching a crank out is fairly easy, especially if you have the same bottom bracket on both bikes. Even with different bottom brackets it shouldn't take too long.

You know you're a serious cyclist/mechanic when you've made the above statement ;-). Switching out a crank, even periodically, sounds like a pain in the a@$. For me, I didn't want to mess with the CinQo given the strange bottom bracket configuration on my '08 Madone. Plus, I wanted the ability to swap training/race wheels between road & TT bikes. I suppose you could swap bottom brackets, but it does take longer.

I picked up a Powertap Pro+ wireless for cheap ($800 complete with wheel/cassette/skewer/tire/etc.) to go with a Garmin 705 head unit. I'll bite the bullet on race wheels with an SL+ at some point. I do think the CinQo is probably an equally good choice, though. You really are [gonna spend] if you do, [gonna spend] if you don't. All the options are expensive.