kevmk81

Cannondale CAAD10 with:
BB30 bottom bracket
fsa-k light carbon cranks
i use shimano spd-sl pedals
don't want wheel based power as I want to be able to race with my race wheels and want power readings as well

So does anyone know what power meter options are available for this set up? Are the 4iii working yet with carbon cranks, specifically the fsa-k lights? I'm hoping someone with the same setup as me can chime in. I imagine there are plenty folks out there with at least the same bottom bracket and crank setup that want non wheel based power meters...?!

BenPS

stages is reasonable for crank-based power. Garmin vector s for one sided pedal, or vector (but $$$) would work as well

Heathpack 

I have two Stages power meters. I had a lot of issues with data dropouts with them. Power and cadence drop-outs for sure. But also heart rate monitor drop-outs, data "freezes", erroneous speed values, GPS failures. Worked with Garmin on trouble-shooting for months, went through three Edge 510s and moved on to an Edge 1000. Still data failures of all kinds. Garmin's story was that the Stages was sending bad data and that was confusing their units. Stages' story was that the power meters were fine, sent them back for testing and all I ever got was a succession of new battery doors.

After 8 months, I was totally exasperated and gave up on the combo. I bought an SRM power meter and head unit. It's been two weeks and everything is perfect. Zero data issues. I am running the Edge 1000 simultaneously, and guess what? No issues on that either. So maybe Garmin's version of events was correct after all. I am not 100% drawing any conclusions just yet, but it is increasingly looking like the Stages is maybe a POS.

My issues were exacerbated in some part by the fact that I do some very long rides, 100-200 miles. I think I had an 80% failure rate for the power meter on my 10 long (100+ miles) event or training rides, typically around miles 60-80, I would lose something, typically the power meter. It was immensely frustrating. I am working with a coach and riding some of these events very hard. If I have some kind of failure pushing myself on these long rides, there's not really too much he can say about it if all he has is HR data. Which was typically all he would get from me.

With power meters, I'm sorry to say you are probably going to get what you pay for. I spent $1500 on two Stages meters, I would have been way better off starting with the SRM had I known how things were going to play out.

greenlight149

power2max? supposed to be really good ( and cheaper alternative to srm), especially with the recent price cut.

Voodoo76

I went from Powertap to Quarq for the same reason, wheel options. 6 months and so far no issues.

cthenn

Crank based PM's don't work on carbon cranks, right? I know the brand I have will only work on aluminum cranks. Not sure about Stages though a quick perusal through their website only seems to show aluminum cranks...

Drew Eckhardt 

Spider based units can. Power2Max, Quarq, and SRM all have carbon units built around a variety of cranks. Power2Max even has a K-Force Light BB386EVO model that will work on BB30 frames.

Crank-arm units (4iiii, Stages) do not and may not (Watteam PowerBeat)

Spindle based units do (Ergomo) and will (Ashton Instruments, Rotor INpower) although obviously this limits you to single-sided power.

Silvercivic27

Don't forget about Pioneer and Infocranks too!

fstshrk

I use a Powertap. Did not consider the stages at all. If I had the cash, I would have bought a Quarq but I got a great deal on my powertap from performance bike.

linsdog

Have stages here and so far so good. And yes, as far as I understand they do not work on carbon cranks.

kevmk81

Thanks for the replies everyone. Power2max looks like a good option for me. Seems like a good product! Thanks everyone!