Dubbayoo

I'm looking at the Powertap page and I'm confused. Do all of these products include both the hub and display thing? Only the top product shows both on its description page. Somebody hep me.

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

JayC

All the Powertaps come with the hub, the computer head, the wiring harness and heart rate strap. The Powertap Standard is about to be discontinued and the Powertap Pro will be undergoing a hub redesign.

The SL comes with a wired cadence sensor. I assume the 2.4's cadence sensor is wireless.

DrPete 

Yeah, those all include the computer. The Cervo is just the computer with speed/cadence/HR sensors.

Dubbayoo

The standard seems like a steal. Do you know if another product will fill that price point?

DrPete 

Check the comparison chart. There are a couple features that you're missing out on, most notably the ability to use the computer with a non-powertap wheel, and actual measured cadence. The calculated cadence is apparently quite inaccurate.

There's also a difference in the seals as you go up the line--Apparently the SL's have their electronics better-protected behind more or different seals.

JayC

To my knowledge, the Pro will become the low end model. I believe the Pro is going to be getting the same kind of seals that the SL has, probably not the carbon treatment on the hub tho.

Another thing, the wired models do not use coded heart rate, yet. They are in the process of switching everything over to coded and if your unit is still under warranty, they will replace the computer head and heart rate strap with the coded version. The heart rate monitor on the Powertap units leaves a little to be desired. Mine has been basically worthless to the point that I dont even wear the strap anymore but they are sending me the replacement pieces so hopefully that gets everything going.

I doubt they offer this with the Standard since they are discontinueing it.

If you shop it hard, you can get an SL for a pretty good price on Ebay. Even paying a shop to build the wheel, you can come out ahead of what the systems with wheelbuilds are going for. I havent seen Pros or Standards offered at much of a discount, mainly only the SLs so you might want to keep an eye on Ebay for SL systems if you're going to be in the market for one.

I bought what was supposed to be a Pro computer head off Ebay a while back and it turned out to be a Standard instead. There were a LOT of features missing when it comes to customization of the computer. I dont think that chart truly lays out the differences.

Dubbayoo

I found a used Standard built up wheel offered for $500. I was just curious.

krazyderek

One thing to remember is that you can always upgrade the CPU, that's what i did, i got a really good deal on a powertap standard wheelset(850$cdn for bontrager x-lite aero w/pt hub) so i just baught a used PRO cpu on ebay and sold my standard one, i broke about even too

The two features that drew me to the pro cpu was the fact that you could display power cadence and HR(you lose the speed view) all at the same time which is everything you need while on rollers, the pro head also has a better interval function and larger storage capacity (7hrs instead of 4hrs @ 1sec recording rates).

500$ isn't bad though if you just want to try the powertap thing out, if doesn't work for you, you can always resell it and probably get most of that money back. If you keep it, you won't be as worried about destroying your 1000$ pt wheel, and it'll probably only cost you 130$ at the most (used) to upgrade to the pro cpu.

Ask the seller exactly what he's including though, it's common for people to just sell the wheel, make sure you're getting the harness, cpu, and HR strap.

For reference, my HR strap works flawlessly until the battery starts to die, or unless someone with a polar is around me.
And the cadence "measured" (extrapolated) at the hub works pretty well, at least it did for me for 3 months until i upgraded my cpu and picked up another wirring harness with the cadence sensor. This allows me to throw a magnet on my other non-pt wheelset and measure speed, hr, and cadence while out on long endurance rides and record it to my cpu, i just switch the computer off of power mode.

cslone

Yes, some people advertise the wheel, which will include a computer and harness. Some people advertise the wheel, which is JUST the wheel. Contact them and make sure you are getting a headunit, harness, hub and something to transfer it to your home computer.

-The standard is a black hub cover and (I think still) a black computer. It is a decent system, but has some downfalls with customability of the screen. Supposedly being discontinued shortly.

-The Pro is a yellow hub cover, but is the same hub as the standard. The difference is the computer, which is yellow and has some customability. This will become the "entry model" and reportedly get a hub redesign.

-The SL is a Carbon windowed hub with the same yellow computer as the Pro. The internals are supposedly protected better in the SL and more weather proof. Coded HRM strap.

-The 2.4 is brand new, wireless and looks to be very similar to the SL as far as the hub and cpu.

I just sold my Standard hub with Pro computer. I had 1000+ trouble free miles on it. I rode it in races, rain, hot days, etc and never had any issues whatsoever. I bought an SL, which should be here any day now. I'm confident it will perform the same. As for the cadence issue, I lost my cadence magnet and have been too lazy to replace it. I've been using the estimated cadence and I only find that it's slightly off when I'm not putting a lot of pressure on the pedals, i.e. a very light trainer recovery ride or soft pedal during an outdoors ride.

As far as using the Standard as a computer on without the hub, it can be done, but it's not documented in the manual.
Scroll to cadence, Hold down the SELECT buttom for 3 seconds untill WATTS says OFF. As long as you have a magnet on your rear wheel, it will read. Now, when you put your hub back on, you need to reverse the process or your numbers with the hub will be all crazy.

Markedoc

I had one and just sold it. I found that I really wasn't doing much with the data, and I didn't like being stuck with one rear wheel.

JayC

The standard computer comes in yellow now.

slvoid

If you don't wanna be stuck with having 1 wheel, you can always get a SRM power meter.

cslone

Then you're stuck with one bike.

Markedoc

That's exactly what a friend of mine did. He races though, and I don't. DA SRM is about what - $3500 retail?

slvoid

Ahhh got me there!

Markedoc

Swapping out a crank isn't a huge deal - easier than building a wheel!

El Diablo Rojo

But not as easy as me going into the garage and swapping out my rear wheels from my RR bike to my TT bike. I've really tried to justify buying an SRM. I mean really tried hard. But at about 1/3 the cost retail it just didn't make sense. From what few people I know who have used both the SRM and the ergomo I think that unit is the closest thing to meeting the cost/benefit comparo. Still you are stuck with one bike.

The Powertap Pro is a very good unit, I had one but the conversion cassette (I have Campy) just wasn't very good. I now have an SL laced to a DT Swiss RR 1.1. If you wanted a good solid race/training wheelset, buy the SL hub and a set of the 199.00 Reynolds Alta Race wheels from Nashbar. Ditch the rear hub and lace it to the Alta. Now you've got a reasonably priced wheelset that you can train and race on.

cslone

Yeah, there are good and bad points to both PT and SRM. I was just starting crap with my "one bikes" comment. For me, it's cheaper to train on my PT SL and build a 28H race wheel than to buy an SRM.

El Diablo Rojo

You could actually buy two PTSL's and have one built on an Open Pro and the other on a carbon race wheel for about the same as a SRM Pro.

cslone

Yep, that's my plan. 2 hubs, 1 32 hole, one 24/28 hole.

RD Olivaw

A bit of a tangent - Does anyone know why seemlingly 95% of all powertaps are built into Mavic Open Pro wheels?

Jim Bonnet

because they are a solid training wheel that will last a long time

cslone

Yeah, I just think they're a reliable, not too expensive option.

JayC

Because people are hating on DT Swiss

I built mine into the RR 1.2 rim. Its a bit heavier but more aero. Solid wheels.

Markedoc

Mine were built with DT Swiss 1.1 - and cracked at the spoke holes in 3 places. 195 lb rider.