Best Bang for the Buck Powertap
02-21-09, 03:41 PM
#1
Legs of Steel
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: On my bike
Posts: 1,832
Bikes: Pegoretti Marcelo, Cannondale six13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Best Bang for the Buck Powertap
Hey guys,
I'm considering buying a powertap and have a deal to get EP with my LBS. What is the best bang for the buck Powertap? The SLC+ is out of my price range and I'd be willing to pay for the SL+ if it can be justified. I'm looking at the Elite+, Pro+, and SL+. Prices are roughly x, 1.2x, and 1.5x. I'm 230+ lbs so the weight difference isn't that big of a deal for me. I'll probably buy the hub and computer system and have the shop build a wheel up with a DT 1.1 or 1.2 rim. Any words of advice are encouraged.
I'm considering buying a powertap and have a deal to get EP with my LBS. What is the best bang for the buck Powertap? The SLC+ is out of my price range and I'd be willing to pay for the SL+ if it can be justified. I'm looking at the Elite+, Pro+, and SL+. Prices are roughly x, 1.2x, and 1.5x. I'm 230+ lbs so the weight difference isn't that big of a deal for me. I'll probably buy the hub and computer system and have the shop build a wheel up with a DT 1.1 or 1.2 rim. Any words of advice are encouraged.
02-21-09, 03:55 PM
#2
squid
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Austin
Posts: 368
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do you want HR? Elite+ does not come with chest strap, so if you want HR add $60 to the Elite+ price. Also, the instructions indicate that the Elite+ computer only has half as much memory. It will only hold 6 hours at 1 second rate instead of 12 hours for Pro+ and SL+. Weight difference is also much greater (158g) between Elite+ and Pro+ than between Pro+ and SL+ (54g). By MSRP, if Elite+ costs x, Pro+ is 1.2x and SL+ is 1.6x. IMO, unless you are really worried about the 12mm alloy axle of the Pro+, then $400 is a lot of money for the 54g lighter SL+.
02-21-09, 04:46 PM
#4
Knowing's half the battle
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 6,119
Bikes: 2009 Cannondale CAAD9 BB30, SRAM Red, Fulcrum Racing 3s
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
2009 PowerTap Comp (wired) from Competitive Cyclist; $549. It's the same as the wired SL models from previous years.
02-22-09, 06:50 AM
#6
Atlanta Road Racer
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 98
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL3 will full carbon everything/everywhere and Zipp 404 tubulars for racing. Cyclocross bike is a 56cm carbon Blue CXc with carbon everywhere.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Also, there are a lot of excellent wired models on ebay for ~ $500 - $600. I bought a wired 32hole SL for $550 on ebay which is excellent. I race it where I don't care about aero wheels because it is great to have that data once you start using it. I also like the 32hole for training as I haven't had to true it or do anything to it after over 15k miles! Try that with some other wheel setups.
02-22-09, 08:28 AM
#7
bf is my facebook.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 1,156
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
02-22-09, 03:03 PM
#8
Legs of Steel
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: On my bike
Posts: 1,832
Bikes: Pegoretti Marcelo, Cannondale six13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Guys...not interested in other sources of "lower" prices. I've got a deal with my LBS for Employee Purchase so the deals here are similar and i'll get a new version from a local shop. I was mainly interested in which model is the best version for the price. Also anyone have experience with the 15mm vs 12 mm axles?
02-23-09, 08:27 AM
#9
fair weather cyclist
I would not get a wired one. I just bought the bottom line wireless model.
Last edited by pjcampbell; 02-23-09 at 09:43 AM.
02-23-09, 08:43 AM
#10
Knowing's half the battle
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 6,119
Bikes: 2009 Cannondale CAAD9 BB30, SRAM Red, Fulcrum Racing 3s
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
$649 is for the built wheel. If you just want the powertap, its $549; then you can build it with whatever rim and spokes you like. 
02-23-09, 09:46 AM
#11
Little Pony
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Salem, OR
Posts: 667
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Chris- I had the same questions and asked the question on a "well known" weight based cycling forum. In terms of the difference in axles- the 12 vs. 15- the 12 has smaller bearings which tend to wear out faster. The other differences are of course the weight- I went with the Pro+ because of the weight difference.
02-23-09, 12:00 PM
#12
Legs of Steel
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: On my bike
Posts: 1,832
Bikes: Pegoretti Marcelo, Cannondale six13
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Chris- I had the same questions and asked the question on a "well known" weight based cycling forum. In terms of the difference in axles- the 12 vs. 15- the 12 has smaller bearings which tend to wear out faster. The other differences are of course the weight- I went with the Pro+ because of the weight difference.
02-23-09, 01:58 PM
#13
Senior Member?
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,977
Bikes: orbea onix, Cervelo SLC, Specialzed Allez, Cervelo P3 Alu
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Are wires really that much of an issue? Unless money wasn't a problem at all, I'd get the wired version. I don't know how often the + versions lose signal, but it has to be more often than never.
With the weight, keep in mind that one way the lighter hubs get there is by making the freehub body from aluminum (among other things). I only weighed 180 when I got my PT, but I would chew through an Al freehub body once every 6 months-ish, so watch out for that.
B.
With the weight, keep in mind that one way the lighter hubs get there is by making the freehub body from aluminum (among other things). I only weighed 180 when I got my PT, but I would chew through an Al freehub body once every 6 months-ish, so watch out for that.
B.
