Anyone using one of these?

I really like the idea of housing the electronics in the NDS arm so I can run whatever chainrings, wheel, and pedals, and the price is pretty good too.

Particularly interested in how it holds up to the elements.

Any enlightenment for me on where the NDS arm is on a bicycle? A Google search for "NDS arm" turns up "NDS and ARM in partnership focused on the connected TV market" and Nintendo DS.

Left crankarm.

To clear it up, NDS means non-drive side. So the side of your bike without the derailleurs, chainrings, chain and cassette.

I just got mine this weekend. Installed it on Sunday...then mucked up calibrating it by overthinking process. Today was first ride with it properly calibrated with my Garmin 500. (If anyone gets one...all you have to do is put crank arm at the 6 o'clock position ~ after waking it and have Garmin calibrate it with no load.)

Other things to note: Stages recommends telling Garmin to forget other devises such as previous cadence, speed and HR. The Stages meter monitors cadence (not quite sure if it also does something with speed...I just know that I was told to remove my speed/cadence sensor ~ duotrap). Once you have the unit calibrated (zero reset) then you can add back in the HR monitor.

I am going to check with them on whether I can use my speed sensor w/o the cadence active as I spent $ on the duotrap and hate for it to go to complete waste.

Anyway...my first ride today with the unit calibrated properly:
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/286403000

I am not going to race but plan on using it to improve my riding for events (centuries, metric centuries etc).

Here it is on my somewhat dirty bike:

Nice ride, Beachgrad! That's pretty consistent power output for a street ride; were you on a path?

Am I correct that the Stages electronics and sensors are not in the crankarm, but affixed to it? Too bad it doesn't work with carbon fiber cranks at this point.

had you used power before, and if so, what are your initial impressions of the measurement comparison?

Anyway, it seems like a very sane power meter setup; clean, discreet and simple.

thank you.

i was on a local MUP (multi-use path) for all but 1.5 miles. So no stop lights, stop signs allowing me to focus on cadence and effort.

it is affixed to the crank in some fashion...something is internal I think as there is an indicator on the crank next to one of the pinch screws.

ive never used a power meter before and so nothing to compare this with.

That is awesome. I am saving up for one of these. My bike is Ultegra, but not sure I want to spend the extra $100 and may end up with the 105 as well.

Beachgrad05, why were you told to remove the DuoTrap sensor? Is it because it won't connect due to the power meter using it's own cadence? Have you tried to pair the stages power/cadence and then afterwards pairing just the speed part of the DuoTrap? Asking because I have one on the way and that was how I was planning to do it. I'd rather use the duotrap speed vs GPS speed.

Update: I put my duo trap back on fit speed sensor use as power meter only does cadence and power.

They (Stages) recommend having Garmin "forget" all other sensors until power meter is paired. Then re-pair HR and Speed sensors after.

I looked at them but a friend has been riding with one and he says the power readings are all over the place and aren't consistent like the traditional ones(PT, SRM, Quarq, etc).

You get what you pay for, the technology isn't there yet with this super cheap option.

Multiplying by 2...yeah no thanks jeff.

The above example doesn't look all over place. Most reviews I've seen put the 3 power meter choices all pretty similar.

Any reason not to get a 105 crank except for weight? I have a 7950 crankset but not sure I want to spend $899 instead of $699...

I've read mixed things.

At this point I would get the PowerTap as it's a much more affordable/reliable option.

I'm riding a Quarq

PowerTap is reacting to the new competitors in the market -- the PowerTap G3 hub is now listed at $789, complete wheelsets start at $999, and Joule prices are lower as well. VeloNews had a article last week: PowerTap drops power-meter hub price by $510.

DC Rainmaker updated his review of the Stages power meter and seems to be fairly positive on it now (where he wasn't before.) If you look at all his graphs comparing various power meters they all give very consistent readings. You can watch Durian Rider on youtube compare his Stages to the his Powertap where he concludes they both give extremely close readings.