Anyone know where to buy a SMR (Watts measurement) for less than the national debt? I've been quoted over $4K new - yikes!

Thanks,
Sunrae

i think you mean the SRM (Schoberer Rad Messtechnik) Powermeter. And yes, they are very expensive.

you might get lucky on e-bay or somewhere, but this is a tool for professionals and they get passed around teams etc to different riders until they fall to bits, so you rarely see 'em for sale anywhere.

good luck

Why not get the Powertaps hub or the Powertaps wheel (Powertaps SL)?

Koffee

Whats a SMR!

*?

Depends. Which system do you want, amateur, professional, or science? You can get an amateur for $2000 at all3sports.com or a pro model for $2600. While still expensive, it's half what you've apparently seen elsewhere

What is teh maker of power tap?

Saris- the company that makes the CycleOps trainers.

Koffee

Sorry, but this reminds me of something my mother often said to me," ABCD goldfish?
MNR no goldfish! SMR!

Yes...thanks for the correction. I am looking for the SMR. Appreciate your insights...might just have to use a PowerTap.

Cheers,
Sunrae

Scott...sorry to be dense, but I'm not swimming with goldfish analogy? Huh?

Thank-you very much. I'll check out all3sports.com.

Sunrae

Go for the Powertap Pro or Powertap SL. I just installed my Powertap SL. The SRM crank, even the Pro version, requires frequent calibrations. The amatuer one is even more inaccurate and need more frequent calibrations. The Powertap is easier to install but you are restricted to your wheel choice. They are as accurate as the SRM and Polar. Not messier than the Polar power setup. If you go for the Powertap, go for the SL just for an extra $200. Better wet protection and better bearing. The Powertap Pro is known for not working when wet and the bearing cone is too cheap. For the SL, more online vendors have them in backordered due to supply and demand.

Thanks for the recommendation for the PowerTap SL. I am bidding on eBay for a used SRM but it sounds like it's more of a hassle (frequent calibration) than it's worth.

So...back to eBay to hunt for a PowerTap SL. Do you know the average price for a PowerTap SL? Surely less the SRM.

Cheers,
Sunrae

The Powertap SL is about $1200 (more if you get the power meter built into the Mavik wheel hub). It is definitely a worthwhile investment. The percent error of any of the Powertaps is +/- 1%, which is better than the other Power meters out there (for us common folks, that is ).

Koffee

You will not find one on Ebay because the powermeter just came out last month. Plus, they didn't make enough. Excel Sports still has them on backordered since last month. I think www.all3sports.com still have them. That's where I got mine. Give them a call first. They don't actually build the powermeter wheel themselves, but from a custom builder in Cal. That may explain why their price is somewhat cheaper, relatively speaking. They even give you a free matching front wheel.

Depending what you use the powermeter for. I have been through heart rate training for 2 seasons. Heart rate is not a good indicator for your intensity. One day you can have a higher heart rate and in thinking that you are working harder. With a powermeter, you just look at your wattage and you know if you are working harder or less. Harder == higher wattage number.

$1200 is the MRSP. Some places do sell them slightly less.