Thanks for getting that, i didn't realize it was out, school just zaps any awareness of time from you since all you do is study and do homework lol... All the more reason to go with powertap if you want to use your power meter on more then one bike.

Up here in canada, they're alot more strict about disk's and tri spoke wheels.

Somebody want to update this thread for me? I'm kind of blown away by the price of power meters I've looked at so far. Most of them are more expensive than my actual bike. Is there an accurate yet affordable power meter out there? The answers in this topic are out of date.

Wired powertap is your best bet.

$600? Wow. I'll stick to the heart rate monitor and cadence for now. Maybe in a few years they'll be more affordable.

Maybe. You can buy one used for $300 if you keep your eyes open.

Metrigear has a PM pedal coming (vaporware?), but I doubt it will be under $1k.

I agree. I would love a power meter but can't justify the cost and am sticking with HRM for now.

It makes a big difference in terms of solid improvement. Far more than carbon fiber bike, Dura-ace or other stuff. The difference between power-based training and HR-based training is enormous.

Best $600 accessory you will buy for cycling, IMO.

V.

I don't have one yet either, but I'm planning on purchasing one for the next season.

I did the research on power meters in the spring. I have owned Powertap and iBike in the past. My observations:

iBike isn't crap, but it's not at all accurate as you top hills. Everywhere else, I found it to be extremely accurate judged by . . .

Powertap is accurate and relatively inexpensive (compared to the others). It reveals a lower figure than crank-based systems due to drivetrain losses, but you can add the number back in without any problem, if you are so inclined. (I'm not.)

Quarq I have never ridden, but it is reputed to be accurate and easy to service. You can replace the battery in the crank unit yourself. Quarq is more expensive than Powertap, but less expensive than SRM. The problem? They always seem to be out of stock.

SRM is reputed to be the "gold standard". It certainly costs a lot of gold -- very expensive. And, a big downside: When the battery goes dead, you have to ship the unit back to the factory for battery replacement. GAK!

Power data is interesting but, aside from four or five periodic tests during the year, of limited usefuless. I have gone back to daily training by HRM because (contrary to the power meter sales materials) there's not much reason not to. If I rent / borrow a power meter for a total of two or three weeks per year, I will get 90+% of the good I would obtain by owning a power meter year round. [The only thing I really miss is the ability to determine if/when my power drops off for a given heart rate during a series of intervals.]

Using a car racing analogy that I think is pretty apt: A heart rate monitor is the rider's tachometer -- it tells you how fast the motor is running. A power meter is the cyclist's dynomometer -- it tells you how much power you are making at a given rpm. You don't ever want to be without your tach. And, in preparation, it is important to do a few dyno runs -- but not so essential to drag your dyno along with you all the time.

Totally biased because I sell them, but a powermeter is one of the most "effective" upgrades you can make - ever - assuming you take the time to learn how to use it in conjunction with proper raining.

I'm curious. How hard is it to get the wiring right on a wired powertap? Can you make it look relatively clean?

I am a Quarq and Powertap Dealer/OEM. I ride and have ridden both. For someone like me who has a lot of wheels - imagine that - the Quarq is by far my favorite. I do like having my PT's around as well for situations like - power on my TT bike without having to change cranks (I prefer a different crank length for TT's as well), went to ride cyclocross last night for a practice and have never ridden it with power....so I put a cross tire on one of my powertap wheels and rode. Awesome.

For new users I would highly recommend getting a powertap. It represents a much lower entry cost. I do also recommend getting a new one - yes i sell new ones so take that with a grain of salt, but in general I have found that these hubs just seem to give up the ghost after a while. Teammate's wired went out a few times and the latest is "we can rebuild it for $350 and give you a new warranty" - FWIW - Saris has a 1 year warranty on the hubs.

Getting a used one saves some money and is a great option if you are just wanting to test the waters of riding with power and anticipate upgrading within a year or so.

IMHO

This is about training. Not looks.

I settle for "out of the way".

I have been a Powertap guy. They work great, although I think I am going to get a Quarq. They seem like they are taking over (at least in these parts), and I think I want to try a crank based unit this yr.

My first impressions - the signal/power reading is outrageously more consistent with the Quarq. More like a line - less like a sonar reading.