I'm considering beginning to train with a power meter per my coaches suggestion but there doesn't seem to be a great option. There is no way that I'm going to pay for a SRM. The iBike, Ergomo and Polar meters all seem to have accuracy issues and/or enough other drawbacks that I'm nixing them from the get go. I know that the Quark looks promising but I don't like the idea of having the power meter on the crank since I run a compact shimano and that is not an option anytime soon.

I really like the hub based system used on the Power Tap and the price though still high is at least doable. This brings me to my main issues. I just purchased the Garmin Edge 705 w/ HR and Cadence. I'm sure you know that The Edge 705 uses ANT+ technology while the Power Tap is still using ANT which creates an obvious compatibility issue. Clearly I would be using both devices simultaneously which is annoying (who wants to clutter up the bike like that). So here are my questions:

1) Though Saris hasn't said anything about adopting the ANT+ standard (probably because they want people to continue buying their stuff until they finalize a decision) what are the chances that the Power Tap will move to ANT+ in the next year?

2) If Power Tap did incorporate ANT+ would it simply be a firmware update that would make the Power Tap's already sold backwards compatible or would it likely be offered only on new models going forward?

3) What headaches are involved with using the Power Tap with the Edge 705 currently when using analysis software (I currently have Garmin Training Center, WKO+ and Training Peaks not to mention Motion Based/Garmin Connect which I haven't really been able to make work very well)?

4) What configuration of the Power Tap wheel set up should I get if I go that route? This would primarily be for training and I'm a bigger guy. If I'm racing I would likely just rent a racing wheel with a Power Tap in it.

5) Where can I find good deals on Power Taps pre built into a wheel? What should I expect from a customer service standpoint from an online dealer? Does the Power Tap have a history of needing customer service post sale?

6) Is there an argument out there for considering more seriously one of the other Power Meter options that I'm overlooking when considering price/value, accuracy, ease of use, hesitancy to use a crank based system (by the way this hesitancy comes from my concern that down the road I will switch from a compact to a standard and my understanding is that I would need to buy a whole new power meter if I did that whereas with a hub based system this is not an issue and I won't change wheels very often-- any thoughts on this?)???

Feel free to answer any or all of these questions as it strikes your fancy.

Sell your Garmin and buy a powertap.

Powertap is the sweetspot of price to value in power meters. All of the power meters have their tradeoffs, but there's a rough consensus that if you can't afford a SRM, the PT is the best compromise. (although you will get a few votes for the ergometer.)

Once you get a powertap, and Cycling Peaks WKO+, you'll have the data you need, and won't need your Garmin.

The PT will give you the data you need to train. You won't miss anytihng truely useful from the Garmin.

+1

Oh, and there won't be any firmware updates for PowerTap hubs. They're a closed system. Any ANT+Sport upgrades will not be b/w compatible. If you buy a used SL, you can probably train on it without any significant depreciation (in case something better comes along in the next two years).

I have thought about taking the 705 back especially since I still haven't sold my 305. But the 705 is a much better product than some might think though maybe not worth what Garmin is charging for it. I dig the larger screen and the better navigation. Plus the satellite reception is stronger and more accurate (I think). I also like the fact that I can see the ride profile ad compare it to my other data (speed, HR, cadence, etc). Does the Power Tap offer that? Exactly what data would I be giving up if I decided to return the Edge 705 ad get a Power Tap? Should I go with the wireless version of that?

Hmmm... so when you say that the Power Tap is a closed hub system what does that mean exactly? Where did you find that info? I only ask because I have read/heard a few different things on that subject.

The PowerTap records and displays (instantaneous and avg where applicable): power, torque, speed, cadence, HR, energy expended, distance, and time. It also has an interval mode, allowing you to see the data for the current interval, as well as browse past intervals.

Just from owning one, there is no consumer-accessible data pathway on the hub. The only port we have access to is where the battery module comes in. That very well may support data communication, but not at the consumer level. Looking through the ANT Managed Network Concepts, it does appear that a software change is all that's needed to support ANT+Sport from an ANT implementation. Of course, that doesn't guarantee that the platform used in a PT SL has the capacity for those software changes -- just that the technology supports it.

So, I think the best case would be an upgrade path where you send in your hub to Saris, pay an upgrade fee, they flash your hub and send it back to you. Another likely upgrade path would be to send it in so they can replace the electronics for an upgrade fee.

I don't imagine there will ever be a download you can apply to your own hub to upgrade it.

It's important not to get too caught up in the device specifics when you're talking about training with power. Once you have a strain-guage power meter, all you're going to care about are the data. I swear, as much of a penny-pincher as I am, even if PowerTaps melted every year, I'd still own one, and keep replacing it. The data are extremely valuable to me. I'm fully prepared to upgrade if whatever system I'm currently using becomes obsolete or gets too far behind. ANT+Sport isn't a big enough improvement for obsolescence.

Here is what Jesse Bartholomew from Powertap said on the Wattage email list/Google Group, in response to this comment: "Here's my *guess*: at the time that Saris was creating the PT Wireless, there was no standard format for powermeters, or the standard had not yet come together, and they had to pick something."

I have talked to someone who understands ANT+Sport; he speculated that a PT 2.4 hub could be upgraded to ANT+Sport as a firmware update. (Speculation in that he does not/did not work for PT and was probably just guessing about how it worked.)

I sent my original post to Saris for comment and this is what they wrote back:

First let me say that I do not know when or if PowerTap will be compatible with Garmin. We have many customers that want it to be compatible, and it is being talked about. I will try to answer your questions in more detail, but again there really are not many definitive answers at this point.

1.) I don't know how long it would take if it does happen

2.) This is a detail that would be figured out once we know if this is going to happen

3.) You do not have to use our analysis software. We have many people that use Training Peaks. We cannot support Training Peaks, but you can easily call them when you have software issues.

4.) This is something that you may want to speak with a wheel builder about. When you want to race you can use the PowerTap as a cycle computer. You would not need a hub because there would be no power, but you could use a magnet on your rear wheel and you will have a cycle computer for racing (very popular thing to do)

5.) We always suggest that you shop at a local bike dealer. If your hub does need support we have excellent customer service We sell many PowerTaps and a very small percent ever come back to us. Your PowerTap would be under warranty for one year. We always take care of our customers. At this point in time we offer upgrades at a discounted rate for original owners. Here at Saris CycleOps we believe that customer is KING!

Let me know if you have any further questions.

since you still have the 305, I don't think any (although not an expert on Garmins).

Asuming no Garmin, you'd give up altitude, a really really fancy "compass" to find your way home, and a little graphic of the path you rode.

On the other hand you'd be gaining data that actually can be applied to make you faster.

Elevation and map data can make you faster by finding routes with less elevation gain and shortcuts. Of course, that involves cutting the course during races.

My local bike shop offers a demo program for the Power Tap ($50 for a week that you can apply toward the purchase if you go that route). The Saris rep also told me that the cadence and heart rate monitor for the Garmin are the same for the Power Tap so I will be able to wear one HR monitor for both devices. She didn't seem certain of this in her reply. Anyone know for sure?

If you are serious enough about racing to have a coach, you need a powermeter. If you are on a budget, the Powertap is your best and only real option. For training purposes, have it built up on a Mavic Open Pro you will have a dependable wheel for years to come. Saris's customer service is outstanding - they stand behind ther products 100%. My Powertap has been very dependable. Sell the GPS toy to help pay for it if necessary.

I have a 305 that I have had for a couple of years now, and I just built up a 2.4 wireless hub back in February. I wear one heartrate strap and it is "read" by both the PT and the 305. Other than the graphics printed on the front of the straps, the garmin and saris strap appear identical.