PowerTap Pro or Pro+ ?
 

So I'm trying to decide which hub to get. The Old Pro is ganna be cheaper and wired. The new pro + is a lighter and wireless. Are there any problems I would run into with the older wired version? Conversely, are there any great benefits I would get from the new version? Any help would be appreciated since I have to decide within the next few days. Thanks.

btw, the search function isn't working...

http://www.saris.com/p-362-powertap-pro.aspx

The new pro+ doesn't have the carbon hub shell, its all alloy.

What do you mean by "Old Pro?" Are you talking about the current Pro, purchased new or an old Pro purchased used? Any carbon-windowed PT hubs are fine. The older ones just sometimes let more water in and required drying afterward.

Wireless is nice, esp. if you plan on using it on more than one bike (extra wiring harnesses for the wired version are ~$70). I hear the older powertap pro (yellow hub?) has problems when riding in the rain. I've been using last years powertap SL and after 3 rides in hard rain it still works fine, this is the same experience a few teammates have had w/ the same model after a year of riding.

Reviews of the wireless powertaps have been good from what I've seen.... it all depends on budget I guess. If you're on a tight budget I would go for a used powertap SL, no budget... srm ;) or the powertap pro+.

sorry, I meant the current PT Pro vs. the New Wireless Pro +. Everything purchased new.

The difference in price will be a couple hundred (the Pro+ being more expensive). I think budget does matter, but I really can't decide if I "need" the wireless pro+...

I'd go for the pro+ because it uses ANT+ Sport. With that hub you can use a garmin, ibike, or qranium as your computer instead of being forced to use the powertap computer.

I plan to use the PT computer, and I don't plan on moving the system between bikes. That's why I'm leaning towards the current PT pro instead of the PRO +.

Is anyone stocking the Pro+ yet?

I think it will be available within a few weeks.

The Pro+ is comparable to the 2008 SL 2.4. It is 110grams lighter than the 2008 Pro and has the old alloy axle. I'm not so sure the 110grams is worth the extra couple of hundred dollars, particularly since I have bent a couple of the alloy powertap axles. So I would prefer the older steel axle on the 2008 Pro even though it is a bit heavier or the new larger diameter alloy axles on the SL+ or SLC+ if you are a weight weanie.

Also consider the Elite+. Still a bit lighter than the Pro, has a strong steel axle, has all the wireless and ANT+ goodies but is around the same price as the 2008 Pro.

Update: I guess you are giving up something with the Elite+ in that it doesn't have heart rate. I guess it depends on if you care about that.

How do you bend the axle? It sounds like a dumb question, but I'm sincerely interested. How do you know when it's bent?

Yeah, to answer the original question, there's nothing at all wrong with the current Pro PowerTaps. They're a bit heavier, but the freehub body is steel and will not take any notches like the aluminum.

Can you swap out the freehub body on other ones from aluminum to steel?

I don't know exactly how they were bent. Probably just from hard torque on the freehub over time. Aluminum is more flexible and also doesn't spring back very well compared to steel, so the stresses overtime will cause it to bend. You can tell if your axle is bent by looking at the cassette. If the axle is bent there will be a slight wobble in the cassette as it turns.

I've heard that you can't, same with the axle (probably related). I don't have any links to back that up though.

I think I read that Garmin-Chipotle switched to steel axles after bending a few.

I just wanted an excuse to say buenos notches.

one of my friends told me you can switch both, but I can't cite any credible sources either...

I think I'm leaning towards the current PRO, that being said the new SL+ seems like it's the best of the bunch.

Anyone have the current SL? That one is wired right?

You can swap the axles. That's what I did. The trouble is finding one. My Wheelbuilder does so many Powertaps that he has extra parts lying around, but you probably could get a replacement from Saris. The freehubs are also swappable, but the steel freehub is only available in Shimano (no Campy).

I would go with the new wireless one.