Commodus

My thoughts are, I think I want one...even though it seems silly for a rider like me to want to quantify his suckitude.

neneboricua

Anyone have thoughts comparing the new Quarq to Power2Max? DC Rainmaker recently reviewed their updated unit which puts it very much in line with the newest Quarq offerings.

Power2Max updated unit review - https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/01/p...th-review.html

I'm trying to decide between the Quarq Riken and Power2Max with Rotor 3D cranks and both seem to be very close.

Psimet2001 

The links on the FD are set up to make the cage angle or yaw as it goes through its throw. That's it. When set up correctly I have used it with just about every lever in their lineup and it has always been a marked improvement.

I haven't read the VN article. I am sure Caley wrote it though so it should be correct.

In general - avoid the marketing hype if it has to do with lack of interchangeability. Always test it first or find someone that has. Seldom is there a real reason for incompatibility.

wacomme

So, other than the right/left balance of the Elsa, the only difference between the Elsa and Riken is 100g, or 1/4 lb. for a $400 price difference.

JAX_11

MERLIN would the Quarq Elsa work with Shimano Dura Ace7900/Ultegra6700 groupset? Could i put Dura Ace Chain rings on the Elsa if there is shifting issues? Id like to switch to sram red 2013, but I really dont want to keep replacing Rear derauillers everytime the carbon gives out.

ericm979

"carbon gives out"? What? CF doesn't just "give out".

JAX_11

Crap out/ give out/ not durable. I've been on the bike a total of 18 months as I have seen at least nine SRAM red rear derauillers cage snap in training, at races hell even at the start line of a race. Only one was actually hit by a wheel when it broke. The rest just snapped. Durability of such a highly priced derauiller for only a few ounces brings up concerns. Haven't seen any due ace 7900 do that.

ericm979

Hmm. I haven't seen one break yet though I can understand a derailleur breaking if it's hit by a wheel.
If it's a concern you could run a lower level derailleur.

island rider

So I own it now. ELSA Quarq. Strange noises coming from the cranks and some f-ing horrible chain rub on the inside of the big ring, but those are kind of growing pains with a new crank as far as I can tell. Plus it's a compact and I've got fairly short chain stays. If anyone has a recipe to avoid the big ring rub I would love to hear it. All in all, it pedals, and propels the bike. I'll know more about the capabilities of the PM in a few weeks.

merlinextraligh

I'm sure it will work with either 7900 or 6700. It just won't shift quite as crisply.

Not sure if the Dura Ace rings will fit. IIRC, they're the right bolt circle, but the way the hollow rings are made doesn't fit. You also have the option of going with Praxis rings which shift well.

My bet is both the new Quarqs will shift acceptably with either Shimano or Sram, but not quite as well as a full DA or full new Red setup.

Psimet2001 

It'll work just fine with Shimano groups. Can't even begin to count the number I have set up that way. Last one was on a rig I set up for my full ride sponsored racer last year. Worked great. She's now on Vanderkitten.

Carbon doesn't "give out". The SRAM red rd cage breaking thing....it's a thing. It happens. Seen a metric butt-ton of them give out. Not with the latest iteration of it, and I have had plenty of carbon caged RDs that DON'T fail.

ericm979

You can move the crank outwards, using spacers, if there is room to do so. You might want to measure the crank centerline spacing to see if it's to spec. It's 45mm to (I think) the inside of the big ring. Is yours BB30 or GXP?

Or you can add spacers between the big ring and spider, or small ring and spider, to space the rings farther apart. The thinnest I have found are .6mm. QBP sells them so you can order them at an LBS, once you're sure they understand what you are asking for. But doing so may cause the front derailleur to rub, or the chain to 'skate' between the rings when shifting.

But the chain rubbing on the inside of the big ring when in the small cog or next to smallest cog is normal with a short wheelbase bike and 50/34 or 52/36 chainrings. The problem is the size differential between the rings.

island rider

It's BB30. I've been running the same configuration on this bike for a while and there has been nothing close to this rubbing. We'll see.

ericm979

If something is rubbing it's installed wrong.

island rider

Yeah, that's my take too...

JAX_11

So Merlin as a Velobrew Teammate looking to get a powermeter with a matching setup does it make sense to just get a Quarq Riken and save myself $500 dollars then order Sram force groupset that have zero loss front shifting and the derauillers that are more durable and shift nearly as good as red?

Is the newest Sram force having any rear shifting issues or is there zero loss there too?

Or do I spend the extra and go with red everything and be more at risk of damaging the rear derauiller in races.