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Which power meter -...
 

[Closed] Which power meter - Stages or Power2Max?

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I read (in the comments I think) that removing the 4iiii damages the unit, if a warranty issue arises they're going to take the crankset in through an authorised dealer, remove it and re-install a new unit. It's extra work to prep a crankset that's already had a power meter fitted though hence taking it in.


 
Posted : 02/10/2014 6:49 pm
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Is a shame about the power tap. Didn't they get brought out? I'm reluctant to use mine off the turbo now in case it needs servicing sooner!

About 10 years ago! I guess in the drive to make them cheaper they made them, well, cheaper!


 
Posted : 02/10/2014 6:52 pm
 LS
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I used the older ones without issue for years but they were all the older 12mm axle version which they weren't doing an 11-spd freehub body for. When I went 11spd on the road bikes I thought about G3s, but just beforehand my other half had bought one, and that was knackered straight out of the box! Cracking QC there, Saris 😀
Sold all mine and went down the P2M route, very happy customer here.


 
Posted : 02/10/2014 7:08 pm
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replaced Stages battery on June 24th, turned on yesterday and it was flat, did get a low battery warning last ride out about 70km - only done 510km, around 10 rides


 
Posted : 03/10/2014 7:32 pm
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Bit crap.


 
Posted : 03/10/2014 7:35 pm
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indeed, about to fit my 4th battery to my g3 as well, which i bought in May and have done around 5000km on


 
Posted : 03/10/2014 7:45 pm
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new DCR power buyers guide out

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/09/buyers-guide2014-edition.html


 
Posted : 03/10/2014 7:48 pm
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I found that SR44 batteries were infinitely better than LR44s in my PowerTap - Timpson were able to sell me the right ones, lasted thousands of miles.


 
Posted : 03/10/2014 7:53 pm
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Wow that's shockingly bad.


 
Posted : 03/10/2014 8:08 pm
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^^ i just replaced the stock CR2032 with like for like - whats an SR44?


 
Posted : 03/10/2014 9:04 pm
 LS
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SR44s fitted the older Powertaps, the new ones only take CR2032.


 
Posted : 03/10/2014 9:08 pm
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Aah, didn't realise they'd changed.


 
Posted : 03/10/2014 9:29 pm
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[url= http://www.bikerumor.com/2014/10/19/ib14-rpm2-power-meter-shoe-insole-inserts-measure-force-everywhere/ ]RPM2 insole power meters?[/url] Be interested to get the DC Rainmaker low down. The comments on BikeRumor (always a tough crowd) seem worried about durability, which I'm not sure about, particularly on the road I don't think I've ever worn out a set of decent insoles.

Only works with iPhone/Android though - not Garmin (or other head unit) compatible, guess because of the fancy graphics, although you'd think you could get most of the 'common' metrics on an ANT+ head unit.

Price seems reasonable to me. I'm hovering over the buy button on a 4iiii Precision still!


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 10:52 am
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The insole looks like an interesting idea, as you say though I'd be waiting until someone else has tried and tested them first.

I tried ordering a Stages from Powermeter24 as they were about £100 cheaper than the UK suppliers but they kept bumping my delivery date back so I've cancelled the order. The problem now is that they don't seem too keen to refund me despite a couple of emails asking them 🙁

I've been looking at the 4iii Precision but it seems you can't order it on their site, at least I can't!
I reckon that even with shipping and possibly import duty it still shouldn't be much over the £300 mark which seems pretty good.


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 11:31 am
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I've not actually gone through the process, but got as far as it calculating UK shipping ($54 IIRC), and that seemed to work, so I imagine the final few steps would have worked!


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 11:42 am
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i'm waiting on [url= http://4iiii.com/product/precision/ ]this[/url] self installable and works on my carbon sram cranks, I guess accurancy isn't vastly important, as long as its consistent.....$750 for both bikes

edit: beaten to it, 4iiii looks good though, I wonder how weather proof it is


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 1:00 pm
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Interested to know how you get on with it Chris - that's what's being discussed it the 3 posts before yours!


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 1:03 pm
 DT78
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I like the idea of the footbeds. Easiest option for use with multiple bikes (or so it seems)


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 1:21 pm
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Most meters which have looked like they'll be ideal to move around have eventually proven significantly harder - Vectors need a torque wrench etc etc, someone else did a cleat/shoe power meter using Speedplay cleats, but I agree, if this genuinely can be moved around it would be good. Still needs a proper interface though IMO.


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 1:51 pm
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Not being ANT+ compatible does seem like a major omission. Shall await the reviews. And what if it doesn't fit your shoes? Can you take a scissors to it? And I guess you might not be able to change between shoes if they are slightly different shapes 😕

So you have pedal, shoe/cleat, insole, crank, spider, hub, hasn't there been a BB based one too? I can't think of one that wouldn't be a pain to transfer at some point. I'd still rather see a decent crank based one (like the 4iiii) at a price that would allow me to put one on every bike and do away with the faff of trying to move them about.


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 4:56 pm
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Can you take a scissors to it?

So the BikeRumor article says, they do size ranges, which you trim appropriately, but yes, I know my winter boots have very different insole shapes to my road shoes (for example).

Ergomo was BB based years ago, and a bit shit. There's a new one floating around that goes inside a SRAM/FSA (IIRC) spindle.

I reckon Precision have got the biggest potential here. DC Rainmaker spoke highly of his pre-production sample.


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 4:58 pm
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Yes, if they really can do it well at price I'd probably order two or three of them!


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 5:00 pm
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Well you can order a pair anyway, and either fit them to two cranks on one bike, or one crank on two bikes. For $700 you're laughing!


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 5:03 pm
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Wonder if you can fit one to the DS and another to the NDS, then run both together or swap the NDS to another bike and run both seperately? That would be pretty cool.


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 5:05 pm
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Power tap started drifting with the calibration number - back it goes 🙁


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 5:51 pm
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Should be able to, yes.


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 6:45 pm
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My G3 went around Spring this year.

I never really used it outside so now just use the TrainerRoad estimate, which although not comparable year on year does seem at least to be consistent.

Road bike cranks are carbon Campy so no Stages option there, quite like the pedal based systems but see a fair few go back to Garmin.


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 7:49 pm
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Seems the reliability on PowerTaps really did go downhill, mines been perfect for years!


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 7:51 pm
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only bought it in May


 
Posted : 20/10/2014 7:52 pm
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Is that one of the new ones? My old PT Pro has been faultless in the 3 years or so I've had it. Hardly ever used outside though. Wouldn't be too disappointed if it did fail though as it would give me an excuse to buy a kickr 🙂


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 9:54 am
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I've been drowning my PowerTap in hub deep water periodically for 5 years with nary a grumble. It does weigh a ton though (literally, my wheel is 1000kg), and the bearings are dire!


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 10:10 am
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Yer G3 part of a cycleops wheelset that were heavily reduced in Evans

Been used in the wet, but then I wouldn't expect it to fail because of that


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 10:22 am
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Damn right, they're hardly cheap.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 10:37 am
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ROTOR Power LT all the way, just got one, awesome and light!
Have heard some less than great feedback about Stages from certain shops now stuck with a fair bit of stock. Leaking badly being one. I think many of those sold came back to them under warranty.

Rotor UK warranty the cranks too.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 12:48 pm
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The Rotors sound ropey as ****, read a post from DC Rainmaker saying despite numerous SW updates direct from the manufacturer that one side still reads incorrectly!


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 1:00 pm
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I think LT is the one side only, so may work!

Not read the reviews but I would be quite tempted as I do like the rotor cranks on my p2m.


 
Posted : 21/10/2014 1:02 pm
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A quick PSA. Notice Wiggle are doing a price drop thing on the old PowerTap Pro hubs. Down to 350 quid now at 50% off. I am sorely tempted to get one at that price. Better than the newer G3 supposedly.


 
Posted : 06/11/2014 11:26 am
 adsh
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First rides last night and this morning with Stages. Easy to fit, seamless pairing with the Edge 800 just lets hope it's watertight. Tempted to wind some electrical tape around it but not sure that's wise?


 
Posted : 06/11/2014 12:25 pm
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Better than the newer G3 supposedly.

Mine's a Pro, and shit bearings aside it's been faultless.

ROTOR Power LT all the way, just got one, awesome and light!

It makes more sense in the UK than other countries (inverse of Stages - Rotor's US pricing is daft), but it's still quite a lot for a left only PM I think.

I'm still waiting for first hand reports on the 4iiii Precision, and to see what UK pricing is.


 
Posted : 06/11/2014 12:39 pm
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Mine's a Pro, and shit bearings aside it's been faultless.

Same experience with my Pro really, though it rarely gets to go outdoors. Should probably change the bearings too, is that a back to the dealer or a home service job?

I'm still waiting for first hand reports on the 4iiii Precision, and to see what UK pricing is.

Much the same here, though that Pro is a great deal. Gets reduced by 1% each night too until they are all gone. I wonder how low they'll go? If they get to 300 quid I'm definitely having one for a training wheel.


 
Posted : 06/11/2014 12:48 pm
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@adsh - never had leakage problems with my stages & ridden in all conditions. The batteries don't last the time stages claim maybe 50-100 hours. I did have a problem with my XTR crank battery was draining after every ride this turned out to be a connection problem. Stages were great with feedback sent it of to merlin for warranty got new one back with the week and had no probs with it.


 
Posted : 06/11/2014 12:49 pm
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is that a back to the dealer or a home service job?

If you believe them it's back to dealer, I've done mine (including the freehub ones) a number of times with no issues.

If they get to 300 quid I'm definitely having one for a training wheel.

What's the one that rarely goes outside if not a training wheel? 😕

[url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycleops-powertap-pro-hub-only/ ]Clicky[/url] for anyone interested, I couldn't find it searching on the site, had to go via Google.


 
Posted : 06/11/2014 12:55 pm
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If you believe them it's back to dealer, I've done mine (including the freehub ones) a number of times with no issues.

I may have to give it a go, does feel like it's about had it.

What's the one that rarely goes outside if not a training wheel?

Current one sits permanently on the turbo bike. Be nice to have one for an outdoors winter training wheel.


 
Posted : 06/11/2014 12:57 pm
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For the stages, I cut six inches of inner tube, dropped this over the crank and sealed one end with black insulating tape. It's probably overkill but has been faultless. I broke two early devices so wanted to take no chances.

Battery changes are pretty easy to. I got my idea from the Bionic Man toy's arm 😉


 
Posted : 06/11/2014 1:29 pm
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I've had my Stages power meter for about 4 weeks and I'm on my 5th battery. Seems a common problem, however, it was my understanding that it had been resolved. I'm return in it to the shop tomorrow and if the replacement isn't any better then I'll be getting a refund.


 
Posted : 06/11/2014 8:45 pm
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