[Closed] Opinions on power meters

I have a wired powertap for sale if anyone wants it.. It'll be cheap.. 🙂

[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/which-power-meter-stages-or-power2max ]This thread[/url] probably has more info than you could ever need!

I've had Stages (FSA) for just over a year. Some problems initially, same as almost everyone, now seemingly fixed with a stronger battery cover and a FW udate. Happy enough with it, certainly does what I want from it, love the minimal weight penalty, but a bit weird running carbon drive side, alu on the other.
The bike it's on has been my only one for most of that time too, so it gets used 5 days a week for work, all weathers, on bad roads, and both days at weekends. Not the easiest life, admittedly.

Thanks for that link, I want to do my research before splashing out, and best to find out from people with experience ( good and bad)
Thanks in advance.
I've been drawn towards garmin vector2, the only reason so far is, it's easy to transfer bike to bike.

I've got a Stages XT, a PowerTap G2 and a Rotor dual sided. They all do the job, not really fussed on dual sided or not.

Been reading through the other thread and quite a few people debating single or duel sided.
I'm no professional but looking to improve for next season and would like reliable data to work on over the winter.

If you do a lot of turbo work over winter it's also worth looking at using virtual power, if you have a reasonably common model of turbo.

I've used it concurrently with Stages and the numbers are close enough.
Prefer the Stages as I don't like the faff of setting up the laptop before every session, but it's another option if you want to hold off until the new PMs come out before next season (and the old ones get discounted...)

For road, the new Powertap pedals look excellent. For off-road, people speak highly of Stages. I have a Stages (actually I've HAD three) and like it.

I also like my Powercal heart rate monitor, which guesses power.

If you are going to use a turbo, then speed will be just as good as power, and provided you check tyre pressure and tension, will be reproducible.

I haven't got a turbo yet, I've used rollers the last couple of years and know they are no use for power meters.
I am thinking about the kinetic rock and roll although not totally decided yet.

I'd be hoping to use for road and cx, although mainly road, I've got the same cranks on my bikes, so pedals or single crank would be easiest for changing, then it's a problem with cleats. Might need to just concentrate on the road bike first and if I'm impressed dig deep for the cx bike.

Rollers are fine for speed based power. They have a linear resistance power curve, but don't go very high for resistance. I can get about 400 watts through my kreitlers. Fine for ftp, no use for sprint 20/40s.

If you have the same cranks, then Stages are the easiest to swap.

I've had a Power2max for the last 4 years. No trouble with it at all. It just works. My preference would be for a crank based unit.

So power2max, stages, powertap pedals, garmin vector pedals is what's sticking out just now. You all must of had this dilemma before, what swayed it for you?

been drawn towards garmin vector2, the only reason so far is, it's easy to transfer bike to bike.

Zero reason to buy Vectors for this - more expensive and harder to move between bikes. Powertap P1s make more sense.

I went for stages because I could get a shimano 105 one for just over £300 from power meter 24 in Germany. Takes about 5 mins to swap between bikes.

Thanks for the comments, as I say I'm trying to get information, I don't know a lot about them apart from reading reviews, experienced normal riders views is what's good for me.

Stages would be my preference, so easy to move between bikes and light and cheap too. I see no real reason for dual sided apart from having more (quite useless) data.

Got the gamin vector 2 and today my chain jumped of the big ring (fixed that problem now) and it sheared of the pod plug. A very expensive chain jump. I have two sets of vectors and and both have been replaced under warranty. They are working well at the moment but given I have 14 bikes the commuter which I will be spending a lot of time on from next month will get a power2max rotor chainset when rotor bring out there new Groupset.