Thoughts on best power meter

[linklemming]

Well, if I had to, I would immediately buy a HR armband and set my Vado to "assist me to keep me at given HR". It seems more practical. (I'm finding it difficult to watch the bike display or the smartphone for the whole time during the ride, as observing the road in front of me is more essential). The reason I'm not buying the Polar armband is I don't want to be totally "robotised" by the e-bike

Your just being silly here Stefan. Have I or any other person in this thread talked about 'continuously monitoring a display to the point of ignoring the road'.

If you really want to get technical about it, the CA doesnt allow human power to be displayed on the main screen. I also have the screens setup so that after a few seconds, any screen I changed to will default back to the main screen so what you seem to be implying isnt even possible with my setup.

In reality, I use the average human power to 'spot check' during a ride. I record this in garmin connect along with heart rate data (recorded automatically). If garmin would provide an average heartrate during the ride like it does post ride I would use that as well.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

If you really want to get technical about it, the CA doesnt allow human power to be displayed on the main screen. I also have the screens setup so that after a few seconds, any screen I changed to will default back to the main screen so what you seem to be implying isnt even possible with my setup.

In reality, I use the average human power to 'spot check' during a ride. I record this in garmin connect along with heart rate data (recorded automatically). If garmin would provide an average heartrate during the ride like it does post ride I would use that as well.

I don't need to make all those considerations:

A small subsection of BLEvo post-ride report for Specialized Turbo e-bikes. "Motor power" here is in fact "power consumed from the battery". Multiply by efficiency of 0.75.

 

[Johnny]

I just finished swapping my Vector pedals onto my Stromer this morning, and I'll try to get out for a test ride at lunch. I also appreciate the additional info on CA.

I was wondering if you can use your Vector pedals with a clipless to flat adapter. I want to avoid changing the crank, pedal power meters are convenient however I don't want to wear clipless shoes all the time.

 

[tbar23]

@Johnny this may be possible, but most of the clipless to flat adapters I have seen are Shimano SPD to flat. The Garmin Vector pedals are LOOK cleat compatible, and I think most of the other pedal-based power meters use some kind of “road” pedal cleat. This thread https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/...dal-based-power-meters-be-used-as-flat-pedals
doesn’t read very promising on this idea.

Another update on my end - I tried to get the Quarq Dub Dzero power meter to work with my Stromer, but the required crank arms are a bit unusual. You need an english threaded compatible BB (easy to find) with 73 mm shell (typical of MTBs). Then you need a “road wide” crank arm set.
I found it quite difficult to get everything right and eventual gave up - returning everything.

 

[fooferdoggie]

what about a torque meter bottom bracket or crank arms?

 

[tbar23]

what about a torque meter bottom bracket or crank arms?

I haven’t seen the BB versions - I’ll investigate. I started looking at crank arm versions (like Stages) and got side-tracked by Quarq. I may go do another survey.

 

[fooferdoggie]

so bosch actually does it better? with access to the torque sensor.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

so bosch actually does it better? with access to the torque sensor.

Depending on the display.

 

[Johnny]

@Johnny this may be possible, but most of the clipless to flat adapters I have seen are Shimano SPD to flat. The Garmin Vector pedals are LOOK cleat compatible, and I think most of the other pedal-based power meters use some kind of “road” pedal cleat. This thread https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/...dal-based-power-meters-be-used-as-flat-pedals
doesn’t read very promising on this idea.

Another update on my end - I tried to get the Quarq Dub Dzero power meter to work with my Stromer, but the required crank arms are a bit unusual. You need an english threaded compatible BB (easy to find) with 73 mm shell (typical of MTBs). Then you need a “road wide” crank arm set.
I found it quite difficult to get everything right and eventual gave up - returning everything.

Yeah I read that one too.

The problem is it is an FSA set and it is hard to find FSA compatible stages or similar crank arm power meter.
I also don't want to change the whole crankset.
Have you by any chance found a compatible left crank arm based power meter?

Moreover pedal based power meters are easy to move in between different bikes. I am looking at assioma favero and it should take flat pedal adapters yet I am not certain because of the large cylindrical power meter tip.

 

[tbar23]

so bosch actually does it better? with access to the torque sensor.

Yes. As does Specialized. The data exists in the Stromer ”ecosystem”. I suspect it would simply be a matter of some engineering time to save the data as part of their existing output.

 

[Ebiker01]

I would like to know how much power I am generating vs the bike.

i will tell you w/o a PM what numbers you will get.

On flats you are putting 0-175watts avg. for longer then 15min., and ocasionally 175-300watts for less then 1min.

On hills or incline it will show that you have higher wattage b/c weight is a bigger factor on inclines resulting in higher wattage.

If u do really have the urge to get a PM , with about 2-3% accuracy for 150$ from Germany , Sigma ROX 11 delivers !!
At 0.5-2% accuracy a PM will cost hundreds of thousands of $ and will show you the same thing that basically you suck ....meaning avg . normalized power 89 watts or less for that 2hour ride...

SIGMA SPORT

Professional grade equipment designed for all cyclists. Whether you are a recreational rider or a pro athlete in training, the SIGMA ROX series has a GPS computer for you.

www.sigmasport.com

Stay away from Strava and enjoy the ride

 

[Johnny]

i will tell you w/o a PM what numbers you will get.

On flats you are putting 0-175watts avg. for longer then 15min., and ocasionally 175-300watts for less then 1min.

On hills or incline it will show that you have higher wattage b/c weight is a bigger factor on inclines resulting in higher wattage.

If u do really have the urge to get a PM , with about 2-3% accuracy for 150$ from Germany , Sigma ROX 11 delivers !!
At 0.5-2% accuracy a PM will cost hundreds of thousands of $ and will show you the same thing that basically you suck ....meaning avg . normalized power 89 watts or less for that 2hour ride...

SIGMA SPORT

Professional grade equipment designed for all cyclists. Whether you are a recreational rider or a pro athlete in training, the SIGMA ROX series has a GPS computer for you.

www.sigmasport.com

Stay away from Strava and enjoy the ride

That looks like a nice device but it says calculated so is it just some estimate or does it actually measure the rider input (with a crank/pedal/bracket etc sensor)? If it is just calculating then how is it differentiating rider power from the motor power?

You are right that it is harder to reach higher power outputs if using assistance on flats. However If I am riding for fitness I usually turn the bike off on flats and as you can see when the lane is open I can keep quite a bit over 175w. Bosch's power data may not be as accurate as stand alone power meters but as long as you keep a sustained effort it is nice.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Specialized Turbo e-bikes measure rider's and motor power independently and even let analyse the data post-ride.

Rider's power filtered to be >20 W for better chart clarity.

 

[Ebiker01]

The Rox 10 has it's own software algorithm based on wind resistance (wind sensor is placed at the top front of the device) , rider /bike weight, tire info and a few others variables that i don't recall right now.
It shows temp., 5sec. power,30sec. , avg., max. ,etc . A lot of different screens and easy to use.

But i'm not sure if it can differentiate between us and the machine
.
The Rox 12 can ! https://www.sigmasport.com/en/produkte/fahrrad-computer/gps/rox/rox-12-0?submenu=features

It's really good , unless you put high numbers where 1.5% or less accuracy would make a difference in the chart .
Ex. : a 400watts hill effort could be 395 or 405 watts.
And also it's very light -60,70grams

does it actually measure the rider input

 

[Ebiker01]

The latest Sigma powermeter -Rox 12 beats Garmin and is a lot less @400$ vs 700$ for Garmin.

SIGMA SPORT

Professional grade equipment designed for all cyclists. Whether you are a recreational rider or a pro athlete in training, the SIGMA ROX series has a GPS computer for you.

www.sigmasport.com

 

[Handlebars]

I noticed the other day that the muscles on my left thigh are becoming more developed than on my right, whereas with my acoustic bikes in other times both legs looked the same. Becoming conscious of that, I began using my right leg with more power and it then became physically noticeable to me that I had been using my left more, for power. It would be neat to be able track torque from each leg separately. I may have begun favoring the right in order to avoid getting chain dirt on pants or because I hear the pant leg rubbing against the chainring guard. No matter - power output differences could also be a sign of something else, something more important.

 

[Johnny]

But i'm not sure if it can differentiate between us and the machine

Looks like a nice cycle computer. I am aware of the wind sensors and they look nice. Unfortunately as you have mentioned, those sensor seem to be measuring the whole output (bike + rider).

 

[tbar23]

Yeah I read that one too.

The problem is it is an FSA set and it is hard to find FSA compatible stages or similar crank arm power meter.
I also don't want to change the whole crankset.
Have you by any chance found a compatible left crank arm based power meter?

Moreover pedal based power meters are easy to move in between different bikes. I am looking at assioma favero and it should take flat pedal adapters yet I am not certain because of the large cylindrical power meter tip.

No go on Stages crank arm PM.
No go on 4iiii.
Maybe you are right on pedals being the best option.

 

[Johnny]

No go on Stages crank arm PM.
No go on 4iiii.
Maybe you are right on pedals being the best option.

I inquired and it seems avio is also a no go.

I guess I will start looking at Pedal based power meters.

 

[Captain Slow]

I ride a Creo and I have a Garmin computer. While the Creo will show the power I generate and the power the motor is supplying if I use the Specialized app, it doesn't record the motor power. My Garmin will record the power I generate but not the power the motor generates. It would be really interesting to see both data sources but I don't know how to record both.

I might try out the BLevo app this year as I know others on here really like it.