Last year at Interbike everybody got all worked up over Vector, a pedal-based power meter that was supposed to change the game and make power easy to use, easy to move between bikes and easier to analyze.
And then ... a year of silence.
This year at Interbike, everybody's still all worked up over Vector, but only because Garmin bought Metrigear, the company that was developing it.
I said last year that Vector would be cool if it ever actually made it to market. Still waiting. It'll still be cool if it ever makes it to market. The Garmin acquisition makes it more likely, but keep in mind we haven't seen pricing or availability figures AT ALL. No "shipping in late spring" or anything. Just "we're dedicated to bringing this to the market."
My stance: You'll see this no earlier than June 2012, if at all. Keep holding out hope, though.
Your stance: Click comments and get cracking.
8 comments:
In the meantime, learn all you can about power. There is a lot to know.
I think the first company that creates a viable Power meter for >$400 is going to eat the market up. I don't see how 2 pedal sensors could cost more than $800, but that is the price point for the current cheapest popular power meter, the Powertap.
Polar tried it with their chain tension power sensor, but that didn't go over very well. If Garmin were to bring out a kit including their Edge 500, a HR strap, and the pedal power sensors for $800 total, I think they'd do really well.
marc - I'd jump at the chance to really focus on training with power. I love even reading about it.
mike - I can see an Edge/pedals bundle for $1k going over really well. A single PowerTap wheel is about $1K without a head unit right now, I believe.
Bryan,IIRC last time you had the opportunity to train with power it didn't really happen.
But to the question at hand. Garmin's got a lot of money, I figured that when Metrigear went silent in June they were either being purchased or shelving the plans. I don't think its as cheap as you may think it is Mike. If it were it'd be done already. That said remember we're talking about specialty sporting goods and even if the dealer markup is only 30-40% the markup to get there is probably quite large. I like the Metrigear concept but its going to take time and I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole for 18 months.
If training with power is what a guy wants to do and it doesn't have to be the lightest fanciest product on the market you can buy this afternoon, or any afternoon a PT wired wheel from Comp Cyclist for about $650. No its not the newest, sexiest thing on the market, but most of us aren't in that category either.
That's it my comments are longer than many of my blog posts.
I want a pedal-based powermeter system. Well, I want power measurement any way I can get it, because my HR is profoundly altered by hydration and fatigue. Hard, short intervals are very difficult for me to complete, because I never know if I'm working at the correct intensity becasue I distrust HR and perceived exertion. Plus, every coach I've ever known has promised me that, given the same investment in time and detailed attention to my training, I'd be 10% faster if I trained with power.
Here's why I haven't gotten a powermeter yet: crank-based units are way too expensive for the amateur racer, and you can't move them from a race bike to a TT bike w/o a ton of hassle.
Hub-based systems are great for training but not for racing hilly road events or time trials, because the the durable wheel builds for training don't race very well.
Polar's chain-stay version is impossible to set up and has a +/- 10% accuracy rating, which is barely better than HR at measuring exertion.
I've only met two users of the iSport wind/calculus system: one hated it, one loved it. But you can't use it on a trainer, making indoor intervals impossible in Nebraska.
An accurate, value-based pedal system resolves all of my objections to existing systems: it'd be easy to use on both the road and TT bike during both training and racing. If Garmin were to release an ANT1-compatible unit for around $500-600, I'd buy it. Today.
Say what Eric? Did you just say 10% faster. I call BS there.
mike (miles) - the last time I had a chance to train with power I was five months out from a broken back. Nothing really went right there.
eric - iBike Pro will work indoors. It's priced very attractively for someone with QBP ordering privileges.
Oh yeah, sorry forgot about the back part
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