CycleOps PowerTap SL 2.4

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at Pro deal

Favorite Ride:
TransAlp

Summary:
Accurate, reliable, light enough to race with, simple, easy downloading, good software.

Weaknesses:
Warning: get one and you will become a power junkie!

Similar Products Used:
Polar 725 - BEWARE

Price Paid:  $0.00 at LBS

Bike Setup:
BLUE RC4
Mavic Open Pro 32 hole rims
Ultegra groupo

Summary:
I usually ride alone or on the trainer (which is still alone, just not alone outside.) Riding by watts is pretty basic and straight forward; either you are putting out the numbers or you are not. The PowerTap SL 2.4 has really helped me to improve the time I spend on the riding.

The unit is easy to set up- wireless is the way to go. Put the wheel on your bike, mount the computer head on your handle bar, and ride.

The PowerTap is a great training tool, and not just for racers. I ride to improve my fitness and for the workout.

Using the PowerTap has allowed me to "train" and follow my riding plan for improving my fitness. Once I figured out the workouts that I needed to follow, I just ride according to the numbers. There are many web sites and books to help determine a workout plan that will work best for the time and the intensity that you can ride.

The Saris web site is very helpful for setting up your power zones and explaining how the meter works. In the past my hard days were not hard enough, or may not have been too hard and my slow recovery days were not always slow enough. Riding based on power is a great way to know that you are riding at the approiate levels and making each ride count for improving fitness. This is a great product with great support on the company web site (www.saris.com)

Strengths:
Easy to read display. Easy to understand instructions. Great support and guidance for determining your power threshold and setting your power zones. Clean set up with the wireless unit (SL 2.4.) In three months I have not had any problems; this is riding in snow melt & rain, and very cold weekend rides. The heart rate is accurate by what I can tell (comparing my HR numbers with my Suunto HR monitor on the same rides) and the cadence is pretty close while riding. For a super accurate cadence you might want to get the cadence unit, the cadence on the SL 2.4 is somewhat virtual and gives a really high max cadence when the information is downloaded (200+ at times) but I just use cadence as a general guide- the watts are what I ride against. I rarely watch my HR anymore and follow my watts for intervals.

The threshold setup guided by Dr. Lim on the Saris web site is very helpful. I tested myself and then had my wife help with the same test a few days later and I was 3 watts off on my threshold from what I had determined. (My wife held the computer wrote down my perceived efforts every three min. and tracked my average power for that three min interval.)

Weaknesses:
After two months of 3-4 rides a week I had to replace the CPU battery. Not a big deal, the battery was only $2, and the display is as bright as ever. This may have been from riding in really cold temps or sitting in the cold garage, not a really problem, and an easy fix.

I have not found a weakness with this product. I bought it to help me use the available time that I do have to ride more effeciently. The PowerTap SL 2.4 has done just that.

Price Paid:  $1250.00 at eBay

Bike Setup:
2008 Orbea Opal 54cm with full Dura Ace 10 speed, a Mavic Open Pro 32 hole rear wheel w/PowerTap SL 2.4 hub, Mavic Ksyrium SL front wheel, Time Carbon RSX pedals, Fizik Arione saddle, and Orbea carbon seatpost. Race wheels are American Classic Carbon 58mm Tubular (awesome wheels, BTW).

Summary:
Bought from an eBay seller called "bentleybrooks". It came as a fully-built wheel. The rim needed a bit of truing out of the box, but other than that, the setup was simple and self explanatory.

I read some reviews of the non-wireless models which said the hub had problems in the rain. I've ridden in the rain a few times since owning mine and have not had a single issue (knock on wood).

I spent alot of time reviewing and comparing all the different power meters on the market and the PowerTap made the most sense for my needs. Ideally, I'd have the SRM so I can use any wheels on my road bike and still have power data. But I can also buy another PowerTap SL 2.4 hub for my existing carbon tubular race wheels and STILL save $1000 over SRM.

This is my first season, in 15 years of racing, to use a power meter. I won't say I am stronger now b/c of the power meter (time will tell), but I am definitely training MUCH more specifically than ever before. Heart Rate just isn't as useful as power.

For example, you can do a sprint workout and HR is virtually useless b/c the efforts are so short that HR will lag behind and not really indicate your level of effort. With a power meter, you can actually see how hard you're working and, more importantly, if you're improving over time. Of course, this applies to all power meters, not just Power Tap.

Strengths:
Being able to swap the wheel out between road, TT, and cyclocross bikes is great. Try that with SRM or Ergomo. Wireless model is more expensive but nice to have (cleaner setup). No need to buy additional wire kits for different bikes. Just get an additional $10 computer mount for each bike and you are good to go w/a quick change of the rear wheel.

Adds a new dimension/meaning to indoor training. Before, my winter training indoors involved alot of guesswork and going by HR (not the optimal way to do it). The power meter gives me something to focus on/target/etc, and, as such, has actually made my indoor training, dare I say it, somewhat enjoyable? Anyway it is nice to focus on power vs HR on the trainer. Nothing wrong with HR, power is just a superior means of training, IMO.

Weaknesses:
Limited to 1 wheel. I would like to race w/my power meter but use my race wheels I already have, which means buying another hub for the race wheels (still cheaper than SRM this way).

Cadence function (w/out the separate speed/cadence sensor) is WAY off at times. My downloads show max RPMs around 190-200, but it works 95% of the time.

These are my preferences rather than weaknesses: 1) a backlight function for pre-dawn/night rides would be VERY useful. w/out a helmet mounted light, i cannot see the computer display unless I ride under a street light. i ride in the early morning alot so this would be nice; 2) allow user to program power zones into the computer. you can configure the device with certain data, but not you're power zones. right now, i print them out and tape them to my stem. would be cool if the computer would show which zone you're in next to wattage display.

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Saris

Favorite Ride:
Lookout Mtn, Golden, CO

Bike Setup:
Merckx Team SC
Campy Chorus/Record 10spd

Summary:
Got this in late-July, and have about 2200 miles on it, without a problem. Only thing I had to do was replace the CPU's battery after about 20hrs of use, but haven't had any issues with reliability or drop-outs.

Strengths:
EASY to swap between bikes
Minimal installation
Wattage readings seem accurate & consistent

Weaknesses:
A bit expensive, but less than some other options

Similar Products Used:
iBike

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at Wheelbuilder.com

Favorite Ride:
Mt Tam

Bike Setup:
Litespeed Vortex '04
Zipp 404s
Shimano Dura-Ace

Summary:
On receipt of the product had some issues as the CPU didn't come with the right firmware and could not connect it to my PC. Upgrading caused a call to Saris as the process killed the CPU completely. They sent a replacement within 2 days. Also had to change the batteries it came with as they were dead.

Anyway, just completed my first ride with it and overall really like it. Works well and had no interference issues which I was worried about.

Strengths:
Excellent customer service
No wires makes it easy to move between bikes!

Weaknesses:
$300 is a lot to spend to remove some wires

Similar Products Used:
PowerTap Pro SL
PowerTap Pro
Cyclops Indoor Cycle