The search continues

I came very close to ordering a wireless PowerTap last week. I am still on the fence, but The Wife is without her PowerTap for now and is preparing for the Kern Women’s Stage Race so I almost got one for her to use until after Kern (or she has her PowerTap back) then I would take it over the new one. But without a full commitment on my part to training with a PowerTap the expenditure is a bit much to swallow.

One of the downsides to the PowerTap is that there is no option for recording track workouts/races. One would need another device, and my philosophy is why own two (or three) when one will do. And that leads to the attraction of a device like the iBike Pro. One device, multiple mounts. Simple, right? Well, sort of. And to up the ante, VeloComp has a new version, the iAero, which has some cool features for comparing aerodynamics of different position on the bike. I was interested, then I got into the details. The iAero is touted as being wireless and working with devices using the ANT+ wireless protocol, which includes the Garmin 705 (but not the wireless PowerTap, which uses the older ANT protocol). The device is a bit pricey ($999, but $200 of until the end of the month) but then I was wondering how much extra mounts would cost. And that is where the devil was in the details. The iAero works with the older ‘wired and wireless’ iBike Pro mounts. Huh? The iAero is wireless, right, so why add wires or a mount that is a wireless receiver (such as the iBike Pro wireless mount)? Turns out that the iAero is not wireless, the mount is wireless. So if you want to mount it on 3 bikes you need 3 mounts that are wireless receivers along with the wireless sensors. That is $269 (MRSP) for each mount/sensor kit! Ouch! So much simpler (and cost-effective) if the wireless receiver is in the device, not the mount kit, in my opinion.

Another option just coming out is the Quarq CinQo, a crank-based power meter. The device is distributed as a spider that can be bolted onto cranks that do not have and integrated spider. It talks ANT+ wireless protocol, too, so you need an ANT+ capable “head” to go with the spider. Again, the package is a bit spendy. You need to supply a compatible crank, then it is $1195 (MRSP) for the spider, then the cost of the “head”. Quarq has an ANT+ capable “head” they will sell you at $995 (MRSP). Ouch! You can use the iAero ($999 MRSP) or the Garmin 705 (a bargain at $499.99 MRSP, but widely available for much less) as alternatives. And in my situation I would need a new crank plus spider for each bike. Triple Ouch!

Guess I will continue to use RPE and heart rate for now. Not finding any of the options to be a complete, and cost-effective, solution for me at the moment.