Home› General Training Discussions

Power meter for every bike?

Douglas SutherlandDouglas Sutherland
in General Training Discussions

I have a Quarq on my tri bike (Trek Speed Concept) and no power meter on my road bike (Specialized). I was hoping to return to my roadie and work on improving my bike speed/power with the bike focus plan. I have to do 1-2 work-outs per week on a trainer which I can set up with the tri bike, and will get 2-3 outside most weeks, including the weekenders. So the question - do I spring for a PM for the road bike? Or just stay on the tri bike the entire time? I figure I could just use HR for the road bike, PM for the tri bike, and try to compare the data that way. Or am i just over thinking this issue?



Thanks all,

DS

Comments

  • novaavantnovaavant
    What kind of bottom bracket do you have on each bike and what Quarq do you have GXP, BB30 or Shimano? Depending on this answer you might be able to just move the PM between bikes. I have a Quarq and I move them between bikes all the time, takes about 4 minutes total and a 8mm allen wrench. So if you can match up the BB standard on each frame either native or with and adaptor you can move the PM around when you want power on that bike.
  • morpheusmorpheus
    This ^. It's so easy to switch them back and forth once you have the right bb on both bikes.

    I did this for 4 years. No sweat at all.

    I did just pick up a stages PM b/c of the EN deal that we got with Todd K at TTBikeFit. For the money, it's been a great pickup. Has allowed me to used different size cranks on the bikes. So, I have my compact quarq on my road bike for climbing and I have the stages on my tri bike for the rolling hills around here. No swapping necessary these days.

    I wouldn't have picked up a second PM if the deal hadn't been so good. Not sure if it is still going on but you could contact Todd (up in our discount tabs) and see if he would still honor it. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he would.
  • Douglas SutherlandDouglas Sutherland
    The Quarq is a Riken GXP. I could be wrong, but I think Specialized requires a different Quarq for Specialized. I do not believe they are interchangeable.
  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    I swapped my Quarq between my tri and road bike for years. Now with one BB30 and the other not I was swapping using the adapter but decided I wanted to ditch the adapter and now have a Quarq for each bike.
  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    What Specialized Road bike do you have and what crank is currently on it. I thin k a GXP crank can pretty much go on any bike if you put the correct BB on the bike. or you can use an external adapter for most BB's as well. Should be easy (after you get the right standard on your road bike).

  • morpheusmorpheus
    Doug, I used the quarq on a Specialized Transition and a Cervelo S2.



    Same bottom brackets (GXP) on both bikes. No prob at all.
  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Take both bikes to a good local bike shop and tell them you need the crank to work on both rigs. Go have lunch and then come back and get your bikes. It takes 10 minutes if they have the parts. The issue is that one bike will be hanging around without a crank, unless you pop for a simple basic crank juts to have installed in a pinch.
  • kimmydctkimmydct
    I didn't want to deal with any of the "stuff" mentioned above so I got a 2nd Powertap for my road bike. I feel like I have a ton more flexibility and don't "lose" any rides by riding without power. Except for the cross bike. That bugs me a bit but not enough, yet. image
  • John HenaultJohn Henault
    I'm with Kim on this one. I have a quarq on my tri bike and a powertap wheel on my road bike. Sure, there are some differences between the two based on location of measurement, but I do not want the administrative hassle of changing a crank from one bike to another when I have limited time to ride and would much rather spend that limited time in the saddle (even if it only takes a few minutes to change). My recommendation either would be (1) get another quarq for the road bike or (2) get another model PM for the road bike. Hell, with all the money we put into this sport, what's another PM, particularly with the prices coming down based on the market getting more competitive?
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    I've got a 10+ year old Kuota tri bike with a GXP BB and a Specialized Tarmac SL3 S-Works road bike with a BB30 BB. The road bike has a BB adapter that allows my Quarq to move between. Like others have said, it takes only a few minutes - about the same as switching a rear wheel around.
    At first, I was pretty nervous about doing it. Watched a YouTube video a hundred times before I took my 8mm wrench to the crank, but now it's 2nd nature.
  • Kane MurphyKane Murphy
    I agree it only takes a few minutes to swap a crank between bikes, and I went this route for about a year. Now I am with Kim and John, go ahead and get a second power meter. You know you want to......
  • robin sarnerrobin sarner

    what the others said.

    i converted to gxp brackets on all my bikes.    use Quarq.

    i also have powertap wheel to switch around.

    if you get more than one powermeter also consider Stages. 

  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    I haven't got specific information handy, but I've got to hope that the bottom has fallen out of the used PowerTap market, too...if you want to go the two power meter route.
Sign In or Register to comment.