I can't decide between PT and Quarq...Help!
It's a lot o' dough, I'm not sure which way to go. Rich has been a ton of help, narrowed it down to 2 good options and I'm stuck there.
1) PT pro+ on a Velocity Deep V clincher, with a Joule.
or
2) Quarq Cinco on a SRAM s900 conpact
My details: got race wheels already (808's + wheelcover).
road bike has DA 53/39 on and tri-bike has DA 54/42 on.
I'm not sure what you can tell me that I haven't gone over with Rich. For some reason, I'm just having a hard time picking one. Please feel free to offer ANY input that might help me out with this. In the meantime, I'll be in the cave just screamin' my head off on the trainer, pretending that means I'm crushing the watts out of my legs....
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Comments
Here's what I'll offer up for your consideration....
If you are training with power, why would you want to not race with power? If you already have race wheels, I doubt you'll be wanting to slap a wheelcover on your training wheel and calling that a 'race wheel.' Now of course you could sell your 808s & pick up a set of PT 808s (or buy a 2nd PT hub & lace into your 808 rear), but are you willing to do that?
If you get a Cinqo, you are set up for racing & training right now, out of the gate.
I personally have a PT SL+ on both an Open Pro for training & in a Sub9 for racing, so a Quarq doesn't make much sense for me, but I'd think it does for you.
-Ed
1.) Budget: Plain and simple, there are cheaper options to build a PT wheel if absolute bottom dollar is your priority.
2.) Crank swapping: Not swapping the Quarq between bikes, that's easy, but rather going from one whole different crank type to another. Personally I don't know anyone who does this much (or at all) but remember that the same argument that people use against a PT can be applied to Quarqs. If you swap cranks, like to a TT crank for a 20k ITT, or a to a compact for a tri, then that is going to be a limiter on the Quarq. In reality, proper cassette choice is a lot more practical and common than ever swapping out entire cranks.
Those are the only 2 reasons I can think of *not* to go wit the Quarq, but I can think of way more to go for it. Obviously wheel selection freedom, ease of maintenance, reliability and service, higher resale value, etc. If the money is not an issue, I'd go Quarq.
I was in your position recently, and I chose the PT because I have multiple bikes and wanted to be able to have power easily on any of them, and also for cost reasons. I ended up buying 2 PT wheels; an 808 and a Hed Belgium, with the 808 being my wife's every day wheel.The way I looked at it was, I now have 3 bikes that have power, with 3 different rear wheel choices (808, 808 with cover, Hed). To do that with 3 Quarqs would have cost significantly more because you have to buy them plus the wheels, maybe a bottom bracket, etc. But if money were no object I would have bought 3 Quarqs.
Chris, for the last year I was using a PT Pro + in a Velocity Deep V Clincher. Nice set up, I had zero complaints with it. But I did have some other issues ie; I have a road bike 9 speed and the tri bike is 10 speed. Whenever I switched between the two bikes I would have to switch the casette. Didn't take too long, but was a pain. The other issue, each time I switched them I would have to tweek the shifting. I am not a bike mechanic and would usually end up having to run by the LBS and have them set it right for me. (BIG PAIN). This past Friday I got my new Cinco Quarq SRAM S975 took it out today for the first time. Really like it so far and it doesn't click when not peddaling. The other reason I switched, I would like to be able to put different wheels on if I feel like it.
1. If you train with power you need to race with power.
2. You already have an 808. PT-sell it and go with a wheel cover. Quarq- keep it.
Either choice I think you will be happy riding with power.
I had a PT for 2 years laced into a flashpoint race wheel and never had a problem but I was locked into using the same wheel for everything. This worked fine but I didn't like riding on my one race wheel all the time.
I switched to a S900 Quarq exactly a year ago and I love it. I'm very glad I made the move as I use the same quarq on 3 of my bikes and with 4 different rear wheels.
leaning to the Quarq
Is your FTP 350W or better? If not this is an easy one - sell both sets of DA cranks and get a Quarq compact. It takes me about 3 min to swap it between bikes and I've got a bunch of wheels that I can run on either bike.
I think I'll keep the 53/39 but I'll sell the 54/42.
Tell your non-EN buddies to look for it on ebay and STclassifieds!