Applying for a new credit card
So what the hell does that have to do with power and pace? Well, after the second straight session with my Ergomo constantly shifting offset I'm done. I hoped that this last unit (of 3 I've owned) would hold out through the winter since it wasn't leaving the trainer in my garage. No such luck. I swapped it over from my tri bike to my road bike...my preferred punishment for winter trainer rides...last week but haven't been able to get it stable. Too bad, it was working fine last I rode it on my tri bike. Anyway, I'm pulling the trigger on a new PM - likely Quarq - in the next few days as soon as I get me asome 0% interest, no payment for 12 months love.
0
Comments
Looks like Quarq compacts are on back order. They should be available in February.
Just to add a quick note. I too am an ex-ergomo user. Made the leap to the quarq compact for this season (with a garmin 500). Haven't done a ton of time with it, but so far totally brainless and working fine. There is no offset or anything, just spin the crank backwards a few times and hop on.
My wattage is down but that is my legs not the unit
So much better than trying to deal with the crazy ergomo offset dance. I am going to be sending off my SRM for a refresh from the factory and then selling it as well. Plan on just swapping the quarq back and forth between bikes.
-Dave
If you follow them on twitter they typically tweet when things are back in stock. Of it you ask a question on twitter or in their forum they seem to respond quickly.
Just out of interest, how does the pricing on Quarq match-up to PT in the US? Looking at a UK site and Quarq is pricier, more than the cost of 2 x PT Elite+'s.
FYI, I talked to them about swapping chain rings and they recommend recalibrating after changing chainrings. They said they would do the swap and calibration for free though, but it would have to be shipped to them.
Joel,
Do you have to have the compact? The reason I ask is because when I got my Quarq over a year ago they didn't have compact so I just got the 53/39 and used an 11/27 cassette. I'll probably go with the 11/28 on my new road bike and tri bike this year and swap the crank for power on both. I have had no problem on some serious hilly riding do this too.. Just a thought so you don't have to wait
I was talking to them about changing both the small and big ring, so it may be worth you asking specifically about the 50 to 46 swap. Give them a call, email or post in their forum and see what they say.
They were very helpful when I talked with them and even told me exactly which chainrings (and bolts) they recomend becase some calibrated and performed better than others...although they said all combinations would be within the specs.
Joel,
I signed up with EN in December08 and was in the same boat as you: a frustrated Ergomo user.
I wound up on Ebay, finally scoring a compact SRM. Much shorter money than brand new and it's been bomb-proof.
I too looked into Quark but became exasperated with the ever-sliding schedules.
No matter what, stick with the compact!
I went with the SRAM Compact and purchased it through Rich. Check the Purchase your Powermeter from EN thread for instructions on how to email him for a quote. I thought the package Rich pulled together was great because it included the crank, bottom brack and cinqo at a good price, where as if you purchase directly from them you only get the cinqo and have to either add on the other items or supply them yourself.
The one thing you have to concern yourself with Quarq is that they ONLY do PMs. That's not a huge market by any means. Having said that, they did manage to survive so far and the economy pretty much sucked these last 2 years.
Fwiw, I don't know how to get a Quarq for cheap but for the last 5 years I've been able to get 2 x PTs (one for a training wheel and one for a racing wheel) multiple times for easily less than one Quarq and certainly less than the best deal I could get on an SRM.
PTs are rock solid and Saris probably has the best customer service in the entire cycling industry.
Thanks, Chris
I have posted this before but will repeat it.
Started out in power world by buying a used PT on ebay. Got hooked but missed the ability to have shiny race wheels (hey it is like bike porn!). Ergomo seemed like the solution, so bought one of those. It died a painful slow and frustrating death. Did the quarq dance, but wanted at compact and they didn't exist yet (this was last year). Got a sweet deal on a used SRM (non-compact) on ebay. Thrilled! Still wanted the compact however, so when the opportunity to buy a compact through Rich came up with the quarq deal I did it.
I am going to get the SRM cleaned up/calibrated and sell that (originally was going to slap it on the road bike, but the quarq switch with wireless is trivial I think).
So I have had 4 power meters, do the math ($$$). I should have just waited and bought what I wanted originally. The compact quarq... So I would recommend going with that. So far it is the best mix. Sure you can get a wireless compact SRM, but they are big big big bucks. Quarq ain't cheap totally agree, but if you have wheels already and want to use them other than switching over to all PT wheels I think it is the way to go. Wish I would have skipped the SRM piece last year and just waited the extra month or so and just bought the quarq last year.
-Dave
I didn't want to get kicked in the nuts by Coach Rich.
Search for the ironman gearing thread as it explains it very well. If you can't find it let me know and I'll dig it up.
As for compact...it's the only way to go. I train in the flats of VA Beach and it's still all I've ever needed. I race flat courses with an 11-21 and also have a 12-25 for hilly courses like IMCdA.
For me it is simple, how many times are you bombing down a hill in your lowest gear and you think 'gee I would be going so much faster if I had one more gear!' vs going up hill and you run out of gears while you struggle to catch your breath.
But yeah Rich's post covers this very well.
-Dave
I'm just waiting to hear back from Rich on paying for the CinQo, rings, and Joule.