Powertap Upgrade Questions

Woody Freese

I have two Cyclops Powertap 2.4 wheels w/ the old school yellow computer heads - one on a Mavic rim (training wheel) and one on a Zipp 808 (race wheel).

I am thinking of upgrading to a Joule 2.0 or a Garmin 500. Does anyone have thoughts about one vs. the other?  Pros? Cons?

Coach R - are these units available thru Wheelbuilder?

As I understand it, both computers are ANT + compatible. I am not sure if the wheels I own have ANT + already installed - how would one know this?

Secondly (and ideally) I would like to buy one head for both wheels if possible (vs. buying two computer heads) - Does the Joule 2.0 or the Garmin Edge 500 allow more than one hub?

Is there anything else I need to know? Tips? Suggestions? Thoughts?

Thanks, in advance -

TH3 FRB

The edge 500 supports multiple power meters, I assume the joule does as well. I like my 500, never any issues. There should be a firmware upgrade in the near future that gives the typical WKO+ metrics as well - NP, IF, TSS, etc.

John Withrow

Woody- I have been very happy with my Edge 500. My wife and most of my friends also use that computer. It takes about 15 seconds to search and sync with a new wheelset. I also have training wheels and race wheels and it is a piece of cake switching back and forth. The Garmin (and the Joule) both read ANT+ signals but not the older 2.4 signals. My wheels originally came like this as well. Saris sells an ANT+ updated for $99. And you'd have to get a separate one for each wheel as I think they are only good for one wheel. It comes with instructions and takes less than 5 mins and is very easy to do ( but not free). http://www.cycleops.com/en/products.html/accessories/powertap-accessories.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images_norating.tpl&product_id=179&category_id=14. Or you could buy them from this random website I've never heard of and save $10 each: http://brandscycle.com/product/cycleops-cycleops-ant-updater-for-powertap-ant-hubs-7260-17092.htm

I bought my Garmin Edge 500's (3 in total in the last yr) all new on eBay for just over $200 each (not from the Shady Taiwanese sellers). http://www.ebay.com/itm/Garmin-Edge-500-Cycling-GPS-/180848325012?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1b667194#ht_5158wt_922

If anyone you know has a Garmin 310xt or a 910xt or a Joule or Garmin bike computer, you can spin your wheel to wake up the Powertap, then see if the computer can 'find' it. If it cannot, but your LYC can see it, then your wheel is most likely not ANT+ and you will need to buy the updater's for them to work with a new computer.

talltim

I'll second what Bob said. Have used a 500 for a while and got a 310xt from Santa last year. Have been very happy with it as well.

Scott Alexander

 Yes, the joule supports multiple ant+ devices, but you'll have to toggle between them via the menu options once you set them all up initially.