power meter

[john_bkk919]

anybody using one? if so, do you feel like it helped your training? (if training is what you're doing on a bike)

my current thought is to get a little more 'scientific' in how i approach intervals. mostly as a pacing tool, so i can ride to a certain wattage for x minutes rather than my perception in the moment of 'how it feels'.

and the next question... anybody selling these yet in thailand? chiang mai retailers would be great but i realize this may require a trip to bangkok (heard Probike has the Stages(?) power meter, but i could be mistaken).

[CNXBKKMAN]

I think the stages power meter have a big discount running at the moment but probably not in Thailand. I think they are a good thing to have if you are serious about your training and want to make some gains. I would like one and and a nice garmin but you have some spend some $$$ and i only ride for pleasure. Until some chinese firm starts knocking them out for 5000 baht or less i doubt i will ever have one.

[CNXBKKMAN]

Velocity may have power meters? i would check there.

[moonoi]

I use one, but it's built in to my turbo trainer, far cheaper than a crank, hub or pedal based power meter as well. It's a TACX i-Vortex that I got from km8bicycle in Bangkok for 23k THB.

I find that it makes my training sessions more effective, though I would like to try the Garmin Vector pedals at some point, they are available at Sport Bicycle in Bangkok, but from memory cost around 50-60k. I'd rather have an n+1 bike at that price ;-)

If you want stages, cheapest way at the moment is, to get someone in the U.S. to order and bring/ship them across, assuming you know someone who can help out.

Edited June 23, 2015 by moonoi

[jonjcuk]

Hi - I have a Stages PM (in fact, two) and wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy. They are unreliable pieces of crap! The reason I have two is that Stages had to replace the faulty first one. The second one is the same - water appears to get into the unit far too easily or there is another fault leading to battery drain and other symptomatic faults.....I have since upgraded to Power2Max Gossamer which I ordered online from Germany and had sent to UK first (to cut down on stupid Thai customs charges). P2M so far is accurate, robust, looks good and similar overall cost (little bit more perhaps) to Stages. I would never consider another Stages again or recommend them to anyone......

[tempthai]

In Phuket they sell SRM and Shimano power meters (I saw them at Bike Avenue but many other shops will have them too) and maybe some other brands too but not sure. At least the same would apply to BKK as everything goes through there first. As I couldn't even get some 105 pedals or better or a Conti 4000 S tire when I was in CMX last January I wouldn't bet on power meter (or anything else) availability in CMX but I'm sure they can order anything you want within a matter of days. Anyone serious enough seems to be using them now around here so that means I'm not and I can't be of any advice to the usefulness of them