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Powertap Teases new Products – Crank and Pedal Based Power Meters on the Way?

Written by Zach Overholt Mar 09, 2015 3:30 p.m. ET

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Somewhat quietly released on the first day of NAHBS, PowerTap just introduced a new video that likely teases some upcoming products. Highlighting their 17 years of innovation and product development in regards to power measuring devices, PowerTap chronicles their history starting with the Tune PowerTap up to the most recent PowerTap GS.

Now, the company is giving a little taste as to what’s to come – which by the looks of things includes a crank based and pedal based power meter…

Sporting a pod similar to other crank based power meters like Pioneer and Quarq, the crankset also shows FSA logos on the chainrings which seems to indicate a collaboration between the two. The crank itself reminds us of the lines of Shimano 5 bolt crank arms like the FC-CX70 so it’s possible it could be just a chainring set compatible with other crank arms.

If the crank based powermeter doesn’t get your attention, maybe this pedal will. Clearly labeled as a PowerTap part, the pedal looks to have a battery compartment that would suggest a pedal based power meter is also in the works.

This head unit looks like it could be their current Joule, but the fact that they focused on it during the video below while mountain biking makes us think there could be something new here as well.

See anything we missed?

Thanks to Adam for the tip!

Zach Overholt

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Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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Chader

9 years ago

“shows FSA logs”

*logos*

bart

9 years ago

could it be a power tap chain ring set? to convert your existing crank? that would be different, cause that definitely looks like a Shimano crank… and the PT logo is on the chain rings themselves

anonymous

9 years ago

So is it a Shimano collaboration because used a FC-5700 105 crank? Or maybe Powertap just has the ability to put powertap stickers on things.

I have no idea what’s going on with that spider.

Jake

9 years ago

5700 crank for sure. says 105 right on it.

A Wild Anonymoose

9 years ago

PowerTap has some of, if not the, most accurate power meters on the market, which is a pity since their hubs are complete garbage. Looking forward to their crank / pedal-based power meters. Here’s to hoping their relatively cheap.

alistair

9 years ago

hopefully they have some 4 bolt chainrings coming up too………

Psi Squared

9 years ago

I hope they have more than one crank offering.

Mike

9 years ago

Seriously odd aesthetics for marketing pics. Very strange creative choices.

Andrew

9 years ago

Based on that photo – I’m guessing its some kind of universal spider-based power meter that can be added to standard (old 5-bolt interface) shimano-or-other cranks?

Dude

9 years ago

Looks like a chainring set. Extra tabs coming off the chainrings and going behind the spider somewhere.

9 years ago

Only interested if they offer simultaneous ANT+ and Bluetooth, otherwise we just don’t need yet another un-differentiated crankset power meter.

Current Powertap hubs are either ANT+ or Bluetooth but not both. Stages has both, but their Bluetooth stream is unreliable and they blame the problem on the iPhone. They may be right but there’s no way to know without another dual-wireless power meter to compare with.

ANT+ bike computers have really terrible GPS reception/resolution versus phones so I’m looking forward to the day when I can record everything via the phone and use the head unit only for on-the-bike readings.

NobodyPersonified

9 years ago

I recall seeing a patent application for a ‘chainring’ based power meter a few years ago. A sort of spider bolted onto an existing spider type of arrangement. I thought it looked interesting at the time.

tehcrash

9 years ago

I’d LOVE another pedal-based power meter, to compete with garmin vectors. Actually, I’d just love another power meter, so they all can compete for my money and get more affordable.

Psi Squared

9 years ago

Perhaps a chain ring based PM means there will be a variant for Campy.

cerebis

9 years ago

What would be interesting is if the various components featured here are part of a modular system. Basic power from the crankset, additional detail such Left/Right balance or spin-scan from the pedals.

The Mighty Ben

9 years ago

Has anyone noticed that the crank bolt holes on the chainrings and crankarms don’t line up – so maybe an extra spider inserted inbetween?

randall

9 years ago

The power meter bolts to the standard chainring mount points, nestles down behind the crank arm and has new mount points coming up, allowing for the strain gauges to be somewhere down inside the cylindrical body (based on the thinness of the new “crank arms”).

The only problem I see with this is that it requires many new parts, and as Psi Squared pointed out, some people won’t like the look or use of 105 crank. That might make it difficult to hit a lower price point…

Bob Log III

9 years ago

@KC, FWIW, I’ve never seen a phone that has better GPS recording features then any Garmin from the last ~10years. Strava should give enough to highlight this…. simply find a popular enough group ride & compare an iPhone or Android recorded ride vs. Garmin. Garmin will have a better GPS trace 100% of the time.

David

9 years ago

Ditto to what KC said. I use my phone as a cycle computer, it’s just easier than exporting data, trying to sync, etc. So Bluetooth is high on my wish list as well. ANT for backwards compatibility (and Zwift support), Bluetooth for everything else.

Padrote

9 years ago

it’s super hard to plug a GPS into a computer and click two buttons.

myke

9 years ago

David, for one BT sucks KC is out of his mind wanting BT. why this is a standard beats me. have you ever own and BT items that worked perfectly nope! Secondly my Garmin 1000 auto uploads to Garmin Connect and Strava. it is 2015.

Anyone serious about power is not using their phone to track watts. your phone is a safety devices while riding not a bike computer by any means.