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Watteam Powerbeat bolt-on crank power meters almost ready to ship, carbon compatibility probably coming soon

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wattteam-powerbeat-stick-on-cycling-powermeter

If you were among those who pre-ordered Watteam’s Powerbeat stick-on/bolt-on power meters, the first batch is about to ship. If you weren’t, too bad, they’ll all sold out. But, you’ll be able to get in on the second pre-order opening up December 10th for the next production round, and they’re hoping that’ll be the batch that’s going to work on carbon crank arms.

Watteam’s production manager Omri Zerach says production of the first round is underway and should deliver by year’s end. The second round is planned for shipping in March 2016…

wattteam-powerbeat-stick-on-cycling-powermeter2

The kit will come with everything you need to install it, including measuring devices to get the stick-on strain gauges positioned properly, charging kit, etc. The first and second production runs are both earmarked exclusively for the U.S. market for now, letting them focus support efforts before expanding sales internationally.

Not familiar with Watteam’s $499 add-on power meter? Check out the video below and our original coverage here.

Watteam.com

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19 Comments
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Myke
Myke
8 years ago

From the pictures above it looks to have way too much cabling for my liking. I think 4iiii is more compelling even with left arm only. It is not a good idea to have excess stuff hanging off your bike with increased factor of snagablity! Regardless that there are too many parts!

AlanM
AlanM
8 years ago

Why must they put Game Changer on their packaging?

Bernard
Bernard
8 years ago

I hope that second batch will not be US only any more. These seem to be what I’m looking for, but somehow the folks at Watteam don’t seem to be looking for me as a costumer. Too bad…

Dude
Dude
8 years ago

This has got to be the cheapest dual sided power measuring device yet, correct?

BigBenny
BigBenny
8 years ago

GAME CHANGER! I guess they’re going with the “hype sells” approach eh?

Dave
Dave
8 years ago

“almost” and “probably”….hmmmm
As noted by many pundits, power meters are relatively easy to develop to about 95%…the last 5% is SUPER hard…ask Garmin with Vector, they lost 2.5 years even with all their resources…

Swift
Swift
8 years ago

Myke, judging from the picture contents, it looks like your talking about the object that’s more or less in the center. It looks like a charger unit to me, it has two ends that I would guess plug into each of the two ‘Comp Units’ (ridiculous name imo)
The two sensor units have a pretty small wire that follows the contours of the cranks, you could even superglue it on so its more secure even though I severely doubt those will ‘flap around’ as you say…
They look like a definite improvement over the Vector PWM (lighter, smaller)… I wonder how they compare performance-wise.

Swift
Swift
8 years ago

you’re*

Dave
Dave
8 years ago

“Game Changer”

So this represents some sort of fundamental shift in the sport of cycling? Interesting, though I’m still not sure how. ‘Cause it strikes me that, at best, this may be a cost reduction for what amounts to a fringe cycling accessory.

Rides bikes
Rides bikes
8 years ago

Not a clean look. Catch a cleat on the cord? Deal breaker for many.

xc-fr
xc-fr
8 years ago

after horrible experience with stages i don’t trust such cheap systems anymore. went back to powertap + quarq.
competition is great, but just when they compete also from technical point of view.
anyway its great that the market grows & grows.
waiting for a shimano system 🙂

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago

Rides bikes…how many times have you stepped on the skinny part of your crank arm with your cycling shoes on?

I agree, it looks terrible. It can’t be worse than the Garmin Vector…at least I don’t think it can. Half the price, 1/4 as accurate;)

anonymous
anonymous
8 years ago

It’s a game changer because if you use Zwift with a direct drive trainer without power, but used a hub based power meter, and don’t want to break up your perfect groupset it literally changes your game.

PsiSquared
PsiSquared
8 years ago

I could live with the looks so long as the system has good accuracy and precision, especially if that good accuracy and precision is applicable to the system’s use on CF cranks. I’ll remain skeptical, however, until independent tests prove the system’s accuracy and precision.

Watteam
8 years ago

The international market is very important to us and we are trying hard to scale production. We want to maintain our standards of quality and customer service, and scaling up takes time to get right.

Myke & Rides bikes: You’re looking at an exploded view of the entire installation kit. On your bike, you’ll have two parts on each arm: A sensor and a Comp Unit which transmits the data. Both are compact and well-protected, and in our testing – including World Cup MTB events and numerous crashes – we haven’t encountered damage to the units. The long cables belong to the charger; this is the first powermeter on the market with a rechargeable battery.

Dude: Correct, $499 buys you a full-featured, double-sided powermeter!

Dave: The Powerbeat has been under development for a long time. We’re past those last 5% – the units are being prepared for shipping as we speak. Of course our R&D doesn’t rest on it’s laurels; we’re always fine-tuning and expanding.

Teruel deCampo
8 years ago
Reply to  Watteam

I would like to preorder a unit but I use Campagnolo Super Record 2015 cranks and although i saw a message that the March shipping may support carbon cranks I have not been able to verify it.

Chris
Chris
8 years ago

The power meter industry needs a third party verification system for companies throwing around accuracy and precision claims. Many companies can’t/don’t understand what the accuracy number is supposed to represent, let alone have any transparency to explain where they those numbers are derived. The forces being applied to each side of a crank rotation (regardless of how you measure) change dynamically with each pedal stroke. To assume that a power meter with what appears to be floating strain gauges (not attached to the actual bending element/crank) can measure deflection at the same consistency as a directly mounted strain gauge is ludicrous. I’ve owned many power meters and have been through the early adoption phase of trying new technology/products only to be disappointed time and again. Training with a power meter needs to be precise, or you are fooling yourself and collecting arbitrary data points, then rationalizing success or failure rather than objectively analyzing trends to improve performance. In time I hope this gets better for the power meter industry because customers are being led to believe marketing claims that just aren’t factual.

PsiSquared
PsiSquared
8 years ago

@Chris, the part of the system that will detect strain is epoxied to the crank arm by the owner. Note, that’s pretty much how all strain gauges are attached: by epoxy. As for third party verification, you should check out what DCRainmaker does.

grasspress
grasspress
8 years ago

xc-fr, i am interested in your comments on the ‘stages’ power meter. how was your experience ‘horrible’? you’re comments are way different from other cyclists’ experiences with the ‘stages’ product. i was just ready to order from stages so i’m keen to know about your info.

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