Tubulars Vs Powertap

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ben Kjoller on May 12, 2010 at 8:29pm

I would just race on tubulars this season. Just my 2 cent.

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Permalink Reply by John Mansell on May 13, 2010 at 2:19am

A tap is nice to collect some data during races but you don't need to be watching power during a race. I would say build your Tubulars but use the tap a few times though out the season to analyze your data.

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Permalink Reply by Kurtis Fraley on May 13, 2010 at 4:56am

I like all of everyone's thoughts. I only have so much money and did know what would be worth the money. The tubulars for racing or Powertap for training.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Mayhew on May 13, 2010 at 5:56am

How long have you been racing? Are you working with a coach?

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Permalink Reply by Kurtis Fraley on May 13, 2010 at 10:02am

looking into it. It is objective data to train with, no slacking.

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Permalink Reply by Echappe Equipment on May 13, 2010 at 7:36am

Those Powertaps are about to ship out. We started to get the wheelsets we ordered in February this week. I'd stick with the PTap for now. You'll get more speed and endurance out of proper training than you can with wheels. And you can always rent the wheels.

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Permalink Reply by D.Sheek on May 13, 2010 at 12:32pm

two options:

1. get the tubulars, they will ride amazing, but if you can't afford the tires if you get a flat forget it.

2. get the powertap, then buy a set of Notubes cx rim strips, put them in your wheels with stan's Notubes sealent, and make your tires tubless. If you run a true tubeless tire (stans or hutchinson) you can run low pressure like a tubular and get almost the same feel.

I hope this helped,

ds

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Permalink Reply by andrew on May 14, 2010 at 2:36pm

dave's options make sense to me - the one thing I'd disagree with is the current hutchy tires working well on converted wheels. see this article for tire recommendations. hutchinson is reworking their bead though. Their tires do work really well on a stans rim though, as do many others.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff on May 13, 2010 at 2:02pm

isn't the SRM powermeter far superior to the powertap? looks like every pro that uses a computer uses SRM.

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Permalink Reply by Echappe Equipment on May 18, 2010 at 8:01am

The SRM Is nice in that you can have race wheels and training wheels and still get the data from both scenarios. Not having your race numbers is like having a huge blind spot in your overall fitness profile.

Also - lots of elite/pro sponsorships dictate the wheels we have to ride. Sometimes powertaps are not an option, like with Shimano sponsorships.

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Permalink Reply by andrew on May 14, 2010 at 2:32pm

do you have a set of reasonably light clincher wheels you can convert to tubeless? that's another option, not to complicate the problem. I'd say it would depend on whether you're confident you are the type of person that would really utilize this data and know how to do it. It's more of a training vs. racing question right? You'd probably use the training wheel more if you use the power data, but it doesn't help if you are being passed by everyone because you're racing at high pressure or pinch flatting.

it's also worth saying that you could get tubular wheels (even used) for far lower than a powertap.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff on May 18, 2010 at 8:32am

i have read more than once that tubeless and cyclocross dont mix. the low pressure will make the tire burp very easily from what people are saying, and if you're on the heavy side dont even think about it. in my opinion tubeless is half-stepping. you're either all in with tubulars or all out on clinchers.

also, apparently you get far more accurate readings at the crank with the SRM then you do at the hub. powertaps look more like consumer level weekend rider-ish, while the powermeter looks super high tech and very pro. i would rather buy something like that from a company like SRM who are only doing one thing very well and not one like saris who sell car racks and trainers and everything in between.

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