MTB Power meters?

[quixoticgeek]

I have Shimano XT cranks with 28/38 chain rings. What are my options for power meters that would work with these chainrings? (or chain rings of the same size from other manufacturers? I'd prefer not to go the pedal based power meter route tho.

J

[grams]

The spline patterns are the same on most Shimano HT II cranks, even between MTB and road, so if you’re not bothered about aesthetics any left crank power meter will work. There are lots of e.g. Stages 5800/6800 on eBay right now for cheap secondhand.

(You might need to double check Q factor)

[bludger]

Here's always the option of a rear hub PM. E.g. https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/training/power-meters/powertap-g3-hub-review/

It would appeal to me because I'd want my expensive MTB components out of the line of fire from rock gardens, errant tree roots and whatnot. And also you can easily swap it between bikes, lend it to mates, etc.

[quixoticgeek]

Here's always the option of a rear hub PM. E.g. https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/training/power-meters/powertap-g3-hub-review/

It would appeal to me because I'd want my expensive MTB components out of the line of fire from rock gardens, errant tree roots and whatnot. And also you can easily swap it between bikes, lend it to mates, etc.

Hadn't thought about that. Tho it wouldn't allow me to do analysis on my legs individually...

While it's a MTB crankset, and a MTB frame, it's built for Ultra racing with skinny (well 32mm) road tyres, and TT bars. So the rocks/roots thing is less of an issue. I'm using an MTB drive train because I'm not Mariana Vos, and so need lower gears to be able to get up hills. It's an 11/40 cassette and a 28/38 crankset. I was crawling up hills at under 6kph, at 60rpm at the weekend.

J

[bludger]

I suppose it wouldn't, but I am surprised that the default always seems to be going for cranks when the hub options seem like a really strong choice. One of my buds rides in a team and has done a cross comparison of a load of crank based PMs and is of the view that actually trying to do microanalysis let alone leg Vs leg using them is a flawed exercise as the data kicked out on one rider across a choice of 3 or 4 products seems to vary enormously.

If you want to do a leg Vs leg analysis you're probably best off using a wattbike or concept 2 bikerg which you might find in a gym IMO.

[zigzag]

not a direct swap, but if you want small chainrings there is quarq/sram mtb power meter (crank based), they have good reputation

[Karla]

Power2max don't do anything for double rings on your chainset but they'll sell you numerous options including a PM packaged with an FSA Afterburner crankset for 740 Euros (link).  Power2max are spider-based and have been around for ages.

[essexian]

Sorry, rather late to this but I was also looking for an MTB power meter the other day and found this:

https://www.iqsquare.com/

Now from my understanding there have been issues with this Kickstarter project in that their first attempted to produce a "cheap" power meter did not work, then the second bit of thinking towards pedal based items. Currently, they are taking orders for MTB SPD like items at E229 for a single sided item with shipping this month.

While that's a good price.... well it was until the recent fall in the £, frankly I won't be investing until they have actually shipped a number to prove they got it right this time. However, worth keeping an eye on I think. 

[DuncanM]

IQ squared are massively behind and on their second plan after the first one failed. I'm guessing there's a reason why no-one has made MTB pedals before  - rock strikes and water/mug ingress being especially difficult to deal with. I really like the pedal based PM modality, but I'll be waiting a long time before I buy an IQ squared one.