Today we would like to introduce the new Powertap P1 Powermeter to you. Of course, we are also curious, have unpacked the P1 Powermeter and just thoroughly examined to present it to you now in the test.
But first: What is the PowerTap P1?
The PowerTap P1 is a pedal-based power measurement system. This means that the power is measured at the pedal and not at the spider, as is the case with SRM systems, or at the crank arm with Stages powermeters. The P1 is comparable to the Garmin Vector 2 and the Favero bePRO. In addition to the double-sided measuring P1 presented here, there is also a single-sided measuring version, the P1 S. This is correspondingly cheaper, but does not offer exactly the same performance spectrum.
Why pedal-based systems?
Although pedal-based power measurement has only been around for a few years, it is more popular with customers than any other system. Understandable, since it offers several advantages. In the foreground is quite clear: The assembly of pedal powermeters is easier and faster. Especially for watt measurement on several bikes, the pedals can be easily and quickly changed between different bikes.
Unboxing:
The P1 Powermeter came in a high quality cardboard box. In this one, the powermeter itself was carefully wrapped in foam. In addition to the powermeter, the two pedals, which look qualitatively carefully processed and are made of aluminum, was also in the package a set of cleats with 6 ° float, a pair of lithium AAA batteries, a card with individual serial number and the ANT + ID and the manual. In general, the entire scope of delivery makes a very high-quality and qualitative impression.
Mounting PowerTap P1:
The installation of the PowerTap, in our case on a Shimano Ultegra crank, was very easy. After we already had to work with assembly stickers and torque wrenches in other tests, two normal Allen wrenches are sufficient for us here. First we put the batteries in, then we just screwed the powermeter, like any other pedal, good hand tight to the crank. We mounted the included cleats according to the instructions and used them for our test. The P1 is the benchmark within pedal power meters here in terms of ease of installation.
Test – PowerTap P1 vs. Cyclus 2:
In order to be able to make a statement about the accuracy of the Powertab Pedalpowermeter we have clamped it on the Cyclus 2 ergometer. We each rode for 5 minutes, at a cadence of 80-90 rpm, 50, 100, 150 and 200 watts. Meanwhile, we connected the P1 powermeter to a Garmin Edge 1000. This worked straight away and we then measured power and cadence on this bike computer. We could not detect any major deviations or performance peaks. The values of the PowerTap P1 system are very accurate with simple installation.
Arguments for the PowerTap P1:
The P1 Powermeter offers several advantages over other pedal powermeters. First, it provides very accurate measurement results. The assembly is simply simple and even easier than that of the competitors. You only need tools that you as a biker should have at home anyway. The PowerTap P1 especially appeals to those riders who want to use the powermeter on more than just a bike. The easy replacement of the batteries (AAA) should also be mentioned, it should only be noted to use lithium batteries to be able to guarantee the best performance and longest runtime of the powermeter. In terms of connectivity, it’s hard to find a cycling computer that isn’t compatible with the P1, as it’s both ANT+™ and Bluetooth® Smart capable. An interesting training tool is provided by PowerTap with the free mobile app (currently only for iOS), which not only graphically displays the force distribution between the legs, but also shows the kick and pull phase during each rotation.
The PowerTap P1 builds slightly higher than a standard pedal, which affects the biomechanics of the pedaling cycle. The P1 pedals are to be ridden with the PowerTap own cleats, for a proper use existing Look Kéo cleats can not be used further. You may think that they are actually identical to Look, but even if there are people who ride the P1 without problems, we recommend that you follow the PowerTap P1 manual, which states: “PowerTap P1 pedals must be used with the cleats supplied. They are NOT compatible with other cleats such as Look Keo”.
Conclusion:
After testing the PowerTap P1 extensively, we can draw the following conclusion: The system is convincing on the full bandwidth. During the test we had no problems and our testers enjoyed working with it. An outdoor test will follow. In terms of quality and workmanship, the PowerTap P1 plays in the premier league. The Powermeter is very high quality processed and provides very accurate readings. Therefore, we can definitely recommend the P1 Pedalpowermeter.
Rides
