Polar 720i (710) Power Meter Performance

[Pippen]

I'm currently interested in the Polar Power Meter for the 720/710 HRM. I
have researched the web and have a pretty good idea as to how they compare
to the SRM and the Power Tap. I'm looking for individual feed back, not so
much on accuracy as consistency. I should metion that I currently have a
720i and I'm not willing to sink another $700 (Power Tap) to $1500 + (SRM)
on another system.

Most of the sites I found using google dealt with accuracy which the Polar
falls behind compared to the others mentioned above. I don't care if I'm 40
watts off actual on a particular climb only that the next time that I ride
that climb I'm still 40 watts off the actual wattage.

I know that this is very difficult if not impossible to test. What I'm
looking for is gut feeling on consistency of this power meter...

Thanks,

-p

 

[JPape]

I have the power meter and am quite satisfied with it. Can't say much about
accuracy against other units, but when comparing my efforts w/ same meter
suits me fine. Only issue that I find is that it appears to suffer from
interference near power lines. I pass by a network of powerlines when I ride
and sometimes see my power go up to 900 watts. I think " pretty
impressive... I'm on par w/ Cippolini", but once I get past the line it
returns to the 200 watt range. Oh well.

Set up was easy on my road bike. On my triathlon bike (KM40), has a curved
chain stay and I was unsure if I had the placement set right. Comparing
power between the bikes, they appeared similar, so it was probably not an
issue.



"Pippen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:MqMGc.36074$a24.9818@attbi_s03...
> I'm currently interested in the Polar Power Meter for the 720/710 HRM. I
> have researched the web and have a pretty good idea as to how they compare
> to the SRM and the Power Tap. I'm looking for individual feed back, not so
> much on accuracy as consistency. I should metion that I currently have a
> 720i and I'm not willing to sink another $700 (Power Tap) to $1500 + (SRM)
> on another system.
>
> Most of the sites I found using google dealt with accuracy which the Polar
> falls behind compared to the others mentioned above. I don't care if I'm
40
> watts off actual on a particular climb only that the next time that I ride
> that climb I'm still 40 watts off the actual wattage.
>
> I know that this is very difficult if not impossible to test. What I'm
> looking for is gut feeling on consistency of this power meter...
>
> Thanks,
>
> -p
>
>

 

[Jørn Dahl-Stamnes]

In article <[email protected]>, "JPape" <[email protected]> wrote:
>I have the power meter and am quite satisfied with it. Can't say much about
>accuracy against other units, but when comparing my efforts w/ same meter
>suits me fine. Only issue that I find is that it appears to suffer from
>interference near power lines. I pass by a network of powerlines when I ride
>and sometimes see my power go up to 900 watts. I think " pretty
>impressive... I'm on par w/ Cippolini", but once I get past the line it
>returns to the 200 watt range. Oh well.

Your bike is probably draining power from the powerlines... ;-)

One one of my routes, there is a point where my heart rate goes up to 280 bpm,
the speed up to 80-90 km/h and my cadence to 150-200... It last for 5-10
seconds, then it's normal again. No powerlines around, but I can see an
antenna nearby the road.

--
Jørn Dahl-Stamnes

 

[Andy Coggan]

"Pippen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:MqMGc.36074$a24.9818@attbi_s03...
> I'm currently interested in the Polar Power Meter for the 720/710 HRM. I
> have researched the web and have a pretty good idea as to how they compare
> to the SRM and the Power Tap. I'm looking for individual feed back, not so
> much on accuracy as consistency. I should metion that I currently have a
> 720i and I'm not willing to sink another $700 (Power Tap) to $1500 + (SRM)
> on another system.
>
> Most of the sites I found using google dealt with accuracy which the Polar
> falls behind compared to the others mentioned above. I don't care if I'm
40
> watts off actual on a particular climb only that the next time that I ride
> that climb I'm still 40 watts off the actual wattage.
>
> I know that this is very difficult if not impossible to test. What I'm
> looking for is gut feeling on consistency of this power meter...

The answer to your question can be found by perusing the archives of the
wattage list on topica.com:

http://www.topica.com/lists/wattage/read

Andy Coggan