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-Stamn]

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