power meter with a Garmin Edge 500 ?

[masking_agent]

I have the Garmin Edge 500 and will be looking into training with power for end of 2011 due to my budget.

Do I simply need something like a cycleOps power tap hub in the rear and pair it to my Garmin Edge ? or do I need to change my crank arm as well ?

thx

 

[elapid]

You just need the PT hub. Your Garmin Edge 500 will communicate with the wireless hub via ANT+ to provide all the PT data on the CPU while riding and later when you download your data on to your computer.

Crank-based systems (SRM and Quarq CinQo) also communicate with your Garmin Edge 500 via ANT+, but PT is purely based on the rear hub (as well as accessories such as speed and cadence sensors and HR monitors).

 

[bhilden]

One point worth noting is that if you want speed data from the PowerTap hub as well as power you need to set the wheel circumference from 'auto" to 'custom'.

 

[CoachFergie]

I use a Powertap SL+ and other use wireless SRM and they both work fine with the Edge 500. If you go Powertap look for ANT+. I tried to pair a Powertap 2.4 last night and while wireless it is not ANT+. While Powertap can use the hub to determine cadence I use a cadence sensor as they are more accurate. I am content with speed from either hub or GPS as the main metric I look at is wattage.

 

[Alex Simmons/RST]

I use a Powertap SL+ and other use wireless SRM and they both work fine with the Edge 500. If you go Powertap look for ANT+. I tried to pair a Powertap 2.4 last night and while wireless it is not ANT+. While Powertap can use the hub to determine cadence I use a cadence sensor as they are more accurate. I am content with speed from either hub or GPS as the main metric I look at is wattage.

My experience from examining client data is that wheel speed is more reliable, and especially so for TT type rides when you may want to do some quick and dirty aero analysis.

 

[elapid]

I use a Powertap SL+ and other use wireless SRM and they both work fine with the Edge 500. If you go Powertap look for ANT+. I tried to pair a Powertap 2.4 last night and while wireless it is not ANT+. While Powertap can use the hub to determine cadence I use a cadence sensor as they are more accurate. I am content with speed from either hub or GPS as the main metric I look at is wattage.

My wireless Powertap 2.4 hub is ANT+. I use speed and cadence sensors as well for my Garmin because I train a bit indoors because of the long winter where I live, but the hub is ANT+ (as are the Garmin sensors obviously).

 

[Alex Simmons/RST]

My wireless Powertap 2.4 hub is ANT+. I use speed and cadence sensors as well for my Garmin because I train a bit indoors because of the long winter where I live, but the hub is ANT+ (as are the Garmin sensors obviously).

You don't need an extra speed sensor with a Powertap - it is already measuring and reporting rear wheel speed. It has to to calculate power since the forces it also measures are at the hub.