Velochallenge

Saris has announced that will introduce four wireless, Garmin-compatible units this fall, ranging from the $999 PowerTap Elite+ that features a steel axle and freehub body. The top of the link hub will be the $2,099 PowerTap SLC+ which has also added another hot feature which will have a 15mm-wide axle with ceramic bearings. The other models listed in Saris’s lineup will include ta $1,999 Pro+, which has an aluminum shell and weighs 475 grams (hub only) and the $1,599 SL+, which features a carbon shell and the wider 15mm axle and weighs 416 grams.

You can read more about it at Velonews.

I know what I’m asking for xmas!

So here’s a little update on the Quarq’s power meter I spoke of a few months ago. It apparently will be available to fit a number of crank sets such as FSA, Specialized, Truvativ, Cannondale and Sibex Sports. Quarq plans on developing a kit to allow you to put the component on your cranks if you have a removable spider. The accuracy of its strain gauge-based instrument is similar to other power meters on the market (e.g. SRM, Power Tap, Polar) The difference is in the adoption of the Dynastream Innovations Ant+Sport Bike Power interface, a wireless standard that allows the component to be used with any compatible handlebar unit.

And, of course, GPS manufacturer Garmin owns Dynastream Innovations, so it’s no surprise that the CinQo will work with Garmin’s recently-announced Edge 705 GPS computer.

For the geek in me the system is running a micro version of the Debian Linux operating system. Quarq’s computer attachment “Qranium” will have roughly 512MB of RAM with the ability to communicate with four ANT+Sport devices at once, a barometric altimeter, 20-channel GPS and a USB interface for charging and communication. It will run Quarq’s own open-source software, so the source code for the software will be available for anyone to read and modify.

So maybe in future races we’ll see live relay data to a website, or an auto- script, that at the end of each ride takes the ride log and sends it straight to your coach.The Quarq is not for those with some depth to their pockets, because the units are sold separately with the crank set attachment CinQo retailing for US$1,195 and the Qranium (on board computer) for US$995.

The new Garmin Edge 705 has an array of add-ons that further assist the obsessed dedicated rider to suss out his or her performance levels, including a heart rate monitor and a speed / cadence sensor. Edge 705 also works with third-party ANT + Sport-enabled power meters (compatible devices: tbd) to display your power output in watts as you ride. This valuable data shows you how hard you’re working, regardless of conditions affecting your ride, so you can train smarter. Get a competitive advantage by viewing power output along with Edge data all on the same display and storing this information to analyze your workout.

With Edge 705 you can share your courses, workouts and saved rides wirelessly with other Edge 705 users. Now you can prove that 20-mile uphill climb with a 2000-foot elevation gain. Better yet, send it to your buddy to ride. Sharing data is easy. Just select “Transfer Data” to send your information to other Edge 705 units within a 3-meter range.