PowerPod Powermeter

I think is best just to buy a direct force power meter as the power numbers are consistantly wrong i did a 1.5 km climb that doesn't change gradient it is 13% gradient the whole way and it over estimated the power by 30 watts even with the Issac details entered correctly. The device also is not durable the USB connection failed and it can not charge or connect to the computer. i used the I used the device for 5 months and 7000 kilometres and this was my experience with the device.

I've had this 2 weeks, but only been able to use it 6 times - with mixed success. I have been swapping it between bikes, with separate clamps to avoid messing about. usually needs a calibration ride after being swapped from one to the other, but appears to be consistent once set up. Hopefully time and familiarity will hlp overcome this.

Like another reviewer here I have been using PowerCal to get a rough idea of power and also to get VO2max estimates from my watch. I wanted a unit that was accurate but also relatively easy to move between bikes and that didn't mean changing chainsets or wheels. I read the instructions, charged the unit, paired the sensors, and then did the calibration ride. I didn't pair the HR sensor when doing the pairing but it picked it up anyway on the calibration ride. All worked as expected. I then went on some more rides. When the wind gusts the power seems to drop a lot but maybe I am just not working hard enough! Reviewing the data overall it looks very good. Whilst riding I can train now much more easily to a specific power value/average that wasn't possible with the PowerCal even if overall the PowerCal is broadly right. The Isaac software takes some time to install because it needs 2 reboots. It is also not very intuitive. However, it is very powerful, and it gives very detailed information that isn't easily available on other platforms. It is also possible to merge a .GPX file from another device e.g. Edge with the stored data and then export the ride to Google Earth as a heatmap which can be informative (and it looks great in 3D!). The reason for the s/w being a bit clunky and time-consuming to install is because they use two pieces middleware so that they only need one set of code across all platforms presumably means fewer bugs (are you listening Garmin!) which is a good thing as it is cheaper to support in the long term even if the initial user experience is less good. Although it wasn't clear in the manual, the device also records HR and then stores a lot of information on the device as it has a built in barometer and other sensors. The memory will fill up eventually (after 746 hours or something), but the s/w can be configured to delete on upload, or when the memory gets to x % used. Overall I'm very pleased. The unit meets my needs 100%. I'll likely still use the PowerCal for commuting but for any outdoor training I will be using the PowerPod and I am looking forward to some gainz :)

I did the initial calibration incorrectly and cannot establish how to re calibrate. The manual does not cover this. The Power Tap support has not been too helpful. My PC cannot see the Power Pod. It doesn't have any problems with my Garmin devices so it must be the Powerpod. The instructions tell one to update the firmware. If the PC can't see it, that is not possible.

Easy install and no problem with the connection with Garmin ANT+ sensors. No issues even under strong summer shower. Until now used only for short rides under 2 hours so not sure about battery life.

Just got into road cycling and while researching bikes came across an article in regards to using a power meter to enhance your road riding. I was intrigued so decided to check out the use of a power meters and I soon realised that most of the power meters on the market were like way to expensive for a weekend warrior like myself. I then stumbled across an article by DC Rainmaker who did an in depth review of the Powerpod and also another good review by Bike test reviews online as well that also gave the Powerpod a thumbs up. After much research I decided that the Powerpod offered the most bang for your buck so decided to take the plunge and purchased one when I got my new road bike. I have to say what a fantastic product the Powerpod is, works as intended and is a really good tool to use. I had to get a GPS head unit, out front bracket ,speed sensor and cadence sensor as well which made the cost a bit more but was able to get them pretty cheap over the internet so still came under the cost of the other power meters. I also ordered a book called " how to train with a power meter" which I reckon is a must have item as well as it makes sense in how to use the power meter properly. Overall very happy with the Powerpod does as its claimed and in the end a power meter is used as a pacing tool so when you get your head around the concept of how it works the benefits to your cycling is immense!

Easy to install. Calibrated first time. Isaac software download simple and easy Power reading came up on my Garmin 520 and all working fine. Happy with purchase and can move it from bike to bike if needed. Would recommend. Charge port should have a rubber cap cover but cycling friend have been using these in all weathers for a while now and no reported problems.

Being a firm adherent to the rule of n+1, the cost of fitting power meters to each bike is prohibitive. My previous solution was to use a PowerTap PowerCal, but readings were frequently erratic, with large spikes in both HR and Power, meaning that while average data approximated to reality over longer rides, is was too variable to be meaningful over shorter periods. Step forward the PowerPod. It's small and unobtrusive, especially if mounted directly under a Garmin head unit on a combination mount, and once calibrated (a doddle) provides consistent readings without the spikes. In addition, unlike the PowerCal, when one stops pedalling power drops to zero, as it should. (The PowerCal relies of rate of change of heart rate, so while stopping pedalling mean that heart rate does fall, the power reading falls to zero over a quite a long time, if at all.) Like other reviewers, I am unable to do a direct comparison with a direct force power meter, but the DC Rainmaker review suggests that it tracks pretty closely. Good enough for me, and my n+1 bikes :-)

I've had this device since January covering 1317 miles with it since distance taken from from Garmin which I bought in conjunction with this. So I feel the time I've spent with the product is good enough to leave a review. I stumbled across this after trying to find a cheap power meter and researched it quite thoroughly if you haven't read DC rainmaker in-depth review I strongly encourage you to read that. I Bought this off the back of that review. The benefit of this device for me other than the price was was the fact I didn't have to change a single aspect of my current set-up. No sending off my crank arm for a DF power meter to be attached, No swapping out a crank arm for a stages, No replacing my whole cranks set up and no huge cost. This is a great device but is not without its limitations. I'd place this device as more of a pacing tool rather than an all out power meter. By I have found from use that its not as quick to update as its fellow DFPM revivals my friend DFPM updates 13 times a second meaning having crested a hill you power readings will take a while to level off giving you the correct readings again. I've also found that while descending the and pedalling trying to hold a set wattage the device most of the times doesn't display any power reading. Making sure you have a good calibration ride as this is vital and also the information you have entered onto the device i.e you weight including the bike, riding position, tyre width ect is correct as this will lead to more accurate data Overall I have no regrets about buying this device it has been a great introduction into riding with power its taken my riding to new levels and allowed me to do something I've never been able to do before which its pace accurately without a huge outlay. Having said this I'd still say if you have the money and are serious about cycling buy a DFPM it has more versatility and I will be going that route when I upgrade my bike but until then I am happy with this Tip and tricks: If you do buy this device a few tips I have learnt from my use of it. As this device can be used as a stand alone device make sure you clear the ride data off it once in a while otherwise you can get some strange readings. A very long charging cable is very usefully and if you like a coffee stop on your ride make sure when you start riding again give the button a tap to wake it up but don't hold it down.

Although it seemed a little finicky the first couple of rides, after using the PowerPod for a couple of weeks I am very happy with it. To be honest, most of the setup issues were of my own making. I paired the PowerPod to a Garmin 820 with the new inertia speed and cadence sensors. Garmin is set to display power as a 3 second running average. Comparing power readings while riding with cyclists who have strain gauge based power meters, the numbers seem to be right on. Although I have used heart rate for years to determine effort, it is nice to have real time power numbers to work with. This is especially true on long rides. I am a sport cyclist, not a racer. There is no coach or training "program” to worry about. The high price of the strain gauge power meters was simply more than I wanted to pay to satisfy a curiosity. The PowerPod however allows me to track current effort and progress over time as 'Strava' and 'Garmin Connect' build a database of power numbers. If you are curious about your power numbers, this is a good buy. I would recommend purchasing a long USB cord so you do not have to uninstall/install the PowerPod to recharge it.