Last year, Wheelbuilder.com introduced a titanium XD Driver Body for the Powertap Mountain Bike hub, which was something they helped develop. The issue was decoupling the braking forces from the drive forces to get an accurate power reading and not mess up the strain gauges.
What’s new is that the G3-based disc brake Powertap hubs are now available in either 24 or 28 spoke drillings, down from the original 32-hole MTB versions. They recommend 24 count for road and cross, and 28 count for mountain bike builds.
UPDATED: More tech and weight info added for new disc brake hub below, plus specs for DT Swiss rim wheels.
The disc brake rotor is proprietary, necessary to mount a disc where their electronics typically sit. They say heat from the rotor won’t affect the power reading since the strain gauges are totally isolated from the outside hub shell.
It’s works with either QR or 12×142 thru axle end caps and comes with both in the box. It’ll work with their standard Freehub body, or their Campy or XD Driver freehub bodies. The hub weights in at just 350g, which is only 25g heavier than their standard G3 road hub. It’ll be under $1000, actual retail is TBD. Available late Q4.
UPDATE #1: Rotor weight is 163g, only about 30-40 grams more than a standard 160mm rotor. It uses straight pull spokes and has a smaller profile than the original MTB disc brake hub. The lower spoke count options better accommodate modern carbon fiber rim options, which allows for a much lighter total wheelset weight. It’s ANT+ out of the box, but will work with their optional Bluetooth LE end cap.
Their CycleOps Amp and ENVE Smart carbon wheel series built on the Powertap hub are joined by new alloy offerings. You can now get the PM laced to either the HED Belgium or DT Swiss R460 rims. The HED rims on the GS hub are $1,899.99 and weigh in at 1,668g. Take it down a notch to the G3 hub and that set will run you $1,499.99 and come in at 1,671g. Those prices and weights are for the complete wheelset, front included.
UPDATE #2: The DT R640 rimmed wheelset will come in at 1,800g (770g front, 1,030g rear). It’s 23mm wide outside and 23mm deep and tubeless ready. Retail is just $999 for the set, which includes the Powertap G3 rear hub!
Think Powertap is only interested in hubs? Take a look at some of the product concepts they’ve tested. They range from the expected crank based models…
…to the currently popular pedal based systems. Then things get weird. Like a spoke-based power meter?
Or one inside your cassette?
Or how ’bout inside your shoe?
As for things that have made it past the prototype stage, the CycleOps Virtual Trainer gets a new smartphone specific app that joins their PC and tablet versions. The iOS or Android phone app is just about as full featured as the non-mobile, and connects to their Bluetooth equipped trainer or ANT+ if your device is so equipped.
Powertap.com
Cycleops.com
