The DIY glue-the-sensors-yourself Powerbeat powermeter from Watteam has just come down in price again. We’ve been using it for a few months now and have gotten great results, as long as you remember to keep it charged. And besides their core two-sided, dual-leg power measurement, Watteam have just added a new option to get single-leg power metering with a new left cranks option only for even lower price.
Watteam Powerbeat Single, one-sided power meter
The new Powerbeat Single at just $260€ makes it a pretty easy option to start training with power. It’s a simple left crank arm only installation. Glue the sensor onto your own aluminum crank arm. Bolt the small pod with electronics between your pedal spindle and the crank and you are off to train.
The Powerbeat Single isn’t available just yet. It uses the same electronics, but you’ll have to preorder now with expected official roll-out slated for the first week of November 2017. Then if down the road you want to add dual-side measurement, Watteam will sell you an upgrade kit (for another $260€) with a second sensor & the electronics that can be added to your driveside crank arm.
Watteam Powerbeat Dual, two-sided power meter
While the new Single brings the cost of entry even lower, Watteam has also dropped a hundred bucks off the price of their core two-sided power meter. Now for just $400€ you get real two-leg, dual-sided direct power metering with the Powerbeat Dual. You get individual power measurement, power balance & torque efficiency for about as low of a price as anything on the market.
Watteam Powerbeat 2pack, pair of two-sided power meters
Watteam also added a new $700€ 2pack option to make it even cheaper for riders looking to put a powermeter on more than one bike. It even works if you’ve got a teammate or buddy who wants to get dual-sided power metering at the same time. Watteam saves money in selling one kit with one set of accessories to guide you through installation on two cranksets. You get an even lower price per unit. Everyone wins.
Watteam services
If you don’t like the thought of epoxying the strain gauges onto an alloy crankset on your own, Watteam is now offering a new US-only service where they’ll do it for you. For $100 including shipping, you will send them your crankset. Starting in November 2017, they will glue the sensors on, run an initial calibration, and ship the functional power meter back to you. (In 2018, they hope to expand the install service abroad, as well.)
All of the Watteam powermeters communicate with ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart to work with pretty much all cycling computers on the market, or most smartphones. The sensors are epoxied in place to a aluminum crankset that you provide. The electronics & communications are in small pods that attach with a bracket that hangs on your pedal spindle between the pedal & crank arm. Each side has an internal rechargeable battery that promises up to 60hrs of ride time, and are relatively easy to recharge on the bike via USB. So far they are rated for road use only, although Watteam recently expanded on that to include gravel and cyclocross (just not mountain biking so far.)
