In the world of high tech gadgets, some are just a natural fit for the cycling world. First we had the bicycle speedometer/odometer. Then came the heart rate monitor. And now we have the power meter. All have some very real benefits for the cycling pro as well as the weekend warrior (which we all probably are). But like most toys, the cost must be worth the results. The power meter is probably the most useful product yet, but the cost will keep probably 90% of us from even thinking of using one. With most of the power meters on the market costing between $1,500.00 and $3,500.00, most of us would rather buy a full carbon framed bike.
But now there is a solution. The iBike Pro. With a starting cost of just $399.00, it is not much more than your high end heart rate monitor. Even the cadence unit iBike Pro only costs $488.00. As far as we are concerned, the iBike Pro is the best deal on the market. But beyond the price the iBike Pro is loaded with features that go far beyond what most of us will really need. But the information that is recorded by the unit is not only precise, but fun to keep track of.
Here are the features that you have at your finger tips with the iBike Pro:
*Light-weight – 62 grams (total unit weight)
*Current, average and maximum:
* Power (watts)
* Wind speed
* Bike speed
* Altitude
* Hill gradient
* Temperature
*Elevation gained
*Date
*Clock time
*Trip time with auto start and stop
*Interval timer (programmed sequences of time intervals and training targets)
*Trip distance
*Odometer
*Total hours logged
*Calories
*Kilojoules
* Designed for Superior Reliability
* No external screws for maximum moisture resistance
* Accurate – Precision accuracy comparable to the highest-priced power meters
* Light-weight – 62 grams (total unit weight)
* Portable – Easy to use and move to any of your bikes
* Easy to Use – Installs and calibrates in minutes. Uses no special chain pickups, wheels, hubs or cranks.
* Accessible – One-touch control ring with five buttons eliminates scrolling and puts most trip data one click away
* Flexible – Fast, USB data transfer and PC and Mac compatible software for data input, transfer, and ride analysis
* Real-time measurement of hill gradient, wind speed, and altitude
* Real time display of power, calories, kilojoules, and elevation gained
* Easy-to-read display shows three lines of data and includes bar graph and pace arrows for both speed and power
* Data storage of all ride data including hill gradient, wind speed, altitude, bike speed, power
* Interval and sub-trip timers
* Up to 50 hours of data storage
* 10 hours of data storage, with readings stored once per second
* 50 hours with readings stored once every five seconds
* One year Warranty
I had the opportunity to try out a few of the other power meters on the market so I had a good basis to judge the iBike Pro against. Once I had seen the iBike at the InterBike tradeshow I decided that I would give the unit a try. I purchased the unit for Bicycle.net instead of having them send me a demo unit so that I could be as impartial as possible. Once I received my iBike Pro it took me all of 30 minutes to have it installed and working on my bike.
The next morning I got up early and programmed the unit. This took another 20 minutes. So for under 1 hour I had the unit installed and programmed. Not so bad so far. I decided to take on a 5 mile climb that we locals use as a time trial to test our fitness level. I have in the past just used my heart rate monitor and a timer to determine how I was improving. But with the iBike Pro I was able to get some very interesting data (click on graph at right). When climbing this mountain I get to my target heart rate at about mile 2.5, and it stays there for almost the rest of the climb. At the top of the climb it peaks at a 12% grade, but my heart rate stays within a beat or two. What I discovered with the iBike was that even though my heart rate stayed fairly consistent my power output was increasing as the hill got steeper. What I learned from this is that I can produce more power, earlier in the ride, and be able to maintain my heart rate. With the iBike Pro’s consistent readings I am able to determine whether I am producing more power at the exact same location of the climb by over laying the results.
I went back and retested my self after two weeks (on the same mountain) with the iBike Pro and my time has improved by 3 minutes.
To conclude, we think that to train without power is a great loss to the rider. With the iBike Pro a power meter is now within the budget of almost every rider. With its ease of use, great customer support, and incredibly useful data, this product is a must for all riders looking to improve their fitness.
UPDATE: Order the iBike Pro.
On Sale Now: $410 + s/h CLICK