Photography by Matt Wikstrom

Power2Max Type S Powermeter review

by Matt Wikstrom - February 18, 2015

The Type S is the second iteration for Power2Max's crank-based power meter design. The new design offers greater compatibility and weighs a little less, plus it has been incorporated into a carbon Campagnolo crankset.

Power2Max is a German company with a background in the automotive industry. The company started developing power meters for cycling around 2008 and after testing different approaches, settled on a crank-based system. The company unveiled its first power meter at Eurobike in 2010 and started shipping their first production units by the end of the year. The company has grown steadily since then and now serves customers directly with online stores for Europe, Australia and New Zealand, South-East Asia, China, North America, South Africa, Japan and Israel.

From the outset, Power2Max concentrated on a versatile design for its power meter. Rather than concentrate on the entire crankset, they set about designing a spider that could be adapted to suit cranksets from a range of manufacturers (FSA, Rotor, SRAM, Bor, TA, Tune). Buyers are also free to purchase the spider on its own if they already have (or can supply) a set of compatible cranks.

Power2Max recently overhauled the original design of its spider (now referred to as the “Classic”) to yield the Type S power meter. The new design is a little lighter than the Classic design, changes the orientation of the battery, adds an LED, and is compatible with the new BB86 standards (ie BB86, BB386) and aero chainrings. Power2Max also added a carbon Campagnolo crankset to their catalogue as part of their sponsorship commitment to team Movistar.

Power2Max promises that the Type S power meter is “simple2use” because it has a built-in cadence sensor, an automatic zero function, and is compatible with any ANT+ enabled device. For this review, Power2Max Australia supplied a Campagnolo crankset fitted with the Type S power meter.

What’s in the Box and What’s Not

There is a lot of peripheral hardware associated with a crank-based power meter, and as a rule, none of it is provided with the cranks. So it goes for Power2Max: the price for the spider or cranks does not include chainrings, chainring bolts, bottom bracket, or a device to receive and record the power data transmitted by the spider.

Power2Max sells directly to the public using online sales outlets that are stocked with cranks and spiders as well as all of the peripheral hardware required for installation and operation of the power meter. Buyers are able to find all of the pieces they need from drop-down menus before heading to the checkout, including the specialised tools that are required to install the spider on compatible cranks.

As a guide to pricing for Australian residents, a Power2Max-equipped crankset starts at $1,499 (FSA Gossamer cranks) while the spider alone costs $1,299. Praxis chainrings (with chainring bolts) can be added for $179 while bottom brackets range in price $30-80, depending on the standard (eg. BSA versus BB30).

A Power2Max spider cannot be retro-fitted to an existing Campagnolo crankset so Campag users will have to pay for an entire Record-level crankset (which includes the axle and bearings) for $2,399. Campagnolo chainrings and bolts add another $229 to the purchase price.

There are, of course, a variety of crank lengths (170, 172.5, 175mm) on offer along with different chainring sizes (50/34, 52/36, 53/39). At present, all of Power2Max’s road spiders use a 5-bolt pattern so buyers will need to decide between compact (110mm BCD) and regular (130/135mm BCD) sizing (4-bolt spiders to suit Shimano and Campagnolo should be available in the next few months). There is also a choice of five stickers (white, black, red, blue, green) that can be applied to the spider to co-ordinate the cranks with the rest of the bike.

A pre-installed battery is included with every power meter that will serve 300-400 hours of use. According to Power2Max, there is a strict requirement for Renata-branded CR2450N coin battery, so it is probably prudent to add a spare when ordering a Power2Max power meter.

Details on the Hardware

Like other crank-based power meters, Power2Max utilises strain gauges to measure the torque applied to the cranks. The strain gauges are situated within the spider and by combining torque with cadence, total power can be calculated. The balance between the left and ride legs can also be calculated from these measurements, but this only serves as an indirect measure of power output by each leg.

According to Power2Max, the strain gauges have an accuracy of ±0.1%, however losses in the system and environmental influences result in an overall error of ±2%. This places the Power2Max in the same category as Stages and Pioneer’s Gen 2 while Quarq ELSA RS (±1.5%) and SRM (±1%) offer greater accuracy.

An accelerometer is installed in the spider to measure cadence. Thus, there is no need for a magnet or external sensor to measure the revolution of the cranks. There is a risk that excessive vibrations will interfere with the accelerometer however it simplifies installation and operation of the power meter.

To further simplify operation of the power meter, Power2Max have programmed the device to re-zero itself every time the cranks stop turning for more than three seconds. Thus, there is no need for the user to bother with a manual re-zero before, after, or during a ride.

Power2Max uses active temperature compensation based on factory calibration of the spider using a climate-controlled chamber, similar to the ELSA RS. In practise, if there is a change in temperature from one auto-zero to the next, then the on-board software will compensate for the change.

All Power2Max power meters are designed, engineered and manufactured in Germany. In-house testing has established that the Type S power meter will operate in all temperatures from -40°C to 60°C. At the same time, Power2Max is confident the device will be unaffected by water though there is no formal waterproof rating.

Power2Max uses the ANT+ protocol to transmit data. Any ANT+ enabled device (eg. Garmin 510 or 810) should work with the cranks including an iPhone fitted with an ANT+ adaptor. For this review, I used an O-Synce Navi2Coach to collect and record data.

Power2Max’s Campagnolo crankset isn’t assigned to any groupset, but according to the company, it is a Record-level offering. Thus the cranks arms are hollow carbon with an Ultra-Torque axle. According to Power2Max, the Type S spider adds around 180g to the weight of the crankset (174g for a compact spider, 188g for a regular spider); in this instance, the cranks sent for review weighed 799g (including the axle, bearings, 52/36T chainrings and bolts) compared to 627g for a standard Record crankset. Thus the compact Type S spider added 172g to the weight of the cranks.

Installation

Installing the Power2Max Campagnolo crankset was a very simple matter with no special considerations when compared to a standard Campagnolo crankset. Since there is no need to install any sensors or magnets, the cranks are ready to transmit data immediately. All that is required is to turn on the ANT+ enabled device and search for the power meter—if you’re familiar with the functions of your chosen device, then this should only require a few moments. For the uninitiated, consult the device’s manual to be guided through the process.

Changing out the battery was also a reasonably simple affair. While it is possible to take care of this job while the cranks are on the bike, it is far easier to carry out after removing them. Two rubber plugs must be removed from the back of the spider followed by two tiny screws before the battery compartment can be opened. Once opened, the battery slides easily in and out of the compartment. A video of the process can be found at Power2Max.

On the Road

The Power2Max power meter is extremely easy to use, all I had to do was turn on the Navi2Coach, wait for it to locate the GPS satellites and the power meter, then I was able to view and record my power output.

If you’re looking for World Tour endorsements, Movistar and Etixx-Quickstep are on Power2Max powermeters this season

The utility of the Type S power meter will largely depend on the recording device. In this instance, the Navi2Coach resembled a Garmin 510 with training pages that could be customised to display multiple fields including average power readings for different intervals, peak power output, maximum power, normalised power and left-right balance. Compared to a Garmin 510, the Navi2Coach was slow to locate GPS satellites but otherwise easy to use.

Reviewing the Data

Power2Max leaves data analysis in the hands of the user. I don’t have any data that proves the accuracy or reliability of the Type S power meter, however my power values agreed with those obtained previously with Quarq’s ELSA RS.

Final Thoughts and Summary

Power2Max claims that its Type S power meter is “simple2use” and I agree. By abandoning the need for a cadence magnet and incorporating automatic calibration into the power meter, this device is well suited to any rider that just wants to measure their power output.

Price and accuracy appear to determine much of the appeal of any power meter. In this regard, Power2Max should have plenty of appeal for Campagnolo users since the only other choice for a crank-based power meter is made by SRM that offers half the error (±1%) but demands twice the price and must be returned to a service centre to replace the battery.

WRAP-UP

No-fuss

Power2Max’s Type S power meter is easy to use: there’s no need to fuss with a cadence magnet or extra sensors, and the powermeter automatically zeroes itself. Power2Max offers a variety of cranksets including a well-priced option for Campagnolo users; there is also an option to retro-fit the powermeter to some brands of cranks. The powermeter offers a maximum error of ±2% and the battery is easy to replace by the owner.

GOOD STUFF

Range of crank choices
Able to retro-fit spider to some cranks
Simple installation
Very easy operation
Customer-direct sales

BAD STUFF

No option for Shimano cranks

CTECH RATING

9.3

Form

9.0

Function

10.0

Marketing claims

8.0

Serviceability

9.0

Appeal

9.0

USER RATING

Not enough user ratings to show averages

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REVIEWS () COMMENTS (35)

Tags: Matt Wikstrom, Power2Max, powermeter

LeeRoy

Really nice product. I really looked hard at these recently but after factoring in the cost of replacing cranks, rings and BB on my bike it was going to cost almost $2,000 and I just couldn’t justify the cost. Probably would have bought it if I was running SRAM or Rotor cranks.
jules

from experience and speaking to others, the key point of differentiation with PMs seems to be reliability. they can be a godsend, or a recurring nightmare. i have a pair of Vectors and had some headaches setting them up that threw me for a while, but now they’re good (touch wood). a lot of people seem to have had problems with Stages (at least the early ones, although I recall CT saying they’d sorted it?). above all else, i just want a PM that works reliably.
- Andy B
  
  My SRM Is always good
- Nitro
  
  Have been running the Power2max classic edition for just over 2 years.
  Maintenance has consisted of one battery change (did it myself in 30 seconds after my Garmin helpfully told me that the battery was low), and its never missed a beat no matter the weather…
- alexvalentine
  
  I’ve had Stages for almost 2 years with no issues.
  - jakub
    
    same here. purchased Stages in August 2014 and no problems so far. only minor issue with snapped battery cover, but Stages customer service was prompt and immediately sent me 2 new covers and O-rings free of charge. overall I am extremely satisfied with it, swapping between bikes is a matter of 1-2 minutes (same with battery replacement), power readings are consistent without any spikes or so. missing left-right leg power? no problem at all for me, as far as the readings are consistent. I would definitely recommend Stages, as the price tag and maintenance is by far superior to power2max, SRM and other options.
  - jakub
    
    same here. purchased Stages in August 2014 and no problems so far. only minor issue with snapped battery cover, but Stages customer service was prompt and immediately sent me 2 new covers and O-rings free of charge. overall I am extremely satisfied with it, swapping between bikes is a matter of 1-2 minutes (same with battery replacement), power readings are consistent without any spikes or so. missing left-right leg power? no problem at all for me, as far as the readings are consistent. I would definitely recommend Stages, as the price tag and maintenance is by far superior to power2max, SRM and other options.
    - dbranson
      
      Same here as well. I have been using Stages for years without any problems. I am very happy with Stages.
    - jules
      
      my Vectors have L-R leg power. basically:
      - at low loads, my balance is way out (right leg bias)
      - at high loads, it converges to 50-50
      
      the most useful aspect of L-R power is as a diagnostic tool for when one side is not working properly.
- Punter
  
  P2M are extremely reliable. They just work, and in all conditions. Hot, cold, wet… And I mean wet.
  
  It’s hard to find an unhappy p2m user. I did swathes of research prior to purchase and could not find any complaints post: temp compensation fix.
  
  It’s hard to find another powermeter with such positive feedback from actual users this side of SRM.
- velocite
  
  Vectors. As well as the benefit of left right figures, I like it that the pm is not integrated with the bike. Like Jules, I had problems with initial set up, which I think were fixed when I added a washer. Since then the pm has worked well. The pedals, not so well. Mine may have been faulty when new, because the bearings were a little sloppy so they were a bit of a nightmare to get into - just touch them and they’d spin. The sloppiness got worse, so 6 weeks ago, just before the warranty expired, I returned them to the shop. Haven’t got them back yet, the usual Garmin responsiveness, I believe. There was one other problem, with a software upgrade which resulted in problematic fit files. Eventually sorted after much to-ing and fro-ing with Garmin support - or is that an oxymoron?
  - pedr09
    
    You could argue that “Garmin support” is an oxymoron unless you define support as “getting an email back 2 weeks after you submitted yours and it’s a pathetic, scripted response”.
Samaway

I’ve had the Type S for about 8 or 9 months and it’s been great so far. No complaints at all. If you have a compatible set of cranks, it is one of the cheaper options for power meters.
Robbie Storey

I have a power2max classic edition and have found it to be very reliable - I am very happy with it. I had to purchase new cranks (3d+ and bb - BSA30) as I was a campy owner (pre campy edition being released). Having seen issues with other brand devices, I am very happy with my PM.
Chris Lee

Wow, this power meter review is nearly as bad as the last one. At least this time around the reviewer has ridden with a power meter before and doesn’t open the review with “i’ve never ridden with a power meter before”.

Stuff like this gives zero confidence “I don’t have any data that proves the accuracy or reliability of the Type S power meter, however my power values agreed with those obtained previously with Quarq’s ELSA RS”. So what do you mean, your Quarq gave you numbers ranging from 0-1000 and this PM does too?

The review is basically marketing blurb with the only data being the colours you can get it in and how to change the battery.
- Matt Wikstrom
  
  I think the most relevant approach to assessing any product is to give the reader a sense of what it is like to live with it. It would be ideal to be able to report on the product’s reliability with long term use but that’s not feasible in many instances. Even then, it is limited to one unit and hardly indicative of its reliability. Which is why we invite comments from the readers and provide them the opportunity to write their own review.
- Your therapist
  
  Yowch.
  You need to move on buddy. This anger will kill you.
- http://www.cyclingTips.com.au/ Wade Wallace
  
  Accuracy of a powermeter is extremely difficult to test and verify without lab equipment specifically designed to do such a thing. Therefore we don’t attempt this just for the sake of it.
  - Just a guy
    
    Hi Wade,
    
    I appreciate what you guys do here and can understand the seeming frustration with your comments ‘What else you’d like to see’.
    
    Essentially if you are not going to offer an tech-heavy writeup on the powermeter and are going to largely ignore accuracy, there are other angles by which a powermeter review can be approached.
    
    Reliability.
    
    Reliability is such a key issue for powermeter users. People are spending big bucks and want to know some simple questions like “will this thing survive a storm” or “how fragile is the bloody thing”.
    
    I get the vibe that most magazines will run one of these things for a month, tops. And usually they won’t put the thing through a great deal of stress.
    
    I’d like to see these be tested against the rigours that they would see in deep winter training… cross riding… general abuse.
    
    As it stands with reviews, the value proposition between magazine/website and reader is pretty one sided. And it’s not the reader who’s getting the sweet end of the deal. And the reader knows it.
    
    Go back to basics, have a think about what we want to know about these tools. Then go out and test it. Then write about it.
    
    - Just a guy
    - http://www.cyclingTips.com.au/ Wade Wallace
      
      Thanks for the feedback. I see your point, however it’s not usually possible for us to test a $2000 product to its limit (i.e. breaking it or nearly doing so) unless we buy it ourselves. That would be the utopia of product reviews, but sadly we can’t do that.
      
      I honestly wish we could do exactly what you say, but the product and manpower costs would be extraordinary. The economics simply don’t stack up. Especially when content is free to consume, but very expensive to create.
      
      I’d also like to stress that power2max does not advertise with us and we don’t charge them any money for taking dozens of hours to review their product (many publications do charge for product reviews). We have no commercial interest to protect.
- Rosco
  
  DC Rainmaker has that covered already.
  - http://www.cyclingTips.com.au/ Wade Wallace
    
    Note that it’s disputed within the industry whether or not DC Rainmaker’s accuracy comparisons are accurate.
    - david__g
      
      Yet they all seem pretty keen on going to him first with new/unreleased/prototype products. What exactly about his reviews/accuracy comparisons are disputed?
      - Stompin
        
        DC gives them a good back rub and they reciprocate, I’m speculating.
      - http://www.cyclingTips.com.au/ Wade Wallace
        
        His reviews are excellent. That’s not disputed. But his accuracy tests have been.
Kaweh

Funny, I ordered one (Campagnolo 5-arm) last week :-) I think the review misses quite a few things apart from actual power data reliability or testing it against a second PM on the bike (hub or pedal based). I had looked at these for quite a while and while they at first did not have a Campagnolo version they now have both the version reviewed here as well as a 2015 Campagnolo 4-arm version next to several other options (FSA, Rotor, tune, Cannondale, SRAM and S-Works). While the price for the Campagnolo versions is quite a lot higher than just the spider itself, this is apparently because they are getting cranks from Campagnolo specifically machined for their spider and the 2015 version almost looks like it retains even less of the original crank. With a compatible crank, the price for a spider is considerably less though spending on your area and currency.

I guess everything else comes down to whether you want a crank based system or hub, pedal or other system plus whether you want left only (e.g. Stages, Vector S or Rotor LT) and other aspects like weight, serviceability and durability associated with the various options. I would not compare the accuracy of this PM with a left only version.

Again, I would have appreciated some comparisons regarding power data and auto-zero especially since the product is being offered since last year. Maybe for the next PM review? Since I had already decided to get this one, I’ll see how it works once it is on my bike.
- Simon Oxenham
  
  Unofficial Strava power2max Owners Club
  
  https://www.strava.com/clubs/power2max
Tomer

This year they came with Campy 4 volts option, it looks like the Quarq’s ELSA RS option, most likely they will also produce one like the DA 9000 option, then it will be easier since you can use your original chainrings and possible the same PF30 BB. i’m waiting for that version, give it a few more months.
- Nick Squillari
  
  They had a Rotor 4-bolt for Shimano, but it was pulled. Not sure why.
  - Tomer
    
    That crank looks great, could be they are working on a propitiatory Shimano version that uses Shimano 9000 crank parts.
  - Samaway
    
    Probably cuz it’s fugly… ;)
MTR

The crank is actually in between Record and Super Record in terms of components: it has CULT ceramic bearings like SR (Record has USB), but steel axle (SR’s axle is titanium)
Great product - been using it for a a year - no issues
Dave Christenson

I have the first version of the Power2Max and while it seems consistent it reads 15-30 watts less than my Quarq at a given effort, I’ve compared it with HR info with same fitness, just swapping the PM over. Hopefully the newer one is a bit more accurate as I feel like the Quarq is reliable and accurate.
- RayG
  
  Well, we’d all think the Quarq was more accurate if we were in that situation. :-)
Jim

wow … tough crowd !!