Kurt Kinetic Power Computer

[nhorscro]

Has anyone heard much about this computer?

http://www.kurtkinetic.com/power_computer.php

It was shown at Interbike (but I wasn't there). I read that it will give accurate power readings only when the bike is mounted on a trainer, not just Kurt Kinetic trainers. At Interbike it was demonstrated on a bike that also had a Power Tap and the readings were similar.

Here is the review from RoadBikeRider.com. Any thoughts? It's not downloadable for one.

Kinetic "Power Computer"
Serious indoor trainers want to know wattage -- the
best way to gauge power and track improvement. Now
Kinetic offers an affordable way to know your current,
average and max watts while riding on your indoor
trainer. Its Power Computer also tells you all the
usual data you expect from a cyclecomputer, displayed
on three lines. At the show, a display compared its
watts reading to that of the state-of-the-art PowerTap,
an $800 system. There was barely a difference. And
assuming the Power Computer is consistent within
itself, a difference doesn't matter. The Power Computer
functions accurately only on trainers, and according to
Kinetic it can be used on any brand. Price: $50.
http://www.kurtkinetic.com/power_computer.php

 

[velomanct]

max watts will be way off if you do a jump. it doesn't take into account acceleration.

It's the same as the power chart kurt kinetic gives you with the trainer. Watts will be dependant on how tight the tire is against the roller. Regardless of what kurt kinetic says, their trainer heats up and the resistence goes down once it warms up. Not as much as other trainers, but power/speed still changes.

Bottom line, it is close to useless, if you already have the power/speed chart they give you.

 

[Gary Tingley]

Has anyone heard much about this computer?

http://www.kurtkinetic.com/power_computer.php

It was shown at Interbike (but I wasn't there). I read that it will give accurate power readings only when the bike is mounted on a trainer, not just Kurt Kinetic trainers. At Interbike it was demonstrated on a bike that also had a Power Tap and the readings were similar.

Here is the review from RoadBikeRider.com. Any thoughts? It's not downloadable for one.

Kinetic "Power Computer"
Serious indoor trainers want to know wattage -- the
best way to gauge power and track improvement. Now
Kinetic offers an affordable way to know your current,
average and max watts while riding on your indoor
trainer. Its Power Computer also tells you all the
usual data you expect from a cyclecomputer, displayed
on three lines. At the show, a display compared its
watts reading to that of the state-of-the-art PowerTap,
an $800 system. There was barely a difference. And
assuming the Power Computer is consistent within
itself, a difference doesn't matter. The Power Computer
functions accurately only on trainers, and according to
Kinetic it can be used on any brand. Price: $50.
http://www.kurtkinetic.com/power_computer.php

I have not seen it, but I ride a powertap on my kinetics trainer. Based on speed, I think that the computer could likely be accurate, but will likely display power based on wheel speed, which can vary with tire pressure and the pressure that you apply to the roller.

Gary Tingley
www.RotorCranks.com