PowerTap

PowerTap
Glory Cycles · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	PowerTap
Industry	Cycling power meters
Founded	1999
Founder	Chris Skinner
Headquarters	Louisville, Colorado
Products	Power meters, wheel hubs, cadence sensors
Fate	Acquired by CycleOps (later Saris Cycling Group)

PowerTap PowerTap was a brand of bicycle power meters centered on hub-based power measurement systems. Founded in 1999 by Chris Skinner in Louisville, Colorado, the company produced watt-measuring hubs and related electronics used by professional cycling teams, triathlon athletes, and amateur cyclists. PowerTap systems interfaced with devices from Garmin Ltd. and manufacturers supporting the ANT+ protocol, and were notable for introducing practical, durable power measurement in competitive road bicycle racing and time trial events.

History

PowerTap originated during the late 1990s era of expanding electronic measurement in cycling technology when entrepreneurs sought alternatives to strain-gauge cranks developed by companies like SRM. The founder developed the first hub-based power meter, and early adoption included teams participating in events such as the Tour de France and the Ironman World Championship. Throughout the 2000s PowerTap collaborated with wheelbuilders and component manufacturers, supplying hubs used by riders at the UCI Road World Championships and national championships. The brand later became associated with firms such as CycleOps and the Saris Cycling Group as the market consolidated in the 2010s.

Technology and Design

PowerTap's core innovation was integrating strain gauges and telemetry electronics into a rear wheel hub, converting torque and rotational speed into power in watts. The hub-based design contrasted with crank-based systems like SRM and pedal-based systems emerging from Look and Garmin Vector, while leveraging wireless standards including ANT+ and, later, some interoperability with Bluetooth Low Energy. PowerTap hubs used sealed bearings and precision machining drawn from suppliers who worked with manufacturers such as Shimano and Campagnolo. Data output included instantaneous power, average power, normalized power, and cadence derived from rotational sensors, enabling integration with head units from Garmin Ltd., Wahoo Fitness, and bike computers used in events like the Giro d'Italia.

Models and Variants

PowerTap produced multiple product lines, including original hub-based meters, later lightweight versions, and a road/triathlon oriented range. Early models focused on durability for cyclocross and long-distance racing, while later iterations sought weight reduction to compete with crank-based meters used by riders in track cycling and criterium events. Variants included versions compatible with freehub bodies from manufacturers such as Shimano, Campagnolo, and SRAM, and hubs offered in different axle standards to fit frames from builders like Trek and Specialized. Accessories included cadence pods, rechargeable battery packs, and data loggers compatible with software from TrainingPeaks, WKO, and GoldenCheetah.

Applications

PowerTap units were applied across disciplines: road bicycle racing, triathlon, track cycling, time trial, and indoor cycling with trainers from companies like CycleOps and Wahoo Fitness. Coaches and sports scientists used PowerTap data in training programs informed by methodologies popularized by figures associated with British Cycling and the Australian Institute of Sport. Power measurement informed pacing strategies in events such as La Flèche Wallonne and scientific studies at universities and institutes involved in exercise physiology and sports performance research.

Performance and Accuracy

PowerTap hubs claimed stable measurements within industry-accepted tolerances, offering repeatability valued by sport scientists and coaches. Independent comparisons often contrasted hub-based readings against crank-based meters like SRM and pedal-based systems from Garmin Ltd. partners, with discussions in technical communities and publications including VeloNews and cycling forums. Temperature compensation, calibration procedures, and firmware updates were part of maintaining accuracy, paralleling practices used by laboratories and institutions such as Aspetar and national sports institutes. Users compared metrics like normalized power, variability index, and continuity with data from power meters used by teams at UCI WorldTour events.

Market Reception and Competitors

PowerTap occupied a significant share of the power meter market in the 2000s, competing against SRM, pedal-based entrants associated with Look and later Garmin Ltd.'s pedal systems, and crank-arm solutions from companies linked to Quarq. Industry press in outlets like Cycling Weekly and Bicycling covered product launches and comparative reviews. The market evolved rapidly with entrants backed by component manufacturers and electronics firms, leading to consolidation and strategic acquisitions by companies including Saris Cycling Group.

Legacy and Impact on Cycling Technology

PowerTap's hub-based approach lowered barriers to entry for many athletes and teams seeking reliable power data, influencing broader adoption of power-based training across professional cycling, triathlon, and grassroots events. The brand's emphasis on integration with head units and training platforms helped normalize wireless telemetry standards like ANT+ and spurred development of competing measurement paradigms. Its contributions are cited in retrospectives alongside breakthroughs by SRM, Garmin Ltd., and component innovators that collectively transformed performance analysis, pacing strategy, and coaching methods used by national programs and elite teams.

Category:Cycling power meters