Rotor doubles down with dual-sided power meter
Rotor reveals a new power meter, which measures right- and left-side power, and is integrated into the crank spindle.
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Rotor Bike Components introduced its new 2INpower (“twin” power) power meter at the Taipei International Cycling Show this week, joining the likes of Pioneer, Garmin, and Powertap (among others) in offering a dual-sided power meter. Speculation about the meters first stirred in January at the Tour Down Under when 2INpower prototypes were spotted on Dimension Data’s bikes.
2INpower measures power individually on each leg and provides data about balance and power output for pedaling efficiencies. As the name suggests, 2INpower evolved from Rotor’s INpower, a power meter inside the crank axle that measures power in only the left leg.
“A person with a 50/50 balance in his or her power output is extremely rare, if even that person exists,” said Irene Albacete, lead engineer for 2INpower. “We knew that the next step was to take advantage of INpower’s technology and accuracy to develop a dual-sided power meter with the same features as INpower but which could provide power data equally in the right leg as in the left.”
Two additional sets of strain gauges have been placed in the right crank arm, which will measure power exclusively in the right leg. INpower’s four strain gauges are located in the crank axle and measure the left leg’s power output. Also new to 2INpower are Bluetooth Smart functionality and a built-in rechargeable battery.
Last spring, Rotor introduced Torque 360 and Optimum Chainring Angle (OCA) pedal analyses, which are targeted at helping cyclists assess force variations in their pedal stroke. The values resulting from Torque 360 and OCA would enable cyclists to orient their oval Q-Rings around their distinct pedaling characteristics in order to take advantage of their most productive zone.
Specs
The 2INpower meter includes Ant+ and Bluetooth Smart technologies and the Li-ion battery is rechargeable with a USB cable. Data transmitted includes power, cadence, balance, torque effectiveness, and pedal smoothness for each leg. The meter’s aluminum crank arms are available in 165, 170, 172.5, 175mm options, and it has a claimed weight of 645g (172.5mm).
2INpower will be available starting in April for a price of 1,499 euros or about $1,625 USD.