BikeRadar caught up with Pioneer Australia back in January at the Tour Down Under, where we were shown a prototype of a revamped Pioneer Power Meter and computer. It was mentioned that the company would bring the product into the country once it had been improved and no sooner, which we think was a good move, based on our lacklustre test experience with the original version.
As reported in February, the new Pioneer SGY-PM910H Power Meter and black-and-white SGX-CA500 cycle computer can be used together to graphically display left and right power at 12 points along the pedal stroke.
With strain gauges on both cranks, the Pioneer Power Meter measures torque, force location and force angle every 30 degrees around the crank rotation on each arm. This information is presentated on the SGX-CA500 head unit in a number of ways, from the standard read-outs in watts to the novel graphic representation of where in the stroke each leg is producing power.
Setup is far simpler and cleaner, and it no longer needs to be mounted with zipties. Complete cranksets are also now available, with both Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra options on offer. The Pioneer Power Meter adds a claimed 66g to the Shimano cranks.
Another new feature of the 75g head unit is the automatic wireless upload to Pioneer's Cyclo-Sphere online software, when the computer is within range of a WiFi signal.
The Pioneer SGY-PM910H Power Meter will retail for $1,499 (plus installation on to your own Shimano Ultegra or Dura-ace crank set), and as a complete crank system that has a suggested retail price of $1,899 for Ultegra 6800 or $2,199 for Dura-Ace 9000. The SGX-CA500 Cycle-Computer will retail for $349.
The Power Meter will come in four Dura-Ace 9000 chainring options (50/34T, 52/36T, 53/39T and 52/38T) and three Ultegra 6800 versions (50/34T, 52/36T and 53/39T) in lengths from 165 to 177.5mm. Not all lengths will be available in all chainring configurations though.
All models will be available at the beginning of June.
