Test: In times of well-structured training programs and individual units, everyday cyclists can hardly be imagined without power meters. On the one hand, it allows us a more targeted training control and, on the other hand, the values can be compared quite nicely with those of the professionals. With the Rotor 2InPower, we tested a high-quality double-sided power meter at the German time trial championships, among other things.
The Rotor 2InPower comes in an elegant packaging and leaves a good impression as soon as you unpack it. First question we had to ask ourselves: Which setup should we choose? You could choose between the well-known oval Q-Rings and the round NOQ blades from Rotor, since we used the crank on the time trial bike we were on the move with a nice 54 aero blade. After trying it out for a short time, however, the choice fell on the NOQ, since getting used to it during the competition season would have been critical. Nevertheless, it has to be said that the oval Q-Rings have proven themselves over longer periods of time, so in our opinion you should consider before the season whether you want to use the oval rings and then install them on all wheels and not just one Special bike, like the time trial machine.
Once we have decided on the right setup, it's time to assemble the Rotor 2InPower. It is important to choose the right bottom bracket for the frame and the crank, we used a Rotor Pressfit 4630. The chainrings are quickly mounted, then you just have to put the crank through the frame. Unfortunately, the assembly proved to be a bit difficult here, since you have to be very careful with the screws on the left crank arm and the crank was very difficult to attach to the axle at first. But once you've done it after a little trying with a steady hand, you only have to tighten the crank arm and the axle and you're done. Before the first ride you should load the crank. Special feature of the Rotor 2InPower: Instead of a standard AA battery, a permanently installed and waterproof sealed lithium-ion battery takes over, it can be charged via a USB cable with magnet connection. On a full charge we got about 200 hours and after that we could just plug the crank back in. This is particularly practical because you don't have to dismantle the crank unnecessarily and send it in for a battery change.
The Rotor 2InPower uses two different measuring systems in one device. A total of 8 strain gauges and an acceleration sensor take care of recording the force and movement data, which are recorded and output individually from both legs. The strain gauges are installed in both the axle and the right crank arm. The cadence is determined via the acceleration sensor. The manufacturer assures that the recalibration required for most devices before each ride is not necessary with the Rotor 2InPower. Data can be transferred to all common devices via ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart.
After all the technique, a fundamental question: Why should you train with a power meter at all? - Basically, one can say that training with a power meter makes sense for almost every athlete of all performance classes. In addition to more precise and targeted training control, the main reasons should also be the possibility of better tracking progress and being able to better classify one's strengths and weaknesses. Another important point, which was particularly important in our test, is the pacing. Especially in individual time trials, it is enormously important to consistently perform at a high level over the entire route without being too slow or too fast and risking a slump. In principle, the whole thing is that you have enough values available from the various competitions and training units in preparation to be able to set a kind of target average value for the time trial on the basis of these values. At the German Championships, the goal was to reach a certain number of watts, let's say 350 watts on average. You can only do this if you set the right pace right from the start and try to keep the specified number to the end, and the risk of going too fast is greatly reduced.
A big advantage of the Rotor 2InPower crank compared to other systems is, as already mentioned, the measurement on both sides. In our case, conclusions about the seating position could also be drawn from the left-right distribution recorded from this. In addition, a double-sided measurement is particularly recommended for athletes with previous injuries or complaints, since the risk of a strongly one-sided load and a resulting imbalance can be prevented here.
