Mostly standard pedals house direct-measurement power meter
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Look and Polar have joined forces for a new pedal-based direct-measurement power meter.(Image credit: James Huang)
The transmitters operate on Polar's proprietary W.I.N.D. protocol and so they must be used with one of the company's own computer heads and not other ANT+ devices like the Garmin Edge 500.(Image credit: James Huang)
The wireless transmitters are attached to the spindles after the pedals are installed in the crankarms.(Image credit: James Huang)
The KeO Power pedal bodies are made of injected carbon composite, making them only marginally heavier than standard KeO pedals.(Image credit: James Huang)
Like on other current KeO pedals, Look outfits the upcoming KeO Power with a large stainless steel platform for stability.(Image credit: James Huang)
The modified KeO Power spindle is fitted with eight strain gages.(Image credit: James Huang)
The wireless transmitters are just 20g apiece and run on replaceable CR2354 cells.(Image credit: James Huang)
Look and Polar have joined forces to develop yet another direct-measurement power meter option, this time housed within a pair of mostly standard KéO pedals.
Similar to the MetriGear Vector system shown at last year's Interbike show – which unfortunately is still yet to materialize – the Polar Look KéO Power system features a four-sided array of eight strain gages plus a wireless transmitter mounted directly to a modified pedal spindle. According to Look and Polar, the system registers applied power with an accuracy of +/-2percent and can also discern and display individual left and right leg outputs.
The system is based on Look's popular KéO pedal platform but with a modified injected carbon composite body that's almost completely filled in on its underside plus a threaded cap on the outer edge to facilitate installation of the special stainless steel spindle. In spite of the added power measurement capabilities, claimed weight remains impressively low at just 170g per bare pedal. Add in the wireless transmitters, cleats, and hardware and the total claimed weight is still just 448g for the pair.
The transmitters use Polar's proprietary W.I.N.D. wireless protocol and are designed for use with the company's CS500, CS600, or CS600x computer heads. Unfortunately, this also means that the new KéO Power isn't compatible with ANT+ devices such as the Garmin Edge 500 or 705 or CycleOps' impressive new Joule 2.0 head.
The modified KeO Power spindle is fitted with eight strain gages.
On the positive side, claimed battery life is very long at around five months if used three hours per day, seven days per week. Once the batteries are depleted, they're also user replaceable with standard CR2354 cells. Moreover, the pedal-based system will also be relatively easy to transfer from bike to bike and can of course be used with any wheelset, unless current crank or hub-based systems.
While Look and Polar say that the new KéO Power has already been tested and shown to work well, final details are still being ironed out and projected release isn't until Spring 2011. Pricing is still to be determined as well, but the companies estimate the pedals and transmitters will cost around €1,500-1,800 – and the computers will cost extra.
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