The long-awaiting Campagnolo energy meter is lastly right here. The Italian drivetrain producer filed for a patent for its first crank-based energy meter again in 2020, and we have been eagerly awaiting the reveal ever since. Patent drawings apart, an precise Campagnolo HPPM crankset first broke cowl on the UCI Cyclocross World Championships earlier this 12 months aboard Dutchman Ryan Kamp’s bike. Thus, a public launch couldn’t be far off.
An in-house energy meter has been a noticeable hole in Campagnolo’s product choices, as its major rivals –Shimano and SRAM—have lengthy built-in in-house energy meters into their groupset choices.
After buying Quarq in 2011, SRAM was the primary to launch its in-house energy meter, the SRAM RED Quarq spindle in 2014. Shimano adopted in 2016 with the revealing of the Shimano FC-R9100-P energy meter, which was built-in into the band’s Dura-Ace R9100 sequence crankset. In the meantime, Campagnolo customers relied on third-party choices like SRM and Levels for his or her energy information.
There was some shock final 12 months when Campagnolo launched its new, 12-speed Campagnolo Tremendous Report Wi-fi groupset, which, regardless of being the most costly mass-market groupset ever to be launched at $5,399/£4,499, nonetheless didn’t embrace an influence choice. However now right here we’re.
At a time when SRAM is pushing energy meters for the plenty with its 2023 launch of a $300 Apex-level crank-based energy meter (albeit a single-sided one), Campagnolo goes after the other pointy finish of the market with the revealing of the HPPM (Excessive Precision Energy Measurement) energy meter, a crank-based measuring gadget that is a part of the model’s Tremendous Report line-up and comes with the staggering price ticket of $2,449 / €2,240 (UK pricing remains to be TBC).
Biking Weekly was among the many only a few to get our palms on the crankset pre-release to expertise the now full top-end Campagnolo Tremendous Report package deal, consisting of the totally wi-fi shifting expertise, energy meter crankset, and even the newly launched Bora Extremely WTO wheelset.
Introducing: The Campagnolo HPPM Energy Meter
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Campagnolo says designing the ability meter took “in depth analysis and evaluation” and that its introduction at present is not nearly finishing the model’s product line-up, it is a “dedication to delivering supremely correct information to reinforce coaching and racing for passionate riders”.
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To measure this information, Campagnolo opted for a spider-based energy meter, with the measuring gadget positioned between the crankarm and chainrings. Spider-based energy meters provide a number of advantages, from safety of damage to, most significantly, the power to seize full dual-sided energy measurements.
Campagnolo’s HPPM options 16 sensors (known as pressure gauges) strategically positioned within the crankarms to detect torque values all through the pedal stroke. This information is then paired with real-time angular velocity information supplied by the crankset’s built-in gyroscope. The facility meter measures the angular velocity and torque indicators each 5 milliseconds which, when translated via a tailor-made algorithm, boasts a claimed accuracy stage inside +/- 1%.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The facility meter is housed in Campagnolo’s ‘Extremely-Torque’ crank system, which the model says is its ‘most superior system for translating the rider’s natural energy to output.’ As seen within the current Tremendous Report crankset, this technique makes use of a unidirectional carbon fiber crankarms and a titanium axle for environment friendly energy switch. Nevertheless, the ability meter’s spider seems to be made from alloy.
The HPPM communicates together with your cellphone or head unit by way of Bluetooth and ANT+, and makes use of the identical magnetic charging connector as the opposite Campagnolo wi-fi parts. Absolutely charged, the ability meter is alleged to final “over a month,” no matter which may be, and may be recharged fully in below 4 hours.
The HPPM crankset is out there with crankarms of 170mm, 172.5mm, or 175 mm and three chainring configurations: 45-29, 48-32, and 50-34.
Campagnolo’s newest cellphone app, My Campy 3.0, is about to obtain a software program replace to trace battery standing and make system calibration and updates a user-friendly expertise.
The Competitors
| B | Accuracy | Battery Sort | Battery Life | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRAM Crimson AXS | +/- 1.5% | Coin cell | 200 trip hours | $1,291 |
| Shimano Dura-Ace R9200-P | +/- 1.5% | Built-in | 300+ trip hours | $1,299 |
| Campagnolo HPPM | +/- 1% | Built-in | “over a month” | $2,449 |
The Campagnolo energy meter out-prices its drivetrain rivals by greater than a grand – and one might simply purchase two mid-tier energy meter-equipped cranksets or energy pedals for that cash. When requested what the buyer will get for that additional $1200, Campagnolo pointed to the promise of an ‘unmatched stage of accuracy,’ a ‘best-in-class spider geometry,’ the ‘excessive effectivity’ of the Extremely-Torque expertise, and the ‘highest commonplace of product ending and crowd pleasing design’ Campagnolo is thought for. Or just mentioned, “the very best driving expertise.”
Certainly, with the claimed accuracy stage of +/- 1, it does present a greater claimed accuracy stage than its Shimano and SRAM opponents and locations itself among the many energy meter specialists like Power2Max and SRM.
The attention-catching design and end is, in fact, extremely private although I might agree that the uncovered carbon aesthetic on the crankarms is kind of gorgeous certainly.
However given the crankset’s mixed-material development, it will not be the lightest, although on the time of publishing Campagnolo had not but shared any numbers round weight, which is unusual as a part of such a launch, and raised our eyebrows considerably.
The HPPM in use
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
To showcase its top-end product line, Campagnolo supplied me with a Trek Madone SLR 9 frameset geared up with the brand new Tremendous Report Wi-fi drivetrain, the HPPM energy meter crankset, and the newly launched Bora Extremely WTO wheelset wrapped in Continental 5000s. Able to trip, the bike weighed in at simply 15.5 kilos (7kg).
This WorldTour-ready package deal regarded and made for an absolute rocket ship of a motorcycle that has had me grinning from ear to ear on each outing. Upwards of $16K, it is also among the many priciest mass-produced bikes I’ve ever ridden. Netting one Strava Private Greatest after one other, the bike made me keep in mind how a lot enjoyable all-out race bikes may be.
Campagnolo mentions its “eye-catching design” and superior product finishes as explanation why it stands out from its opponents, and I agree with that. The Italian flare does look luxurious—particularly now that it is rid itself of the outdated thumb shifter.
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The digital groupset blinks its blue mild incessantly, whereas the HPPM energy meter lets you recognize it is able to go by way of a yellow mild within the heart of the spider. Like the remainder of the Tremendous Report groupset, the HPPM energy meter was fast to speak with my Garmin head items and cellphone.
Sadly, my outings on this purebred racer have been however few and, in fact, with testing in thoughts. As such, I have been driving round with twin computer systems and energy meters to check the trip information.
I have been evaluating the Campagnolo HPPM crankset-based energy information with the outcomes of each Garmin’s and Wahoo’s dual-sided pedal-based energy meters – each of which additionally carry a claimed accuracy price of +/- 1.0% (and since I’ve but to determine the best way to run two crankset-based energy meters concurrently).
Earlier than I share my preliminary impressions, it is essential to preface that we acquired this take a look at unit pre-release and as such, the My Camp 3.0 app has but to obtain its replace so as to acknowledge the ability meter. Thus, we couldn’t conduct any in-app calibration, ought to that be required. In our expertise, nonetheless, most fashionable spider- or crankset-based energy meters don’t should be zeroed out, nevertheless it might play a think about these preliminary findings. I’ve additionally not accomplished an indoor take a look at the place I can evaluate the HPPM’s information to that of a Kickr.
Campagnolo HPPM (colours) vs Garmin Rally energy pedals (gray)
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
Throughout my time with the Campagnolo-equipped bike, I rode my standard loops at a traditional, ride-by-myself tempo, and I performed a hill-repeat session as properly. In comparison with each pedal-based energy meters, the Campagnolo meter persistently learn increased than the ability pedals. On the full-ride energy averages, the discrepancies averaged a 15% distinction between the HPPM information and the ability pedal information. On max energy information, the discrepancies had been smaller at an 8.7% distinction on common. Nevertheless, the cadence information in addition to the Left and Proper energy steadiness information was virtually similar.
Campagnolo HPPM (colours) vs Wahoo Energy Pedals (gray)
(Picture credit score: Anne-Marije Rook)
The discrepancies are bigger than we’d count on to see between energy meters. Nevertheless, as acknowledged, calibration could possibly be an element right here, and this cannot be verified till the app is able to use.
I stay up for interacting with the ability meter via the app upon launch and to see if that brings these numbers any nearer, and can present a long run evaluate as soon as I’ve had an opportunity to log some extra miles with a calibrated energy meter.
