Verve Launches InfoCrank IC2, a Power Meter Claimed to be the Most Accurate on the Market

Eight years after its first power meter, the Australian brand Verve is launching a brand new model called InfoCrank IC2. Its design sets it apart with its precision and ease of use. It is already available for pre-order, with availability expected in early 2023.

The very first InfoCrank was launched in 2015, closely followed by the InfoCrank 24 mm, with the same electronic components but a quite different crank design. Over the next two years, the electronic components were regularly improved through firmware updates available for all crank iterations. Over time, the brand evolved the software to eliminate any mechanical measurement of cadence with magnets. Verve had thus found a way, using the rider’s torque profile, to calculate cadence to the nearest thousandth of a second.

Then, the firmware was updated to allow 256 Hz raw data recording from the cranks. This upgrade constituted the most advanced recording system for power measurements on a bike. Verve is thus the only power meter manufacturer to offer true torque and cadence measurement. The InfoCrank measures crank torque with an accuracy of exactly 0.2 Nm.

The measurement is performed in real time directly in the crank arms, to calculate the power delivered by the rider. This approach is by no means universal, as most brands measure a multitude of forces and use algorithms to provide an estimate of power.

The InfoCrank crank arm design and the placement of the strain gauges fully isolate and measure the power exerted. Thanks to measurements taken inside the crank arms, the InfoCrank can provide accurate and comparable results in all circumstances, regardless of temperature, surface, elevation, or any other variable known to affect other power meters. Therefore, unlike other power meters, you don’t need to constantly think about recalibrating and zeroing the InfoCrank to ensure its accuracy.

Why the InfoCrank IC2?

Technology is evolving, and the time has come for Verve to deploy an innovative crankset. The goal is to design the best crank, the best measurement system, and then combine them. With the IC2 model, the brand believes it has succeeded and claims to release in 2023 the best power meter available for all types of racing bikes.

To do this, continuous checks of each aspect related to the InfoCrank’s performance were undertaken. Even some features, however good they were, but which did not convince customers, were rethought. Batteries, communication system, weight, and crank rigidity were thoroughly studied. Even the aesthetic aspect, which was not the strong point of the first InfoCrank cranks, was reviewed. The brand thus wanted to adopt an aerodynamic shape for its cranks, but was not sure that power measurement remained possible in this way.

Crank manufacturing is a delicate exercise. It is necessary to ensure that they can measure, be resistant and rigid, while seeking to minimize their weight. This explains why most power meter manufacturers prefer to add the measurement device to an existing crank, which is not designed to measure, or add it to the crank spider or pedal. This is both easier and cheaper, as the crank can be designed independently of the measurement device and optimized according to the manufacturer’s intentions, without regard to measurement accuracy. However, Verve claims that with this method, the data suffers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frzHRzYEVvI

Crank arms specifically designed to very precisely measure the rider’s torque and cadence allow Verve to claim that the InfoCrank IC2 power meter is currently the most accurate on the market.

InfoCrank IC2 Pre-sale

The InfoCrank IC2 is now available for pre-order, allowing riders to get their hands on the world’s most sophisticated torque-based power meter early and benefit from advantageous discounts, at a price of €1070 instead of €1260.

InfoCrank IC2 Features and Benefits

Can be adapted for road, track, and mountain biking.
Differentiation of right and left leg power
Offers precise data every 4 milliseconds that captures each stage of the pedal stroke.
Measures tangential force directly inside the crank arm.
Accurate and reliable.
Accurate regardless of pedaling cadence.
Constant temperature and waterproof.
No data drift. No need for regular zeroing and calibration.
Lightweight and aerodynamic design.
Simple and easy-to-use system.
500 hours of battery life.
Ant+ and Bluetooth compatible.
Compatibility: ·Road 2x, Road or Gravel 1x, Track – Under development: 4-arm MTB, 12-speed for SRAM, Shimano chainring compatibility under development.
Bottom bracket axle: Standard 24 mm – two Cinch-type bolts on the non-drive side, integrated reinforced axle on the drive side.
Crank arms: Forged and machined Al 6061
Available crank sizes: 155 mm, 160 mm, 165 mm, 170 mm, 172.5 mm, 175 mm, 180 mm.
Chainring options: 42-58 outer. 33-44 inner. Single: 38-44. (11/12 speed for Shimano and 10/11 for others).
Weight: Cranks, spider, and axle (without chainrings), approximately 650 g (172.5 mm length)
Waterproof rating = IPX7
Operating humidity = 0 to 100 %
Operating temperature = -10 to +50 °C
Maintenance = Low maintenance – no regular recalibration or zeroing, just change the battery as needed.
User-replaceable, CR2032 lithium coin cell battery.