GPLama (Shane Miller)

ThinkRider PP5 Power Meter Update TESTED // Manufacturer Confirms Issues

The video revisits the ThinkRider PP5 Spider power meter, a sub‑$100 device that has drawn attention for its inconsistent readings. After an initial review highlighted 18‑20 W high‑bias and residual‑torque problems, the reviewer obtained a second unit and applied the latest firmware (v1.86) to see if the manufacturer’s fixes would resolve the issues. Testing spanned three sessions—two outdoor rides totaling roughly two hours and an indoor session on a trainer—against trusted baselines (Asmer Pro RS and Taxo 3M). Across all runs the PP5 displayed 1.5‑3 % power drift after hard sprints, erratic cadence spikes, and fluctuating left‑right balance, despite being torqued to spec. Zeroing the meter manually restored alignment, but the need to repeat this multiple times per ride proved untenable. Specific data points underscore the problem: a 241 W peak on the PP5 versus 232 W on the reference, a 2‑3 % deviation that grew after each sprint, and a noticeable cadence jitter that mirrored the power inconsistency. Even with the updated firmware, the hardware exhibited the same residual‑torque behavior observed in the first unit, confirming a systemic flaw rather than a single defective sample. The findings signal that the current PP5 cannot be trusted for precise training or performance analysis. ThinkRider has acknowledged the defect and promises a fix in upcoming models, but riders seeking reliable power data will likely need to look elsewhere until the next hardware revision arrives.