Our pick of power meters

Simon Smythe tests three highly practical and affordable power meters for serious training

What

Power meters use strain gauges that deflect slightly when a force is applied. By measuring this torque and combining it with angular velocity, power (measured in watts) can be calculated.

In the early days of power meters they were either located in the crank (SRM) or wheel (Powertap) and were prohibitively expensive. They were also not wireless, so the patchwork of gaffer tape did spoil your bike’s clean lines.

The advent of the pedalbased power meter plus the adoption of wireless protocols ANT+ and Bluetooth for fitness devices has driven up power-based training and racing, but it’s taken some time for it all to become practical and affordable.

The first two iterations of Garmin’s Vector pedals had the electronics sitting vulnerably outside the body of the pedal, and needed to be screwed into the crank with a specific torque to ensure accurate data. Now Garmin has resolved these issues with its Vector 3 pedals, but now has competitors fighting for their slice of the pedal power meter pie with equally sophisticated products.

Why

Power meters are becoming increasingly popular and consumer demand is driving down the price. Whereas once the serious cyclist would invest in and train with a heart-rate monitor, nowadays knowing your training zones in watts is expected, especially if you plan to embark on any kind of coaching programme.

Power meter pedals can be easily transferred between bikes whereas a crank-based power meter obviously cannot, and a hub-based power meter might not be built into a wheel that’s suitable for both training and racing. So the pedal power meter is fast becoming the most popular type for amateur cyclists who are unwilling to buy a power meter for each of their bikes.

How

We’ve tested the three most accessible dual-sided pedal power meter systems on the market at the moment and have rated them based on their usability, features, design, ease of installation and set-up, and price.