Watch This Before Buying Your Next Power Meter

Why It Matters

Choosing the right power meter can save cyclists up to thousands of dollars while ensuring accurate training data, and the shift toward pedal‑based meters signals a broader industry move toward universal, low‑maintenance solutions.

Key Takeaways

• Spider‑based meters offer adaptable crank lengths across bike types.
• Crank power meters can be costly and installation‑intensive.
• Pedal power meters provide universal bike compatibility and easy swaps.
• Favero Aoma Pro pedals deliver best value, durability, and battery life.
• Garmin and Shimano pedals are accurate but significantly pricier.

Summary

The video is a deep‑dive into the current power‑meter landscape, comparing spider‑based, crank‑based, and pedal‑based solutions and ultimately naming the Favero Aoma Pro as the top pick for most cyclists. Key insights include the flexibility of spider‑based units, which let riders change crank lengths, versus the fixed‑length limitation of many crank meters. Crank meters such as SRM, Quark, and Stages offer solid accuracy but often demand complex installation, frame magnets, and expensive batteries, while also tying the rider to a specific crank size. Pedal meters, pioneered by Garmin and Favero, sidestep these issues by fitting any bike, offering simple bolt‑on installation, and housing all electronics within the spindle. The presenter cites real‑world examples: a second‑hand SRM Dura‑Ace 7800, a Quark D4, and a 4i Precision 3 Pro, noting battery‑door fragility and water‑ingress problems. He highlights Favero’s Aoma Pro SPD and RS/RL models, which weigh ~60 g less than Garmin’s Rally, boast up to 160 hours of battery life, and cost roughly £600‑£650, compared with Garmin’s £900‑£1,000 price tag and pricier spare parts. For consumers, the takeaway is clear: pedal‑based meters now deliver the best blend of accuracy, durability, and cross‑bike compatibility, making them the most cost‑effective choice for most riders, while serious racers may still consider crank‑based units for maximum protection and left‑right balance.

Original Description

Simon von Bromley has been using and testing power meters for more than a decade, and in this video he's going to tell you what is the best power meter available right now, why it’s so good, AND how to avoid wasting money on something crap.

From spider-based models to crank arm versions and various generations of power meter pedals, Simon's tested many from a variety of brands over the years. Simon finishes up with a few interesting thoughts on how best to save your money too, so stick around for that.

00:00 Intro

00:14 Power Meter Cranks

01:33 What's A Strain Gauge?

07:35 Pedal Power Meter

13:10 What's The Best Power Meter?

17:49 What Not To Do

19:15 Why Do You Need A Power Meter?

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