The 10 Best Bike Power Meters

The Quarq DZero Aluminum (appx. $779) gives you both Bluetooth and ANT+ data transfer capabilities in a unit with a 200-hour battery life. But it's not just the features that make it so attractive, it's also the accuracy, which the company claims falls within 1.5 percent.

Built to be ultralight and water resistant, the Favero Assioma Uno (appx. $489) is a left pedal model that's no trouble to either install or transfer, so you'll never waste time when hitting the road. Expect about 50 hours of use from each charge of the integrated reusable batteries.

You'll probably find it tough to locate a dual-sided version with a price much lower than that of the PowerTap C1 Chainrings (appx. $438), which works with a large number of carbon and alloy cranks. As a bonus, it's neither difficult to use nor install.

This Gen 3 Stages Power L (around $579) measures direct force through the crank arm and offers you consistently accurate data, thanks to the unit's ability to compensate for temperature and environmental changes without needing a manual reset.

For mountain bikers, the RaceFace Cinch (about $548) proves that good things come in small packages, especially when you consider its beefy 400-hour battery life that blows away most other models. It's durable, too, and positioned to avoid rock strikes and similar damage.

If the CatEye 4iiii Ultegra 6800 (around $519) is not the absolute lightest option you can find, it's definitely near the top, weighing in at a mere 9 grams, so it will never slow you down. The company also claims that it is the most precise, with only a 1 percent margin of error.

Coming to you straight from Madison, Wisconsin, the PowerTap P1S (about $500) makes a fine choice for those who don't want to invest an overly large amount, and for those who need a hassle-free plug-and-play installation. It even gives you ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart connectivity.

There's plenty to love about the Garmin Vector 3 (around $1000), including the fact that the pedals have no pods to get in the way when cornering, as well as the system's ability to display right and left power independently. Some find that the overall sturdiness is lacking, though.

The Shimano Hollowtech II (around $1549) is not for everyone, but for those already using the Dura-Ace groupset, it integrates well and delivers excellent overall data. It also provides all the features you'd expect from a higher-end model, including temperature compensation.

Although the Velocomp Powerpod (appx. $249) has received its fair share of praise, users have found it to be hit and miss as they encounter problems with precision, connectivity, and technical support. If you have the patience to set it up effectively, it could be worth consideration.