PowerTap

C1 Chainrings + Sensor

Trying to decide which type of power meter is right for you demands considerable time and energy. Once you figure out what you want and how much you’re willing to pay, you have to delve into pages of proprietary terms and technology to figure out which products actually match that description. If you’re looking for dual-sided power metrics and are running a five-bolt 110mm BCD crankset right now, consider the PowerTap C1 Chainrings with Sensor. They won’t work with every crankset available, but offer a relatively wallet-friendly, dependable way to measure your watts if you have a compatible crankset already.

For this price, getting precise, individual left- and right-side measurements is asking a lot. However, the C1 system does split your stroke in half to give its best calculation of each side’s power, using built-in motion sensors to track cadence and power from within the unit. As you’re coasting through a steep descent, don’t worry about having to look down at your head unit and back-pedal; the system zeroes on its own as soon as you stop pedaling so that you can focus on the steep and winding road ahead. Compatible with Bluetooth SMART and ANT+, the C1 gets along with just about every major computer on the market too, so you won’t have to swap to a different head unit to see data while you ride.