As I’m writing this, I’m deep in the research phase of updating our best power meters buyers guide. One of the things I’m finding, while working on that project is the rich tapestry of options that actually exist. It’s easy to think that there aren’t many choices when it comes to power meters for bikes but I’m finding the opposite, there are a lot of options and nothing is as clear cut as I thought.
Tech Specs: SRM XPower Road Pedals
Price: $1499 / € 1499
Accuracy: ±2%
Body: Anodized Aluminum
Stack Height: 9.5 mm
Q-Factor: 53 mm
Battery Life: 30h – Rechargeable
Weight: 284 grams as measure for both pedals
Warranty: 2-years
One of those brands that I might have written off initially is SRM. As someone who never rides without power, I certainly knew about SRM but I’d bought into the idea that the brand wasn’t relevant anymore. SRM created the power meter segment of cycling products but surely other brands had surpassed the technology from SRM, right?
If that all sounds like something you might have thought also, keep reading. SRM is not only still relevant but the brand continues to innovate and bring new options to market. I’ve spent the last month or so, including a trip across the world, testing a brand-new set of SRM power meter pedals. My experience has changed my mind and it might also change yours.
Design and aesthetics
When it comes to power meters, anything you add to your bike to measure power also has to serve another purpose. Wheels used to be a popular solution for adding power but that option has disappeared. That leaves options for cranks and pedals and there is some nuance about where on the crank the measurement happens. bigger picture though, there are reasons to choose one vs the other but it’s a discussion best left to the best power meters buyers guide. This review focuses on pedals.
The reason that explanation is important is because the SRM X-Power pedals are pedals first. In this case, that means they start with an aluminium pedal body and an SPD-SL cleat interface. The weight for one pedal is 142 grams on my scale and visually it’s seriously minimal compared to Garmin Rally pedals.
The SRM pedals are lighter than both Assimo and Garmin but primarily that is because there’s just less to them. Although the Q-factor number is the same 53mm that Garmin quotes, the pedal body starts farther from the threads of the…
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