If you're serious about training, or if you use one of Cadence's coaches, you already know that a power meter is essential to maximizing your efforts and managing your training time. Wattage is the only objective criterion to judge your training intensity (heart rate, while better than no meter to gauge your training intensity and zones, is nevertheless susceptible to too many vagaries and variables), and as such is the only serious choice for training and/or competitive cyclists and triathletes.
CycleOps' PowerTap, PowerTap SL, and PowerTap Wireless 2.4 have consistently been the most visible power meters. Widely used by amateurs and professionals, the PowerTap provides instantaneous feedback for current, average, and maximum Wattage, kJoules expenditure (a unit of measure for power output over time), cadence, heart rate, trip distance, cumulative distance, ride time, cumulative ride time, and current, average, and maximum speed.
The latest generation of PowerTap, the Wireless 2.4, comes with an innovative carbon hub which serves two purposes: first, to lower weight from the original PowerTap Pro by 160 grams; and, second, to enable the transfer of data through the cabon fiber windows to a receiver mounted on the handlebar.
The PowerTap can be built into most any wheel and is available pre-built with Zipp 404s, 303s, 808s, or any number of Mavic, etc., rims for rougher training. Alternatively, if you prefer, Cadence can custom build your Zipp, Mavic, etc. wheel with a PowerTap, PowerTap SL, or PowerTap Wireless 2.4. Cadence is one of the Nation's top retailers for PowerTap products, so we know a thing or two about building and using this highly effective power meter. Moreover, given that we are the Nation's premier cycling and multisport coaching organization, and have secured numerous National and World Championship titles, we stand behind the effectiveness of training with power--and PowerTap products!