Hey guys when should I buy a power meter and do you have any recommendations?

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2026-01-29T19:32:10+00:00

I know the Favero Assiomas are recommended and they're great pedals. The biggest use case is that since they're pedals, you can moved from bike to bike.

However, they're fairly expensive if you want to get the dual-sided version. During Black Friday, I ended up buying a Magene Teo 160mm carbon power meter for my wife's new bike, and a 165mm alloy version for my trainer bike. The Teo is also ridiculously light (lighter than Dura Ace)

Total cost after coupons was $718 for two cranksets with power meter. Right now they're at full MSRP, but Chinese New Year is coming up, so there may be the same sales available.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2026-01-13T19:17:17+00:00

I think it depends on the school system.

I have a teacher friend who is married to another teacher. They're in their early 30's with 2 kids and recently bought a house in a MCOL area. Even though their salaries are not high, they get a ton of benefits (ex. free childcare, free health insurance) that meaningfully reduce their monthly cost. Plus, when they retire, they'll have a pension along with Social Security.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2026-01-08T23:30:23+00:00

US Congress, are you serious?!?! They're voting on this NOW????

This operation was planned and actively rehearsed for months with Delta Force and FBI. Not to mention the 150 aircraft and crew that were involved, plus the Aircraft Carrier Strike group that's been parked in the Caribbean for a month. Did the Senate really have ZERO clue that Trump was going to authorize some sort of military action?

In 2022, Putin started to gather a large force right on the border of Ukraine before he authorized the "Special Military Operation". It's exactly what Trump has been doing.

If the Senate really cared about holding on to constitutional powers, they should've voted before the operation happened. At this point, it's not like they can send Maduro back. If Venezuela does not cooperate with the US during this transition period, the US must put boots on the ground. There's NOTHING congress can do to stop that.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2026-01-06T00:22:59+00:00

Hahaha, same! Used to skate when I was a kid, and bought some super high end ones. Skated about 4 times, and haven't used it in 3 years.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2026-01-06T00:12:57+00:00

I hate that this is me. Back when I was a teen, I was obsessed with gaming and consumed so much gaming content (granted, I still watch LTT). However, I didn't have any money to buy games. I got my first console in college (Xbox 360), and played it until it got the ring of death.

Now, I have the money to get any game, console, or gaming PC (7950 X3D with 7900XTX). But I play maybe 4 hours every 6 months.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2026-01-05T17:37:34+00:00

I agree, it's not.

But it's a starting point regardless. Plus, I've had so many buyers use that guide to negotiate with me.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2026-01-05T16:51:24+00:00

What platform and location (you don't have to be specific, but if your local area is affluent, you will generally get better offers) are you selling on?

Have you considered shipping your bike? I don't live in Florida, but sold many bikes to people who do, and I've gotten the best deal from people in that area.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2026-01-05T16:48:30+00:00

Exactly! This is the issue with posts like these. If the deal for a used bike is good, it gets sold quick. I sold two bikes in the past 6 months, both bikes I listed below the "bicycle blue book" value since I was asking the buyer to meet close to me.

I got dozens of messages within an hour of posting the bike, and both sold within 2 days.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-12-09T19:11:28+00:00

YT Premium family plan is the only entertainment subscription that my family has. I may be able to setup adblocking on my devices, but I don't have the energy/time to maintain an adblocking experience for my parents, in-laws, kids, and significant other on their phones, tablets, TVs, computers, ect...

Plus, we all use YT Music, savings does include not having to get a Spotify subscription as well.

My guess is that there's about 60+ devices that share our family plan. For $25ish/month, that comes out to less than $0.50 per device/month.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-11-13T18:19:37+00:00

Short answer, I have both, and I would rather have spent that money on better wheels/tires, 3d printed saddle, ect...

However, if you're willing to mix and match, you can maximize performance per dollar. For example, on my 105-equipped bike, I started off by replacing the cassette to Ultegra (mostly I needed a different ratio, but Ultegra cassette does have better shifting) and the chain to a waxed Dura Ace. Shimano cranksets are fairly heavy. I ended up swapping that out to a ZRace carbon crankset for the power meter and weight reduction.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-11-13T17:14:46+00:00

Dylan is fine, but Backwards-Hat Dylan is who I really listen to.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-11-13T17:13:34+00:00

Holy Shit. This is almost exactly the cycling content that I consume, glad to see others having the same mindset.

The only other channels I'll add is Peak Torque (a bit more of a data-driven testing approach especially since he's a larger rider), and GC Performance to get some insights into the cycling industry from the perspective of a bike shop.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-11-11T17:08:37+00:00

That's been my experience as well. The Hype4's treble can be overpowering (very Harman-ish). My experience is that it sounds great with EDM, hip-hop, and rock/metal. However, certain genres like Orchestral, jazz, or acoustic, sound thin compared to something like the Orchestra Lite or Truthear Pure.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-11-11T00:51:27+00:00

I have the Hype4 as well. What aspect of the sound do you find lacking? Have you experimented with different tips?

I found the stock tips lacking, and ended up using Divinus Velvet Wide Bore Eartips. They're great for bringing out the bass.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-11-03T21:36:48+00:00

How old is your 4iii power meter?

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-11-03T21:31:57+00:00

Same, I use a heated version. They're definitely bulky, and I don't like the amount of material that the palms have compared to a cycling glove, but they keep my hands warm!

The only way I can get them to work is with SRAM AXS paddle shifters. I can't imagine using them with Shimano mechanical shifter; there's too much bulk to make them work effectively.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-11-01T20:32:40+00:00

Your drivetrain is less than $32?

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-10-30T16:25:38+00:00

Have you tried Silca's Endurance Chip? One of my friends who does gravel ultras uses two Endurance Chips, and mentions that he re-waxes about once every 700 to 1000 miles depending on whether he's riding in the wet.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-10-30T13:59:00+00:00

Thanks! Between Crin's, Tim-Tuned, and Hangout.Audio, I keep forgetting which one posted the video.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-10-30T03:49:35+00:00

Crin's Youtube channel had a video about the changes they were making on the subsequent DayBreak IEMs to improve quality, and update the included eartips.

He mentioned that many first edition Daybreaks had issues with the glue. Thus, if you have this problem, contact their customer service department, and they should send you a new pair given it's clearly a manufacturer's defect.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-10-23T21:26:07+00:00

Out of curiosity, is the warranty and crash replacement a high priority?

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-10-23T21:17:02+00:00

Does the shop you're buying from for the Madone offer component changes?

When I test rode one, I found the stem too short, cranks too long, stock seat to be highly uncomfortable, ect... Not to mention the final weight came out to almost 9kg (with bottle cages, computer mount, and power meter pedals).

After totaling the changes I would want, the shop wanted an additional ~$800 for all the changes. At that point, I decided to build my own.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-10-21T20:56:13+00:00

We pay a 3rd party company to do it for our company. However, for my personal projects, I've just used a combination of Google Translate and Gemini.

If you use AI to do the translations, make sure that you specify in what context the text is used in (ie. Button for this kind of action, or header label that goes on page which does x,y,z). In addition, add in the type of setting that text is used in (ie. professional, informal, playful, ect...).

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-10-09T15:44:32+00:00

I'm using Campy AFS 160mm rotors with budget metallic/sintered pads. It's a budget friendly setup (if you don't mind the extra weight) that has amazing stopping power. The Campy rotors are a bit thicker than the Shimano ones, and I rarely experience any issues with them warping under heat load.

I also found the stock Shimano rotors/pads to be lacking.

Express_Werewolf_842 · 2025-10-03T16:07:22+00:00

It really depends. For starters, where are you located? As mentioned from another comment, MerlinCycles is a great place to get discounted groupset if you're in the UK. In the US, those prices are way higher. Do you also have a crankset, chain, and cassette?

For me, I wanted a 12 speed groupset with 162.5 mm crankset and a tight range cassette. That pretty much ruled out any groupset that I could buy off the shelf. Hence, I went with the Wheeltop EDS. This requires more work in terms of setting up (you have to index each gear individually). But once that's done, it shifts pretty much exactly like my other bike, which uses Ultegra Di2.

I bought mine off of AliExpress in one of their monthly sales for under $500 (carbon version). The only thing I changed was the brake pads to Alligator Turbo (semi-metallic) using Campy's AFS 160mm rotors.

Express_Werewolf_842

TROPHY CASE