Originally Posted by
pgjackson
$1500-3000 is a lot of coin to shell out just to find out how badly you suck.
Used first (Shimano freehub only) and second generation wired Powertaps start at about $200 and $300 respectively built into wheels with electronics.
Spending as much as you would on a nice dinner for two isn't significant.
Used wireless Powertaps run about $600 built into a wheel (use your ANT+ computer), and new wireless units $750 (costs to get a wheel dependent on what you have laying around and your wheel building skills; perhaps just $50 for a rim and $20 for spokes).
Power2max cranks start at 690 Euros.
The goal is to go faster from point A to point B. A simple stop-watch will tell you everything you need to know.
Among other things It won't tell you when you're not riding embarrassingly slow enough on your easy days to be fresh for your hard days and can't tell you that you're not fast enough on your hard days because there's too much wind, because you're just not digging deep enough, or because you really are spent and should stop your intervals for the day.