Originally Posted by
Drew Eckhardt
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.
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.
I understand all this, but based on the comments and questions asked by the OP I'm assuming he's pretty new to the road cycling world. I'm suggesting that he not waste money on something like a power trap at this stage of his experience. I think he'd be better served just hitting the road and riding hard for a while before getting all wrapped up about his "power" statistics.