There are different kinds of bicycle power meters out there. Some replace your entire crankset, others can screw onto a crankarm, and some require mounting in the rear wheel hub. As you can imagine, some of those will require a bit more work to install than others. Heck, some will even require special cleats to use them. The BikeOn CycleClick is a new type of power meter that’s a whole lot simpler than anything else currently in the market.
Designed for tool-free installation, the innovative power meter can set up in as little as 30 seconds, making it much faster and easier to install than other types of power meters available today. No need to replace your crankset, fiddle with screwdrivers, or take out your rear wheel entirely – just clip it, align it, secure it in place, and you’re set.
The BikeOn CycleClick is, basically, a sensor that goes over your bike chain, allowing it to monitor how fast the chain is moving at all times. An articulated arm keeps it in place at all times, even going up or down to move along with the chain every time you shift gears, while built-in guards ensure the bike chain doesn’t swing out of reach of the sensor the entirety of the way. According to the outfit, this whole assembly can be installed on the bike in half a minute, allowing you to easily use the same power meter for different bikes, depending on which one you’re riding for the day.
Inside, there’s a small cog that comes in contact with the chain, readings from which the device uses for its power measurements. Does it affect the ride? From what we can tell, it should add a small amount of drag since the chain constantly touches the cog. The outfit, though, seems to think it’s a negligible amount, even calling it “nearly drag-free.” If you want the convenience of an easy-to-install power meter, we feel it’s a very minor tradeoff.
The BikeOn CycleClick can track five different cycling metrics, namely power output, torque, cadence, calorie burn, and left/right balance, although that last one requires you to add an optional sensor. According to the outfit, it factors in temperature compensation to ensure consistent readings across different weather conditions, while calculating calorie burn based on actual power output (kjs), so it should be more accurate than calculations based on heart rate. The device uses Bluetooth LE 5.0 to pair with bike computers, smartphones, and sports watches, allowing you to easily integrate its readings with the rest of your riding metrics. It’s fully compatible with Garmin, Wahoo, Strava, Zwift, and TrainingPeaks.
The device is IP67-rated for water resistance, dust resistance, vibration, and shocks, making it suitable for all sorts of riding conditions, while coming with a rechargeable battery that’s rated for 30 hours of riding between charges. According to the outfit, it should be compatible with any chain-driven bike, except those that use flat-top chains.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for the BikeOn CycleClick. You can reserve a unit for pledges starting at $225.
