I know this will compare oranges and apples. But I can’t make my mind up on my own.
Say I have 750USD to spare for Christmas. I spend 50% of cycling on the road, and 50% on the (dumb) trainer right now.
Do you reckon I’d buy a smart trainer that also measures power, or a dedicated power meter (pedal or crank) for my rides outside?
The jury is out.
I know this will compare oranges and apples. But I can’t make my mind up on my own.
Say I have 750USD to spare for Christmas. I spend 50% of cycling on the road, and 50% on the (dumb) trainer right now.
Do you reckon I’d buy a smart trainer that also measures power, or a dedicated power meter (pedal or crank) for my rides outside?
The jury is out.
I’d get a power meter - you can use it with a dumb trainer and get a structured workout indoors (that’s what i have done all these years, till recently switching to a Wahoo).
OTOH, if you are doing most of your structured training indoors, and just doing group rides and such outside, then a smart trainer will make your indoors workouts a bit easier (put it on erg mode and watch Netflix or something) and you wont lose much in the way of training effectiveness by not having a power meter outdoors. Although it would drive me nuts to not be able to see power numbers 
I bought a power meter first, then I got a smart trainer about a year later. I would do it in that order again. I think I got more overall benefit from the PM than the smart trainer.
Another vote for power meter. smart trainers are nice, but you can still get just as good of a workout on a dumb trainer. You just have to actually pay attention to your watts vs having erg mode do the mental work for you. Honestly, I think that’s a good thing.
What’s your objective? If you have specific performance goals, a dual side, on-bike power meter should come first. If you’re just looking to make your indoor riding more enjoyable and engaging (Zwift, Rouvy, etc), then a true smart trainer (one that has ERG and FE-C/FTMS control, not just bluetooth/ANT+ transmission of power/speed data) probably makes more sense.
A Kicker Snap or Saris (Cycle Ops) M2 is $500. There are decent dual-sided power meter options as low as $490, if you happen to have the right crank set. No matter what your crankset is, $650 get’s you a set of Assioma Duo pedals. So you’re not *that *far away from being able to have both. Black Friday is close. Who knows what might go on sale.
When I’m looking at cycling gear that’s a little beyond my budget, I go to the garage and start taking inventory of what parts and unused equipment I have gathering dust that might bring a few bucks on ebay/craigslist/facebook-marketplace/ST-classifieds. I often come up with something that I can turn into a little cash.
Guys,
Thanks a bunch.
Unanimously, power meter first (and yes I should be able to get the Assioma Duo for about that price)! I can always use that on the dumb trainer, but I can’t use the dumb trainer outside can I.
Thanks everyone!