CycloWatt Takes the Cycling Power Meter Off Your Bike and Moves It Where the Power Goes: Your Feet

Swiss cycling tech startup CycloWatt has launched a crowdfunding campaign for a wearable that aims to put power monitoring on the rider rather than the bike: the CycloWatt.

"CycloWatt brings true power measurement to everyday cyclists by moving the power meter from the bike to the shoe. Instead of complex crank, pedal, or spider-based systems, CycloWatt integrates directly into your cleat — where power is actually applied," CycloWatt's co-founder and chief executive officer Levi Luder explains. "Most power meters are expensive, complicated, and permanently attached to a single bike — making them impractical for everyday riders. By measuring power directly at the cleat, CycloWatt removes complexity, reduces cost, and lets cyclists use one power meter across multiple bikes."

The company claims that the device it has created — available at launch in SPD-SL and Look Keo compatible variants — feels like a standard bike cleat, designed to clip the rider's feet into the pedals to allow them to pull on the upstroke as well as push on the downstroke. Inside, though, is a fully-functional power meter, communicating with a bike computer or smartphone via Bluetooth or ANT+.

The company is targeting up to 24 hours of riding per charge, with a magnetic connection that allows for quick one-hour recharges without breaking through the smart cleat's weather- and dirtproof sealed housing. It admits, though, that there is still development work to be done before sending the design off for manufacturing: "We will use the [crowdfunder] for final development steps," Luder says, "including improving power measurement reliability and reducing stack height even further. And secondly, we will use the funds for the production of the product."

The company is currently funding on Kickstarter, with physical rewards starting at CHF169 (around $219) for "early bird" backers; hardware is expected to ship in July this year, but as the technology is still being tweaked and has yet to pass certification delays are to be expected.