Reviews

Verve Infocrank

New Aussie firm launch 'most accurate cycling watt power meter'

While they might be a newer addition to the power meter market, Verve certainly aren’t lacking in confidence, describing their Infocrank as the ‘most accurate cycling watt power meter’ on the market.

And it’s not just bluster, either, as Verve have had the unit go through through external certification to validate their claims.

It’s certainly convinced British Cycling, who recently signed a deal to make the Infocrank their power meter of choice for the foreseeable future – and when watt-obsessed British Cycling put their faith in a power meter, it’s time to sit up and take note. The ONE Pro Cycling team will also be sporting the Infocrank on their lovely new Factor bikes this season.

Although the product might be new, Verve spent seven years designing and testing the Infocrank following a brief that asked to solve common problems with power meters like temperature-related reliability, data drift and battery life. Extensive testing was carried out with the Australian Institute of Sport, and it’s fair to say what they’ve ended up with has made the whole process worthwhile.

Your training zones are at the heart of everything you do when using a power meter

Extensive testing was carried out with the Australian Institute of Sport, and it’s fair to say what they’ve ended up with has made the whole process worthwhile

After passing its first phase of design, Verve, who only adopted that name in 2012, opted to make the power measurement internal to the crank arms, keeping the parts safe and water out.

They also recruited engineering expertise from 3T and Ferrari and after the product was released the English Institute of Sport put it through its paces in the worst of the British winter. The result? It passed with flying colours.

Tests like that have made Infocranks very sought after pieces of kit, and even better for consumers the unit had a significant price reduction last December making it far more affordable (if still expensive).

If you want to know how it works, well the simple answer is it’s a very clever piece of kit indeed. The Infocrank measures power independently for the left and right leg, identifying any asymmetry in your pedals stroke and analysing pedalling action, torque delivery effectiveness and cadence.

Price: £1,150
Website: Verve Cycling
UK distributor: Moore Large

And not only has the unit’s accuracy been independently certified, the fact it’s drift free means you don’t have to re-calibrate between rides. Or ever, actually.

It’s ANT+ compatible, so can communicate with most head units on the market, and comes in 170, 172.5 and 175mm crank arm lengths as well as being available for BSA, BB30, PF30 and OSBB bottom brackets.

Price is now £1,150 after the reduction which means it’s still expensive, but cheaper than options from Garmin, Rotor, SRM, and Factor’s Power Cranks. You can also get a further discount as a British Cycling member as part of the terms of the deal between the governing body and Factor.

Cheaper isn’t always better, but when the best becomes cheaper then everybody wins.