Originally Posted by
s14_kev
Is a power meter really worth it for casual rides? I'm not racing, nor do I plan to, and I'm not sure that I would have the time / care enough to go through the data and try to figure out what it means. Maybe money better spent elsewhere? Someone change my mind
I would recommend making that decision before you buy pedals, cranks, or even wheels, just to avoid spending twice.
A power meter is just a thing that spits out numbers, like @
rubiksoval says, it's only worth it if you use them to your advantage. The advantages a PM can offer are: training is more effective, with or without a formal training plan, it's a great tool for pacing, you can use it like a wind tunnel if you're willing to put in some work, and finally it can tell you how many calories you're burning to within +/- 2.5% if that matters to you. If those things don't matter to you or you aren't interested in going through the data, then no, you don't need one.