Rotor power cranks review

Out of the box, they are easy to fit if you follow the instructions and, of course, have the correct bottom bracket (we had a Rotor BB to match). There’s no need for any specific tools.

Front mech adjustment needs to be spot-on, but when it is, the change works well, even with the Q-rings that move the chain up and down through its revolution. The front mech misfired on a couple of occasions, but I’ve yet to ride a bike on which it hasn’t.

The pinch-bolt (that locks the crank in position) did come lose but once re-tightened it stayed in place, so we are happy to put that down to the bedding-in process.

The hollow 3D cranks (each side housing four strain gauges) are incredibly stiff, and this, coupled with carbon-soled shoes, made my steel winter bike’s drivetrain feel as stiff as a race bike. All Rotor components are CNC’d out of one piece of aluminium at its HQ in Madrid, and beautifully so.

Power data is sampled 500 times per second and quickly fed through to my Garmin 500 (via Ant+) and has remained reliable. The batteries — mounted in that small pod at the end of each crank — have worked flawlessly throughout the wettest winter any of us can remember.