Garmin introduces new Rally power meter pedals

Garmin has announced a new range of power meter pedals called Rally which offers compatibility with Shimano SPD-SL and SPD cleats, as well as with Look Kéo – so road, gravel, and off-road riding are all covered. You're able to swap from one pedal body to another relatively easily to suit the type of riding you're intending to do.

The Rally power meters are available in single- and dual-sensing pedal options. The range comprises:

• Rally RS100 and Rally RS200, Shimano SPD-SL road cleats
• Rally XC100 and Rally XC200, Shimano SPD off-road cleats
• Rally RK100 and Rally RK200, Look Kéo road cleats

The model names with a 1 in them are single-sensing, the model names containing a 2 are dual-sensing, logically enough.

The Rally range takes over from Garmin's Vector 3 power meter pedals. Garmin says that putting cleat compatibility to one side, key differences are that the battery compartment now has a metal thread and that the battery contacts have been redesigned. Both of these were problem areas for some Vector users.

“With the Rally RK200, Rally RS200 and Rally XC200 dual-sensing pedal-based power meters, cyclists can see right and left leg data metrics independently," says Garmin. "Measuring cadence, total power, left-right balance and advanced cycling dynamics, the dual-sensing pedals show cyclists how and where they are producing power to help them understand their specific strengths and weaknesses to improve their pedalling form.

“The dual-sensing pedals also track time spent seated versus standing so riders can gauge position effectiveness and where power is applied on the pedal to ensure proper cleat position.”

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Garmin claims accuracy to within +/-1%, which is the same claim it made for Vector 3. The Rally's axle (including the power-measuring apparatus) is virtually the same as that used in the Vector design; Garmin hasn't reinvented the wheel here.

The single-sensing Rally RK100, Rally RS100 and Rally XC100 use the forces detected on the left pedal only and double it to give your total power. Like other single-sided systems, they assume that your legs are putting out equal levels of power. You can upgrade a single-sensing system to dual-sensing later on (see below).

The Rally power meters are compatible with the Garmin Connect app for uploading data and updating software, and also with popular indoor training platforms such as Zwift, TrainerRoad, and the Tacx Training app via a compatible smartphone.

All Rally models are installed with a pedal spanner and Garmin claims a battery life of up to 120 hours, which is the same as the existing Vector 3. They have been tested in temperatures from -18°C to 40°C.

Garmin claims a weight of 320g for the Rally RS200, 326g for the Rally RK200, and 444g for the Rally XC200. The RS and RK road pedals have a stack height of 12.2mm while the XC off-road pedals have a stack height of 13.5mm.

Read our review of Garmin's Vector 3

The single-sensing pedals cost from £569.99 to £619.99 while the dual-sensing pedals cost from £969.99 to £1,059.99. They’re all available now.

Upgrading from a single-sensing system to a double-sensing system will cost an extra £489.99 to £529.99.

The axle is designed to be transferable between different Rally pedal bodies, so you could buy another pedal body kit and make your Look Kéo compatible pedals into SPD compatible pedals (above), for example. The new conversion kits are compatible with Vector 3 axles too.

The Rally conversion kits range in price from £179.99 to £219.99. We've not used any of these so can't comment on the level of difficulty involved, but Garmin reckons that any cyclist should be capable of swapping the pedal bodies and that it takes 5-10 minutes once you know what you're doing. Garmin sees it as a change you'd make on a seasonal basis rather than something you’d do from day to day.

www.garmin.com