SRM Power Control 7 Head Unit

I compared various Garmin offerings to the Power Control 7. In my estimation, the Power Control 7 wins hands-down for those who want real data presented in a readable fashion— a serious tool, not a toy. I’m not interested in an animated color screen, or a tiny hard to read map, etc. I just want to use power and heart rate for training to be a better cyclist. The PC7 does that admirably.

However, I’ve purchased the Garmin Edge 500 and am in the process of comparing them, since I can use them at the same time, an ideal way to compare.

SRM PowerControl 7

Screen readability

I examined the PC7 screen in the sunlight and compared it to the Garmin 500 and 800 units. No contest— PC7 is way more readable; it doesn’t try to be a jack of all trades (no color or maps), is laid out intelligently, and offers a plain and highly legible black and white display. I don’t need or want color maps on my bike.

Weight

I weighed the Power Control 7 head unit itself at 65 grams (2.29 ounces) on my gram accurate lab-grade scale. It seems that SRM is cheating on the real weight, since the specifications say 2.05 oz. I don’t care at all about .25 ounce, but it would be nice to see accurate specifications. The mount adds additional weight of 15g = =0.53 ounces, so that’s 2.6 ounces on the bike, quite reasonable compared to many alternatives.

If you’re investing in a power meter, 2.6 ounces is 2.6 ounces too many. But the Garmin 800 is almost twice the weight, so there you go. And the SRM crankset adds about 180 grams, so keep things in perspective.

Mounting

The PC7 mounts with a very simple and lightweight clamp on the bar near the stem. It projects forward in the perfect location and can be tilted slightly if desired. It’s a natural extension of the bike, and in my view this is superior to strapping it onto the stem as the Garmin units do.

Trek Madone 6.9 SSL with SRM Power Control 7 head unit