100$ Trash? I disagree Thinkrider PP5 Power Meter Review
Tom Bowers Cycling
May 26, 2026
The ThinkRider PP5 is a sub $100 spider power meter from AliExpress. Initial reviews online flagged major issues with sprint accuracy, and the internet largely wrote it off. But given how cheap it is I wanted to give it a fair shot.
I bought two of them and ran them alongside my actual training and racing for months, including a 3.5-hour UCI gravel race at the Gralloch, to find out if this thing can produce data I'd actually trust to train with. Safe to say the results surprised me.
Link to the power meter, (Affiliated) totally understand if you'd rather just search it up yourself.
👉 https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c37oUYgp
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📺 WATCH NEXT
My Gralloch race video — where this power meter got its toughest test:
https://youtu.be/Uug8PSB3T0M
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Bargain of the century, or junk?
1:39 Unboxing + install
2:41 How I tested it
3:53 The data , outdoor and turbo
6:58 The Gralloch, 3.5 hours of UCI racing
8:33 Value, sprints, and the warranty risk
11:32 The verdict
13:32 10K subscriber livestream announcement
#ThinkRiderPP5 #PowerMeter #CyclingTech #AliExpressCycling #BudgetCycling
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PowermeterTHINKRIDER PP5 Carbon Fiber Spider Power Meter Crankset 24MM 160-175mm ANT+ BLE for Road Bike
Created: May 26, 2026The reviewer tested the THINKRIDER PP5 Carbon Fiber Spider Power Meter Crankset over several months, finding it accurate for steady-state riding and pacing climbs, but noting drift issues during maximal sprints. Despite concerns about AliExpress reliability, they consider it excellent value for most cyclists.
AI-Summary
Pros
- Very affordable, around $100 for spider or $200-250 for carbon crank set
- Accurate for steady-state and zone 2 riding, with less than 1% difference compared to pedal-based power meters
- No drift observed during long rides, including a 100+ km UCI gravel race
- Compatible with standard Raceace cinch interface, works with many crank sets
- Charging cable is generic and compatible with other brands
Cons
- Sprint performance shows drift at high wattages, not suitable for track sprinters or those needing max sprint data
- Zeroing is slower than some competitors during stop-start pedaling
- AliExpress platform may have poor long-term warranty support
- Adds about 50g to crank weight
Creator Links
THINKRIDER PP5 Carbon Fiber Spider Power Meter Crankset 24MM 160-175mm ANT+ BLE for Road Bike
