Garmin Rally RS200 Review: The Best Power Meter Pedals for Triathletes?
What to Look For in a Triathlon Power Meter
A power meter is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make to your triathlon training. Unlike heart rate — which lags behind your effort by 30-60 seconds — power is immediate. It tells you exactly how hard you are working right now, making it indispensable for pacing a 70.3 or Ironman bike leg. For triathletes, a pedal-based power meter like the Garmin Rally RS200 has one decisive advantage over crank or spider-based systems: you can move it between bikes in minutes without touching the drivetrain.
Key Features to Consider
- Single vs dual-sided — Single-sided measures left-leg power and doubles it, assuming symmetry. Dual-sided captures independent L/R data. For most age-groupers, single-sided is accurate enough for pacing.
- Cleat system — The RS200 uses Shimano SPD-SL (also Look-compatible), the dominant standard for road and tri bikes. Confirm your cleats before ordering.
- Accuracy — Garmin claims ±1% for the Rally series, matching premium crank-based options like Quarq and Power2Max.
- Battery life — USB-C rechargeable, rated at 120 hours. That is effectively unlimited for weekly training blocks.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Garmin Rally RS200 SPD-SL Power Meter Pedals
At £689.99 on Tredz — marked down from £869.99 — the Rally RS200 is excellent value for a Garmin-ecosystem power meter. Installation is straightforward: torque to 15 Nm, pair to your head unit via ANT+ or Bluetooth, and you are collecting data. The RS200 broadcasts power and cadence simultaneously with no extra sensors required. It pairs seamlessly with every Garmin Edge and Forerunner, every Wahoo ELEMNT model, Hammerhead Karoo, and most Coros watches. For triathletes running Zwift ERG workouts through winter and then targeting outdoor power-based pacing in summer, this creates a single, consistent power dataset across both environments.
Best for Serious Data: Garmin Rally RS/XC210 Dual-Sensing Bundle
If left/right power balance matters to you — it is particularly useful for identifying asymmetries that develop during long Ironman bike legs — the RS/XC210 dual-sensing bundle adds a matching pod to the right pedal. At £949.99 on Tredz, the £260 premium over the RS200 buys clinically accurate L/R split data. Useful for athletes recovering from injury on one side, or for those wanting the most complete picture of their pedalling mechanics.
Buying Tips
- Double-check your cleat standard before buying: RS200 = SPD-SL/Look; RK100/RK200 = Keo; XC = MTB SPD. Wrong cleat = incompatible pedal.
- Allow 4-6 weeks of riding with your new power meter before racing to it. Your power zones need calibration time, especially FTP estimation.
- Re-torque the pedal spindle after the first two or three rides — new installations can loosen slightly as the threads seat.
Care and Maintenance
The Rally RS200 is rated IPX7 waterproof — it handles rain rides and jet washing without issues. Apply a small amount of anti-seize compound to the spindle threads if fitting into an aluminium or titanium crank arm, to prevent galvanic corrosion. Clean the cleat engagement area with a dry brush after muddy rides. Recharge via USB-C after every 10-15 hours of use to keep the battery health optimal.
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