You're not understanding how the power meter works. Nor did I say that a power meter can be applied to every possible workout or piece of equipment. In your an

You're not understanding how the power meter works. Nor did I say that a power meter can be applied to every possible workout or piece of equipment. In your ankle weight scenario, the added weight would, in effect, cancel out. You'd get a free boost to power output for 50% of a pedal stroke, and added resistance to the other 50% of the pedal stroke. These forces are being applied simultaneously on either side of the cranks. While one side is combating the added weight, the other side is feeling the boost of the additional weight. And sure, there are additional caloric expenditures while cycling - increased heart and respiration rate, utilization of muscles in your arms and torso, etc. - but they are marginal compared to the generation of 300-400W using, primarily, the muscles in your lower body. Further, these differences are factored into the athlete's efficiency in turning calories into mechanical output. A trained cyclist is 25% efficient. You seem to be attempting to be deliberately obtuse.