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The brake is probably one of the most crucial components on a bike, especially when it comes to safety and control. We visited Trickstuff!
The newest power meter pedal option by Favero does a great job of collecting data and that in a package that can be switched between bikes with ease.
Favero. What at first sounds like the name of a fancy Italian chocolate, turns out to be one of the newer manufacturers of power meters, specifically pedals. I first came into contact with Favero after testing their bePro pedals, which I loved. Now they have released a second pedal based power meter called the Assioma. These pedals have nothing to hide in the case of precision and validity of the data they collect from their more well-known competition, the PowerTap P1 and Garmin Vector 3.
Before mounting the pedals to my bike, I gave me a look and weighed them. Truth be told, these pedals are super lightweight, coming in at only 149.5 g per pedal. Compare that to the Shimano Dura Ace PD-R 9100 and they are only 35.5 g lighter, and that with all the electronics in them. I was also quick to notice how well the sealed bearings turned in the Assimoas. Definitely top quality.
When comparing the Favero pedals to their competition, it’s pretty clear that the electronics aren’t integrated as nicely as the Garmin Vector 3. However, the chamber on the axle has gotten smaller and shouldn’t get in the way of most 3-bolt road shoes. I also have to say, once mounted it’s hard to tell the difference, without staring right at them.
The pedals integrate very well.
The previous Favero power meter pedals had to be installed very precisely with positioning stickers, which made it hard to switch them between bikes. With the Assioma this is no longer a problem. All you have to do is screw them in with an 8 mm Allen key and they are mounted.
Easy to mount means that they can simply be switched between bikes.
Before using the pedals for the first time, they need to be registered with the Assioma app. This is installed within minutes and the crankarm length and most current firmware can be added. With the newest firmware update, Favero claims a precision of +/- 1%! Personally, I do a zero reset of the pedals before every ride and the Assiomas automatically make adjustments taking the temperature into account.
Racing with them keeps me in the right range of effort.
The Assioma pedals measure plenty of data including: dual-sided power power output (watts), current cadence, left-right balance (0-100%), pedal smoothness and torque effectiveness. During my test, I connected the pedals to various head units from GPS computers to multisport watches and they did great at connecting and transmitting all my data. You can connect to pedals via Bluetooth v4.0 and ANT+ PWR Profile (CT + PO), meaning that the Assimoa pedals are compatible with the majority of head units.
While riding, the Favero Assioma pedals work and act just like any other pedal. The release tension can be adjusted and the included cleats offer 6° of float. Favero also offers a black cleat that has no float, but if you want something different, Look Keo cleats will work as well. The Keo cleats would give you 4.5° and 9° options on top of what Favero has.
The watts are measured and transferred reliably.
I never had a problem with unrealistic values or missing data during the test. The 50 hour battery time given by Favero is also true in the real world. If the pedals need recharging, this can be seen 8 hours before via a warning light, they can be charged simultaneously via a magnetic USB charger.
Before charging.
While charging.
When looking at the price, the one-sided (Uno) version as well as the double-sided version are both very fair. The pedals measure and transfer all the relevant data needed training and competition all in a package that can be switched between bikes in a flash. The many features of the Favero Assioma pedals and the attractive price make them one of the best value deals among power meters.
At first glance they are just pedals.
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