For those who practice and race to energy on the highway, and need to do the identical on gravel, the Assioma Professional-MX 2 pedals may match the invoice – and so they’ll do it for a fraction of the price of their opponents.
Italian firm Favero has been within the energy meter market since 2015 and added these SPD-style PRO MX pedals to their vary in February 2024.
Squint laborious and the Favero Assioma MX-2 pedal is comparable in look to a Shimano M520.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
Whereas the ‘PRO’ within the nomenclature identifies the construction of the ability spindle and internals, the ‘MX’ signifies the disciplines Favero anticipate them for use for, MTB, CX and, after all gravel, the place our evaluate pair spent their time. Not like Garmin’s Rally line, you can not convert these to be used on the highway, they’re purely SPD pedals.
There are three iterations within the PRO MX line. Right here we’ve examined the MX-2, which reads your energy and different information metrics on each pedals The MX-1 is a less expensive, single-sided possibility which you’ll improve to double-sided with the MX-UP. Good and easy.
The development
On first examination, they seem like a barely chunky model of Shimano’s stalwart off-road SPD pedals. Nevertheless, they’re barely wider, which supplies a broader platform for the foot. There are a few flat, knurled sections at both finish of the physique, however in any other case the aluminium mechanism seems to be nearly similar to the Shimano authentic, together with launch stress adjustment screws.
In line with Favero, the Assioma PR MX-2 is the primary pedal the place all of the electronics, together with the rechargeable battery, are housed within the spindle, defending them from knocks, water and mud ingress. Because the battery and different electrical are housed collectively the possibility of energy dropouts is sort of zero.
Stack peak is low, solely a few millimetre larger than a daily SPD pedal.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
The design separates {the electrical} elements from the 2 needle curler bearings making upkeep and servicing pretty straightforward. You’ll be able to even exchange the pedal physique, although not with a highway physique, bear in mind.
One other good thing about the sealed spindle design is stack peak. It’s solely negligibly higher than customary Shimano SPD pedals, which means solely essentially the most delicate might want to regulate their saddle peak to compensate.
The internals take a barely completely different strategy to energy measurement from different producers. Similar to different energy pedals available on the market, they measure the torque being utilized by the rider a whole lot of instances a second, however the distinction comes in relation to angular velocity. Favero claims their opponents’ merchandise estimate this issue, which fails to account for the variability within the pedal stroke.
A Favero Assioma MX-2 pedal being charged by way of a yoke that matches round its spindle, near the crank. Battery life is roughly 60 hours.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
Favero’s Angular Velocity-based Energy Calculation – IAV for brief – measures the angular velocity all through the pedal stroke, thus offering a extra correct real-world measurement, even with oval chainrings.
Favero has completed a outstanding job retaining weight down. My Shimano PD-M540 SPD pedals weigh 352g per pair, whereas the Assiomas weigh in at solely 384g. Meaning the battery and all the opposite inside gubbins add simply 16g per pedal.
Connectivity is by way of Bluetooth and ANT+, and charging is straightforward too. Included within the field are two charging sleeves that you just slide onto the connectors on the pedal spindle, plug in and hey presto! My first 20 hours of use used a few third of the battery life, which corresponds with the claimed 60-hour battery life.
The journey
Becoming and establishing the Assiomas is as straightforward because it will get. You will have a 15mm spanner, and in order for you correct energy readings you’ll want a torque wrench to tighten them to the required 35nm, which is tighter than I have a tendency to suit pedals.
As soon as they’re on, merely obtain and open the Favero Assioma app and comply with the directions. One of many producer’s huge boasts is that you just solely have to calibrate them when first put in or moved to a different bike. Nevertheless, my Garmin prompts me to do it each time and, because it takes seconds, I do.
The Favero app reveals a plethora of detailed energy metrics.
(Picture credit score: Future/Simon Fellows)
Like most energy meters you wake them by spinning the cranks, and also you’ll see a crimson mild winking the place the spindle pokes out of the within of the crank. For me connection to each the Favero app and my Garmin Edge 530 is instantaneous.
Favero claims an influence accuracy of +/- 1%, however that’s accuracy to itself, to not different items. Utilizing this methodology just isn’t particular, all producers use it for his or her accuracy claims. I examined the Assiomas in opposition to a wheel-off indoor coach, and whereas the finite energy confirmed discrepancies between the 2 gadgets, which elevated with larger outputs, these discrepancies have been constant.
In line with Favero my FTP just isn’t what Zwift suggests, so I’d suggest an FTP take a look at with every energy machine so the place you stand. Whereas this isn’t a direct comparability, the Assiomas’ energy readings are similar to these recorded on a SRAM Crimson Quarq energy meter used on a take a look at bike over the winter.
The Assiomas and the SRAM additionally confirmed an similar, and reasonably alarming, imbalance in my left-right energy output. However that’s not the one additional metric you get, with Energy Centre Offset (PCO) you’ll be able to see how removed from the centre of the pedal your energy is exerted, informing cleat positioning. Energy section reveals the place within the pedal stroke you’re placing energy by the pedals, and you too can see the period of time spent out and in of the saddle.
I couldn’t really feel the additional millimetre stack peak in comparison with my customary SPDs, however the pedals felt nice to make use of, offering a wonderful platform to pedal on. The Q-Issue is 53mm, so that you clip in and go.
Worth
For those who want energy pedals in your off-road bike, the Favero Assioma Professional MX-2 pedals are the very best worth you could find.
On the time of writing, Favero will promote them straight for below £490. That’s for the double-sided mannequin we examined right here, which isn’t far more than Garmin’s Rally single-sided SPD-compatible pedals, and significantly lower than SRM’s single-sided X-Energy pedals.
Apart from Garmin’s 120-hour replaceable battery life, options are comparable or in lots of instances higher than their rivals.
Store round for the very best worth although, as a result of on the identical time Favero are providing them for £489, a widely known UK-based retailer has them for £648.
