The power measurement via a crank is optimal from a technical point of view, but involves a lot of effort. I previously had a Power2max crank, which I was very happy with. However, changing the wheel is complicated with a crank. As a result, I lost interest in the power meter crank. The Assioma power meter pedals are very simple: screw them on and ride off - that's all you need. The associated app shows the charge status and the battery lasts a long time.
What are the benefits of the Favero Assioma Duo watt measuring pedals?
I bought the Favero Assioma Duo two years ago and am still happy with it today. I used them specifically to train intervals and to keep my performance roughly constant during time trials. For the King of The Lake time trial, I had thought about fixed wattage values that I wanted to keep in mind. Of course, if a bike marathon involves a double-digit percentage climb, you don't need to look at the watt values. Then you have to watch the crank. But otherwise I've become very accustomed to this information.
2023 was a season with few cycling kilometres and cycling events for me - but even on normal rides, I showed the watt values as the largest number on my Garmin display. Why is that? Especially when you're not in top form, it pays to skilfully distribute your energy on the road. I learnt something new about training camps: I obviously hadn't charged a pedal properly and had taken the Favero Assioma Duo with me for nothing. Because one pedal wasn't charged, both didn't work. In future, I'll pack two charging cables for longer journeys just to be on the safe side.
How much does the Favero Assioma Duo cost?
I haven't noticed any major price differences with the Favero Assioma Duo. You have to pay between 630 and 660 euros for the pedals. There are bigger price differences with the Garmin pedals, which are more widespread on the market and therefore sometimes benefit from a discount campaign. But be careful: the pedals just over 300 euros only offer one-sided measurement. I specifically opted for this model and not a Garmin system - the basis was an article in TOUR.
TOUR test of watt measuring pedals
The deciding factor for my purchase decision was a test in TOUR 2/2021, where my colleague Robert Kühnen wrote the following test report on the watt measuring pedals:
The Italian-made pedals can be recognised by the characteristic measuring unit that sits next to the pedal body. When clipped into the pedal, the measuring knob is hardly noticeable and does not get in the way. The height and weight of the pedals, which are used with Look plates, are excellent. The measuring units have built-in rechargeable batteries that are charged with a magnetic plug. When compared with crank power meters, the pedals measure very accurately, usually to the watt. In contrast to Garmin, the Favero pedals are not sensitive during installation: screw them in (with an 8 mm hexagon socket), zero them and off you go. Nothing settles, the values are immediately correct. Real plug & play! The status LEDs are easy to recognise from the rider's perspective and produce a discreet glow when riding at night. The pedal body and measuring unit can be separated, making it easy to service the wearing parts. User feedback in the relevant Internet forums confirms our impression of trouble-free operation.
Do you really need a power meter? No, definitely not. You can have a lot of fun on a road bike without a power meter. But if you want to train specifically or organise your power, the Favero Assioma Duo or another power meter is a practical tool for targeted training. Training to the hand. And a wattmeter is also good for training your own feeling: only with a wattmeter do you realise how unevenly you usually ride. One-sided measurement is inferior to two-sided measurement - so anyone considering investing should bear this in mind.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
