Favero Assioma Duo Power Meter Pedals Reviewed – Beginner

I have been cycling for a couple of decades now. I’ve used power as a training metric on my indoor bike trainer. I have also paid close attention to the estimated power output available from Strava. However, I have never used a power meter on my bike outdoors. I’ve looked into power meters in the past but became confused by the different options of the crank, hub, spider, pedals, and even some air estimated power output.

I choose to use the Assioma Duo power meter pedals because I ride multiple bikes and wanted to be able to easily switch between bikes, easily charge, and

Favero Assioma Duo Pedals

Assioma offers two types of pedals. One with the power meter on one side or one pedal and the other includes power meters on both sides. The duo or both side PowerMeter is nice because it shows the balance in the cake

The pedals have force meters that measure the amount of force applied during the pedal stroke. This measurement is collected from each pedal and transferred to your device. This could be a Garmin style head unit, watch, or phone via Bluetooth or Ant+(another popular connection).

Batteries

The battery life is really good on these pedals. I get at least 50 hours out of a single charge. Using the App I can always check to see how much battery power I have left before heading out on a ride. Charging them takes a few hours, but I feel like I only end up charging them a couple of times a month. The battery is rated to maintain a full charge for 500 charges. After 500 full charge-discharge cycles the pedals could lose up to 20% of their initial battery. This means that they last longer than 500 cycles.

Charging the Batteries

Charging these batteries on the go is one of my favorite features. They can be charged by USB for easy portable charging with a battery pack. They also come with a double USB charging brick with long cables making it easy to reach each pedal from an outlet. The chargers connect via magnet to the pedals, with no clips to break, however, if you are stretching over a long distance to connect the charger to the pedals this can be an issue with accidentally disconnecting the chargers from the pedal.

Weight

The pedals weigh 305 grams together. Considering the technology and batteries that are also included inside the pedal spindle that’s just slightly heavier than a pair of SPD or Look pedals. Other power meter pedals weigh more for similar battery life. In comparison, they are one of the lightest power meter pedals with long battery life.

Cleat Compatibility

The Assiomas pedals are compatible with Look KEO cleats. If you are partial to Shimano cleats you do have another option. You can purchase a pare of power meter internals that can be installed on the Shimano pedal bodies. They are extremely easy to install and give you the option to use Shimano cleats. It could also save you a little money if you already have a pair of 

Device Compatibility

The pedals are both Bluetooth and ANT+ compatible for both cycling computers, phones, and watches compatibility. Using the Assioma app the pedals easily connect once rotated a few times and the light is illuminated. The app is also the way that the pedal’s firmware can be updated. Also a simple process of just waking up the pedals, connecting to them in the app, and clicking the update button.

Beginner Power Meter Pedals

As I mentioned I am brand new to using power measurements on an outdoor bike. I have used power to train on an indoor bike trainer but never outdoors. This can give you a good overview of what I think like a beginner and help you make a decision on your own if you are shopping for a power meter.

Before I purchased the Assioma Duo pedals directly from Fevero I did some research on the different types of power meters. I didn’t want to use a crank or hub power meter because I planned on using them on different bikes. If you are shopping for a cycling power meter keep this in mind.

I received the pedals in the mail and never am a fan of reading instructions so I opened the box, and put the pedals on my bike. I searched Google play store for the App and downloaded it.  When installing the pedals I noticed a light turning on and figured they were already charged enough to try to connect to them.  It was super simple to connect the pedals to the app. Just clicked the plus icon and made sure both lights on each pedal were turned on and they were located. 

The pedals needed an update, so I clicked the update button in the app and they started updating. Updating the pedals took about 5 minutes. 

I then connected the pedals to my Garmin Fenix 5x watch that I would be wearing while riding. 

I already had a red look cleat attached to my cycling shoes. I noticed the pedals were a lot tighter by default so I loosed them up and went to an hour test ride. As I took off I remembered something I saw online that you need to zero out the pedals first. So I stopped and used the app (can also use my Garmin) to zero them out.

I then realized I hadn’t set up my watch to display the power output. So I stopped again and added a data screen to show 3s, 10s, Max, and Total Work. This would give me some general numbers to view while I was getting started.

Back to riding, quickly realized I didn’t like having the power numbers on my wrist.  I switch from a Garmin Edge a few years ago because I was trying to simplify my rides. I am already shopping for a new Garmin Edge and holding out for a new release of the Garmin 840 soon.  When paying attention to a spring or climb and trying to view the power numbers on a watch is too difficult to view without taking a hand off the handlebars.

Once I saw the numbers appearing in real-time it was easy to get lost in them. Trying to maintain steady power output. Seeing how much I can increase my max output, FTP, and average power. The more I looked at the data the more data I wanted. I soon set up a few other screens on my watch so I could see my pedaling balance, and pedaling smoothness using the IAV Cycling Dynamics.  I really enjoyed seeing my “Work” in kilojoules. There was no more cheating on rides or using the wind to give me a false sense of output I was generating.  I often ride a similar route and now I can tell if the ride was easier or harder than other times I have ridden the same route.  Some other statistics that I like to pay attention to are the “Total Standing Time” where my power is in relation to my position on the bike and total pedal strokes.

The data can be overwhelming. On my Garmin watch I can select a 20 or so data points to display. In the Garmin Connect app, there are many more.

Now that I have all this data what do I do with it?  Now that I’ve been riding the pedals for a few months now and the newness and excitement have worn off. I still find myself checking my rides in Garmin and Strava for a few key data points like “Work” and average power. Cadence is also a metic I have started to pay more attention to now that I can relate my power to cadence.

Power meters are expensive and not for everyone.  I am an engineer by trade and enjoy diving into the details of products and numbers. I have found that my workouts are more effective and my training more disciplined. I have also found that my knee pain has increased and I tend to push myself harder than before. 

Assioma Duo Pedals Specifications

Price
Assioma Duo	$745.00 USD
Assioma Uno	$486.00 USD
Sensors Only	$647.00 USD
Weight	151.5 g each pedal
Brand	Assioma
Battery	500 Charges at full capacity, but can slowly loose capacity after
Battery Life	50 Hours
Charger Connection	Magnetic
Cleat Type	Look (Duo, Uno) or Shimano with pedal bodies and DUO-Shi
Connectivity	Ant+, Bluetooth
Power Measurement	Foot/Peddle
Water Resistance	IP67
Dust Resistance	IP67 Sealed Body
Accuracy	+/- 1%
Install	8MM
Calibration	App, Device, Auto
Manufactured	Italy
Q-factor	+54 mm
Stack Height	10.5 mm

Power Meter Data

There is a lot of data collected from power meters that can be sent to your phone, collected by Strava or Garmin Connect for example. It’s overwhelming for a beginner. 

Data measured by Assioma Power Meter Pedals

https://cycling.favero.com/blog/tech-tests/data-measured-favero-assioma

Data display by Garmin devices

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/fenix5x/EN-US/GUID-5176B6E4-F272-4437-BDA7-85B31231CB3E.html

A Beginners Guide to Power Meter Data

• Left/Right Balance
• IAV Cycling Dynamics
• Cadence
• Torque Effectiveness (TE)
• Pedal Smoothness (PS)
• NP® (Normalized Power®)
• IF® Intensity Factor®; Power Zones (Z1 to Z7)
• TSS® Training Stress Score®
• ATL®
• CTL®
• Consumed Energy
• Functional Threshold Power (FTP)
• Power/Weight Ratio
• W’Bal®
• Wbal®

IAV Cycling Dynamics

Favero uses an internal gyroscope to measure real-time angular velocity for each pedal stroke. This gives a more precision power calculation to be used with advanced metrics. This image shows how a pedal stroke power is applied, or how much force during a cingle pedal stroke is applied. The Power Phase Peak is where the most power is output, this is highlighted in green.

Pros and Cons

Pro

• Great Value
• Easy to set up 
• Easy to charge battery
• Easy pair with phone and Garmin
• Accurate power

Con

• Extra volume on the pedal
• Slight Q offset

Power Fields from My Garmin Watch

• Power
• -Power
• -Work
• -Power to Weight
• 3s. Avg Power
• – 10s, Avg Power
• – 30s. Avg Power
• – Average Power
• – Lap Power
• – Last Lap Power
• – Max Power
• – Max Lap Power
• Power Zone
• – Power Zone
• – Time in Zone
• Pedal Stroke
• – Pedal Smooth
• – Torque Eff
• – Balance
• – 3s Avg Balance
• – 10s Avg Balance
• – 30s Avg Balance
• – Lap Balance
• Advanced
• – Intensity Factor: (IF) for TSS: For any workout or part of a workout, the ratio of the Normalized Power to the rider’s functional threshold power, gives the user a relative intensity in relation to their threshold power. IF is used to calculate TSS.
• – TSS: Training Stress Score – The training Stress Score (TSS) is a composite number that takes into account the duration and intensity of a workout to arrive at a single estimate of the overall training load and physiological stress created by that training session.  It is conceptually modeled after the heart rate-based training impulse (TRIMP).  By definition, one hour spent at Functional Threshold Power (FTP) is equal to 100 points.
• – NP: Normalized Power – An estimate of the power that you could have maintained for the same physiological “cost” if your power had been perfectly constant, such as on an ergometer, instead of variable power output.  NP is used to calculate TSS.
• – Lap NP
• – Last Lap NP
• %FTP
• Cycl Dynamics
• – Time Stand
• – Time Stand Lap
• – Time Seat
• – Time Seat Lap
• – PCO
• – Avg PCO
• – Lap PCO
• – Right PP
• – Avg R. PP
• – Lap R. PP
• – Right PPP
• – Avg R PPP
• – Lap R PPP
• – Left PP
• – Avg L. PP
• – Lap L. PP
• – Left  PPP
• – Avg L PPP
• – Lap L PPP

FAQ

Is Favero Assioma good?

The Favero Assioma is one of the best, lightest, and most accurate power meters for cycling on the market. They are a very good pedal for measuring power output while cycling. This is a reason they have so many positive reviews online and are favored by many cyclists seeking to measure their power output on a bike ride.

How long do Favero Assioma Pedals Last?

The Favero Assioma pedals are cast in resin to keep the water and dust out of them. This means the batteries can not be replaced. The pedals come with a 2-year warranty. It is safe to assume that these pedals will last well over 5 years with normal usage.

https://cycling.favero.com/blog/tech-tests/assioma-resistance-laboratory-and-road-tested

What cleats does Favero Assioma use?

The Favero Assioma Duo and Uno are designed to be used with the Look-Keo cleat. However, spindles are sold separately that can be swapped with your Shimano pedals. These are different spindles than the Assioma Duo and Uno pedals, so you will need to purchase the Shimano-specific spindles.

Assioma DUO-Shi: https://cycling.favero.com/shop/assioma-duo-shi
Replacement axle for Assioma: https://cycling.favero.com/shop/left-pedal-axle-with-sensor-assioma

Are Favero Assioma pedals compatible with Garmin?

Yes, Favero Assioma pedals are compatible with all Garmin cycling devices.

How does the Favero Assioma work?

The Favero Assioma pedals work to measure the power output of a cyclist by how much force the rider is putting on the tiny sensor installed just under the cyclist’s foot inside the pedal.

How do I connect my Garmin to Assioma pedals?

The Assioma pedals connect to Garmin by Bluetooth or Ant+ for communicating the power information to a head unit.

How do you zero Favero Assioma Pedals?

Inside the Favero app for android or ios, there is a button to zero the pedals. Additionally, if connected to a head unit like a Garmin there are often options to zero the pedals from there.

How do you calibrate Favero Assioma Pedals?

Calibrating the Favero Assioma pedals is much like zeroing the pedals this can be done in the Favero App.

How do you charge the Favero Pedals?

The Favero pedals are charged with two charges for the DUO, or a single charger for the UNO. These are standard USB chargers.

How long do the Favero Pedals take to charge?

With a battery life of 50 hours, you don’t need to charge them very often. When you do it took around 4 or 5 hours to charge.

How long do the batteries last in the Favero Assioma Pedals?

The batteries are rated for 500 charges at full capacity. After 500 charges, the batteries still maintain up to 80% of capacity.. With 50 hours a charge, this will last a normal cyclist for years and years.

If you are interested in the Favero Pedals please check out https://cycling.favero.com/