Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Welcome to the Deep dive. Today we're digging into a topic
sent in by you, our listener, the Favreau Asioma PRORS Power
Metre Pedals. That's Asioma Pro Rs, right?
We've got a good stack of sources here, reviews, analysis,
including stuff from sites like the 5K Runner AH.
Yes, the 5K runner. Good source.
(00:20):
Described as a triathlete, cyclist, runner.
Interested in performance measurement?
Get some context. Exactly.
So our job today is to unpack what these reviewers are
actually saying. You know, the good, the bad,
maybe the suprising bits help you get the picture quickly.
OK, let's do it. So the Asioma Pro Rs Favero's
latest dual sided power metre pedal.
(00:42):
It's specifically for Rd bikes, and importantly, it's compatible
with Shimano SPDSL cleats. And the big deal is the design
change, right? No more pods.
Exactly. All the important stuff.
Strain gauges, battery, the wireless bits, it's all tucked
away inside the pedal spindle itself.
Much cleaner than older models with those external pods.
Makes sense. And they're designed and made in
Italy, sticking with Favaro's roots there.
(01:02):
OK, and our sources were talkingreviews from folk like DC
Rainmaker, GP, Llama, Bike Radar, the 5K Runner.
They give us a lot to chew on. Let's start with the positives.
What are reviewers really liking?
Well, what's interesting is how consistent some things are
across the board. Yeah, almost everyone leads with
the weight. Oh yeah, how light are we
talking? We're talking really light,
(01:23):
about 123.5 grammes per pedal, so 246 grammes for the set.
Wow, reviewers keep calling themthe lightest Rd power metre
pedals out there. Some even say they're lighter
than standard pedals without power, like Shimano Ultegra.
Lighter than standard pedals with all the tech packed and
that's, that's pretty remarkable.
Does that lightness come at a cost though?
(01:43):
Like accuracy? That's the thing, Apparently
not. Accuracy is another huge point
reviewers hammer home Consistently excellent.
They talk about rock solid accuracy.
Benchmark stuff. It's rated at ±1%, even with
Oval chain rings, which can sometimes trip up power metres.
That's top tier standard accuracy. ±1% is the gold
(02:05):
standard, isn't it? Pretty much the highest normal
level you see advertised. Yeah, 1 reviewer, I think it was
DC Rainmaker called the data scary perfect comparing it to
other trusted sources. Scary.
Perfect. OK, I like that.
That kind of accuracy must buildconfidence.
Do reviewers trust them? Long term reliability.
(02:26):
Absolutely, that comes through loud and clear.
Multiple reviewers mentioned having high trust in Fioro,
generally based on past pedals. Right, like the older Asiomas.
Exactly. DC Rainmaker mentioned using
older Favaros for years as his benchmark for testing other
power metres. That says a lot.
Yeah, that's a strong endorsement.
And GP A Llama said something similar about the PROMX pedals,
(02:49):
the off road version which uses the same spindle tech being
super durable through years of testing.
So the feeling is the PRORS inherits that reliability.
They just work. OK.
So super light, scary accurate and reliable.
You mentioned the pod list design earlier.
Is that just looks or are there real benefits?
Oh, it's definitely functional too.
Big benefits. Putting everything inside the
(03:10):
spindle cleans up the look. Makes it look like a normal
pedal. Yeah.
Much cleaner. But crucially, it makes them
tougher. The electronics are way better
protected from pedal strikes, crashes, even just water and
grit getting in there. More confidence riding in bad
weather. That makes sense, less stuff
sticking out to get damaged. What about bike fit?
Do they mess with your setup? Another positive here.
(03:31):
They have really standard dimensions.
The Q factor, that's the width between the pedals is plus 53
millimetres. Standard Shimano Rd pedal width
basically just one millimetre wider than Durays.
So barely any difference, right?And the stack height, how high
your shoe sits above the axle, is low 10.5 millimetres.
Reviewers say this is key because it means basically no
(03:54):
compromise to your bike fit. OK, so for you the listener,
that means you probably don't need to adjust your saddle
height or cleat position when you install these.
Exactly, keeps your pedalling bio mechanics consistent.
Better comfort, maybe better power transfer, less injury
risk. It's a big win.
Definitely a win. OK, what about keeping them
powered? Battery life and charging.
They quote at least 60 hours of battery life per charge.
(04:18):
It's rechargeable. 60 hours? How does that stack up?
It's pretty good, more than enough for most people's typical
weekly writing, but it is less than some competitors.
Garmin rally pedals, for instance, often boast 100, maybe
120 hours or more. OK, so maybe not ideal for like
super long multi day stuff without a charge.
(04:39):
Potentially, yeah, you need a plan for it, but for general use
60 hours seems fine. According to reviewers, charging
uses their magnetic clip thing on the spindle.
The proprietary connector. Yes, still proprietary magnetic
clips, but the good news is the cable itself is now USBC which
is much more convenient than theold micro USB.
OK USBC is definitely better. And they mentioned the battery
(05:01):
is welded to the circuit board. Apparently helps prevent contact
issues. You know, power dropouts you
sometimes get with coin cells? Gotcha. 60 hours magnetic USBC
charging. What about connectivity and
data? What do they send out?
Full connectivity, Ant Plus and Bluetooth Smart.
And importantly they could do 3 Bluetooth connections at once.
Useful if you run, say, a head unit, A watch and maybe Swift
(05:22):
simultaneously. Three channels nice.
And the data itself, beyond justpower.
Oh yeah, you get the full suite total power, obviously, Yeah,
Cadence, left right balance since they're dual sided.
Yeah, and then all the advanced cycling dynamics.
Right, the acronyms PCOPPPSTE, What are those again quickly?
So PCO is platform centre offsetwhere you push on the pedal,
(05:46):
Power phase PP shows where in the stroke you make power, pedal
smoothness, PS and torque effectiveness TE look at how
smoothly and effectively you apply that force and rider
position tells you if you're sitting or standing.
That's a lot of data, maybe morethan most people need
day-to-day. Possibly we'll come back to that
maybe in the cons, but the date is there if you want it.
(06:07):
Fair enough. How easy are they to live with
installation, setup, maintenance?
There's another area reviewers consistently praise.
Installation is apparently supereasy, few minutes job.
Really. Yeah, you just need a regular 15
millimetre pedal spanner. No Allen key needed on the
inside of the crank arm like some pedals.
Torque it down. They recommend 3040 Newton
metres. Specify at 35 nanometers on the
pedal itself. OK, standard tool,
(06:29):
Straightforward. Set U via the Favreau Asioma.
A is also simple. Activate them, register, set
your crank length, Done. Maintenance seems easy too.
They even include the greasing tools you need.
They include the tools. That's a nice touch.
Yeah, and clipping in and out with Shimano SPDSL cleats feels
just like a normal Shimano pedal, reviewers say.
Solid, intuitive. Good and versatility.
(06:52):
Can you swap them between bikes easily?
Yes, this is a huge 1. The modularity, it's a major
advantage people highlight, especially if you ride different
disciplines. How does that work?
The core part, the spindle with all the electronics can be
easily swapped between the road pedal body, the PRORRS we're
talking about, and the off road PROMX pedal body.
(07:13):
So you could have one set of electronics and use them on your
road bike and your gravel bike. Exactly, you just buy the extra
pedal bodies which are cheaper than a whole new power metre and
swap the spindles over with basic tools.
Huge value potential there. For someone like the 5K runner
who does multiple sports, that'sprobably a big draw.
That is clever, really adds to the value.
Which brings us to price. How do they fare there?
(07:35):
This is probably their ace card honestly.
Reviewers consistently call themincredibly cost effective.
Cheaper than the competition. Yeah, often described as the
cheapest option for a quality dual sided pedal system.
We're talking around 705 EUR 789dollars, $649.
That's significantly less than, say, Garmin Rally dual sided
(07:56):
pedals. That's a big difference.
It is. And those replacement pedal
bodies we mentioned, yeah, also substantially cheaper than
competitor bodies. So the long term value looks
really good too. This combination of features,
performance and price is why yousee terms like no brainer or the
one to Beat. Wow, OK.
And build quality, do they feel solid despite being so light?
Seems so yeah. They use carbon fibre tech
(08:18):
polymers for the body, meant to be tough and shock resistant.
Inside they have durable needle roller.
Bearing needle bearings. OK, Yeah.
Rated for high loads and speed should feel smooth and reviewers
like that. They ship with genuine Shimano
SPDSL cleats, so you're good to go with quality cleats
out-of-the-box. OK, so that's a really strong
list of positives. Super light, super accurate,
(08:39):
reliable pod list design, standard fit, decent battery,
loads of data, easy to use, modular, great price, good
build. It almost sounds too good.
What's the catch? What are the downsides reviewers
pointed out? Right, There's always a flip
side, isn't there? And yes, reviewers did flag a
few things. None seem like absolute deal
(09:00):
Breakers for everyone, but they're definitely worth
considering. OK, let's hear them.
First, let's go back to battery life.
That's 60 hours. While it's fine for most, it is
significantly less than they a hundred 120 plus hours you might
get from Garmin rally. Yeah, we touched on that.
Some reviewers also wish for more advanced battery management
tools in the app. Things like setting a charge
limit to maybe 80% potentially help long term battery health,
(09:23):
or getting low battery warnings a bit earlier, say at 20%.
Small things, but noted. OK so battery life is good but
not class leading and maybe lacksome fine tuning options.
What else the. Potentially bigger one for some
riders. Cleat compatibility.
The PRORS model is only compatible with Shimano SPDSL
cleats. Only Shimano no look kyo option.
(09:43):
Not for this PRORS generation no.
Unlike Garmin Rally where you can choose a Shimano or a Look
Kyo version, Cavaro doesn't offer a look body for these new
spindle based pedals yet. Any word if that might change?
One source mentioned a rumour, maybe 2026 for a look version,
but that's just speculation right now.
If you're committed to look EEO cleats, these aren't for you
(10:05):
unless you switch systems. That's a definite limitation for
a chunk of the market. OK, What else?
The charting clips While the cable is USBC, you still need
those specific magnetic adaptersthat clip onto the spindle lens.
Right, not a direct USBC port onthe pedal.
Correct. Probably necessary for the
waterproofing and design, but slightly less convenient than a
universal port directly on the device.
(10:28):
A minor point, but there it is. Fair enough.
What about all that data? The cycling dynamics?
Any criticism there? Not about the accuracy of the
data itself that gets praised, but one reviewer, I think it was
DC Rainmaker, questioned the practical day-to-day training
value of all those advanced metrics beyond power, cadence
and balance. So like, is knowing your exact
platform centre offset going to change how you train tomorrow?
(10:51):
Kind of that idea. The reviewer felt that while
interesting, the real world applicability of some deeper
metrics for guiding training wasn't always clear for the
average rider. The core stuff is key, the rest
might be more niche. OK, installation quirks,
anything to watch out for there?Pedal spacers Sources mentioned
that using spacers can potentially mess with the power
(11:13):
readings. How so?
Because it changes the leverage slightly where the force is
measured, reviewers generally advise against using them if
possible to ensure that plus -1%accuracy holds true.
If you absolutely need spacers for your fit, it's something to
be cautious about. Gotcha, avoid spacers if you
can. What about maintenance?
(11:33):
You said tools are included, butis it effort free?
Not completely. Like any pedal, especially one
with bearings exposed near the road, they do need occasional
service. Greasing the bearings is the
main thing mentioned. It's designed to be easy with
the included tools, but it's not0 maintenance.
OK, standard procedure for pedals then.
Really. Pretty much.
Then there was this point about potential pedal body play.
(11:55):
Play as in wobble. Yeah, this came up mainly in
reviews of the PROMX, the off road version, which uses the
same spindle. Because they use needle roller
bearings, there can be a tiny amount of detectable play if you
wiggle the pedal body by hand. How much play and can you feel
it when it? Was measured at like .1
millimetres. Very very small.
(12:16):
And crucially, reviewers like GPL Llama were clear.
You cannot perceive this while writing.
It doesn't affect the feel or performance at all.
So it's technically measurable, but practically irrelevant.
That seems to be the consensus. They compared it to similar
minor play in other high end pedals.
Maybe not quite as tight as adjustable Der Ace bearings, but
(12:37):
functionally a non issue. OK, good to clarify.
Anything else on the setup side?Just two small things.
You must set your your crank length manually in the app or
your head unit. If you swap pedals between bikes
with different crank lengths, you absolutely have to remember
to change that setting, otherwise power data is wrong.
Right. Easy to forget maybe?
And like most power metres, you need to do a manual 0 offset
calibration when you install them or swap them.
(12:58):
Just a quick procedure, but necessary for consistent
accuracy. Standard power metre stuff then.
OK, so recapping the cons. Battery life is good, but not
the longest. Shimano SPDSL only for now.
Proprietary charging clips maybequestionable value in all the
dynamics metrics for some potential issues with spacers
needs occasional greasing, tiny bit of measurable but not
(13:21):
perceptible play, and manual crank length 0 offsetting that.
Sums it up pretty well. So we have this strong list of
pros, wait, accuracy, modularity, price are huge
standouts and this shorter list of cons, some minor, some
potentially significant like cleat type.
How do reviewers weigh it all up?
What's the final verdict? The final verdict across the
(13:42):
board is overwhelmingly positive, Really positive.
Yeah. Reviewers like DC Rainmaker, GP
Lama, others, they really seem to think Favreau nailed it with
these. They consistently call them the
new standard, the one to beat, ano brainer for many cyclists.
Why such strong praise despite the cons?
It's that overall package, the combination of being the
lightest, having that rock solidtrusted accuracy, the clean pod
(14:04):
list design standard fit, the modularity, and then hitting
that incredibly competitive price point, it just seems to
kick so many boxes so well. So the value proposition is just
that strong. Extremely strong, yeah.
GPL Alma basically said Farrow might have just won the power
metre game with these, at least for this segment, and DC
Rainmaker felt the price difference compared to Garmin
(14:26):
Rally was so significant it madethe Favaro the obvious choice,
leading him to buy multiple setsof the MX version himself.
So compared directly to say, Garmin Rally, the tradeoffs are
mainly battery life and cleat options for the Favreau PRORS.
That seems to be the core tradeoff identified.
Garmin gives you longer battery and look key EO options, but it
(14:46):
is significantly higher price and slightly more weight stack
height. Ferro gives you amazing value,
lighter weight, modularity but shorter battery life and
currently only Shimano SPDSL forthe road version.
And for most reviewers, the Favreau side of that trade off
wins out. For many, yes, especially
considering the price. The sentiment is that despite
the few drawbacks, the Favero Asioma PRORS is a potential gold
(15:10):
standard, particularly if you'rehappy with or already use
Shimano SPDSL cleats. The value is just exceptional.
OK, so wrapping this up, what does this all mean for you, our
listener, thinking about these pedals?
We've dived into these reviews, looked at the feathery weight,
the trusted accuracy, the pod list design, but also the
(15:31):
battery limits and cleat restrictions.
And looking at the bigger picture, you know, this feels
like pedal power metres are really maturing for variables,
seems to have ironed out earlierquirks like those pods, and
they're delivering really high performance.
Plus that clever modularity at aprice that makes dual sided
power much more accessible. Right.
So for you the key takeaway seems to be these pedals deliver
(15:52):
incredibly well on the core things you want accuracy,
reliability, low weight, easy use.
There are a few compromises, mainly battery life compared to
the very longest lasting and that Shimano only cleat system
for now, but the price reviewersthink it's almost unbeatable for
what you get which. Leads to the question you might
want to Mull over, does that package, the modularity, the
(16:13):
accuracy, the weight and especially that significant
price advantage outweigh the desire for maybe double the
battery life or the flexibility of having like key EO
compatibility that some competitors offer?
Something for you to think aboutbased on your own writing and
priorities. Thanks again for sending in the
sources that let us do this deepdive.