Hi,
Looking to buy the Favero MX-2. Investing in the Favero, although I currently have the NG-Eco on my other MTB. I’m wondering if it’ll measure power if I’m not clipped in. I’ll be using it for ultra endurance races this year where the possibility of broken cleats is a possibility.
In case someone steers me to just use my Power2max NG-Eco, it is only compatible with my SrAm crankset(3-bolt direct mount). I may switch to an XTR transmission. The Favero will give me the option to chose between Sram and Shimano transmission.
I am not 100% on this, but I would certainly think that the MX-2’s would measure power, even when not clipped in, since they are measuring the power/pressure/torque/whatever put onto the pedal, and not specifically using the cleat. I would guess that you might lose some reliability of other measures (like PCO) if not able to use a cleat, but the power should be OK. I would think you could test this in advance by going on a ride using any shoe without a cleat attached.
3 Likes
We’d second what @NigelTufnel11 mentioned above – the power meter should still give you solid readings, even if you’re not clipped in/break a cleat.
I’ve used a few different road-style power pedals (including the Favero Assiomas), and I’m 99% certain they were still spitting data out at me when I’ve missed clipping in at the start of a race/ride before…
And as also stated already, you can test it out easily enough by riding without being clipped in. 
Now let’s just hope you don’t break any cleats… I think a broken cleat in an ultra-endurance race would be worse than inaccurate power data!! 
1 Like
Yep. The pedals measure the forces on the pedal spindle and rotation of the crank. It doesn’t know whether you’re clipped in or not. Of course not being clipped in will affect the forces that you apply to the pedal spindle, like not being able to pull up on a pedal for example, but that would be a change in actual power that the pedals will accurately reflect.
Fair enough. I guess its the power transfer loss that will be in inconsistent not the reading.
Thanks y’all