Xpedo Thrust Omni Powermeter Pedals

Pedal-based power measurement on bicycles is no longer rocket science – it’s a fiercely competitive market with a variety of approaches, platforms, and pedal cleat options. Whether single-sided or dual-sided, for road, gravel, or trail: anyone can now measure watts to their heart's content at every price point.

This summer, the selection is getting even bigger, and the decision even harder. Xpedo, the pedal manufacturer with roots in the USA and Taiwan, is launching five power meters at once with its new Omni Power Series. All are pedal-based, versatile across road, gravel, cross-country, cyclocross, and enduro disciplines, and pleasantly affordable.
What was still a prototype at last year’s Eurobike is now available on the market as a production model.

In this article, we provide you with a compact overview of the entire Xpedo Power Pedal line-up. Additionally, we share our first impressions of the Thrust Omni, the road-oriented model with Look-Kéo compatibility. For the past three months, the pedals have been spinning under our feet both outdoors and indoors. Time for an initial review.

Whether road bike, gravel bike, or mountain bike, the five new Omni pedals are based on Xpedo's proven platforms: Thrust, Sonik, Baldwin, CXR, and M-Force 8. All models offer precise, dual-sided power measurement at a comparatively attractive price.

For this purpose, the existing pedal models have been enhanced with a universal measurement unit, housed in a sleek battery pod located at the pedal thread. The Q-factor increases by only two to three millimeters depending on the model. Installation is just as straightforward as with any standard pedal – no special cranks, chainrings, or additional adapters are required.

With a maximum measurable power of up to 3,000 watts, a stated accuracy of ±1 percent, and an overall low profile, the Xpedo power meters immediately position themselves in the high-performance category. Thanks to their compact design, they remain pleasantly lightweight while still being robust enough for riders with a maximum weight of up to 130 kilograms.

XPedo Omni Line-Up

The measured values are transmitted via ANT+ or Bluetooth LE V4.1 to compatible devices and common third-party apps. All relevant performance data, which can be expected from modern power meters, are supported:

• Power
• Cadence
• Left-right balance
• Torque efficiency
• Pedal smoothness
• Power phase
• Rider position

Surprisingly confident: Despite being a newcomer in the power meter segment, Xpedo directly promises industry-leading accuracy and measurement range.

The scope of delivery includes not only the two pedals but also two cleats with screws as well as four spacers for the pedal axle.

A total of four Allen keys are required for assembly and adjustment:
• 2.5 mm for closing the battery compartment
• 3 mm for adjusting the release tension of the pedal spring
• 4 mm for the cleat screws
• 8 mm for mounting the pedals onto the crank

After removing the insulation strip from the battery compartment and greasing the pedal threads, we mount the pedals onto the crank arms using an 8 mm Allen key. The recommended tightening torque is between 35 and 40 Nm. Generally, this means: tighten firmly. If the crank manufacturer specifies a different torque value, that value should of course be followed.

Note #1: If the crank manufacturer recommends the use of washers or if the pedal interface has a recess, the included spacers should be used.
Before final tightening, it should also be ensured that there is a minimum clearance of 0.5 mm between the battery pod and the crank.

Note #2: Any cadence sensor present on the crank should be removed, as it may cause interference with the Omni pedal.

After properly tightening the pedals, the battery pod is aligned parallel to the crank arm so that the short tip extends beyond the crank arm. Then, the screws of the battery compartment are tightened using a 2.5 mm Allen key. The recommended tightening torque is 1 to 1.5 Nm. Once tightened, the pod remains securely in the chosen position, and the LEDs on the power meter light up – the system is now activated.

Note #3: After tightening the screws, the battery pod must not be twisted or moved. Improper handling could lead to irreparable damage.

Note #4: There must be a minimum gap of 1 mm between the battery pod and the shoe. If this gap is not maintained, the cleat position must be adjusted accordingly.

After installation, it’s time to pair the power meter with the head unit and calibrate it before the first ride. Pairing with our Wahoo devices via ANT+ worked seamlessly as usual: Wake up the pedals with a few crank rotations, search for sensors on the bike computer, select the Xpedo device by serial number (which is also printed on the battery pod), input the crank length, and the process is almost complete.

According to the manufacturer, calibration is only recommended after installation or a battery change. To do this, we position the pedals vertically (6 or 12 o’clock), fully relieve them of any load, and press “Calibrate” on the bike computer. After a few seconds, a positive confirmation appears. Finally, a few strong pedal strokes are enough, and cadence, power, and other metrics are displayed on the screen.

On the smart trainer, we also paired the pedals via Bluetooth with the MyWoosh app. Here too, the principle works simply and reliably: Wake up the pedals, search for power meters in the app, and the Xpedo Omni pedals appear in the device list - either the left one with "L" or the right one with "R" in the name. Regardless of which pedal we pair, the total power of both legs is always displayed and recorded correctly. 

The user manual also mentions an Xpedo app, which is supposed to allow both calibrations and firmware updates. Apparently, this app is currently only available for Android or has not yet been listed in the iOS App Store. We will inquire with Xpedo to find out more about this.

Mounted, paired, set up, calibrated, and ready to ride – absolutely foolproof. We tested the Xpedo Omni with various Wahoo bike computers as well as the MyWoosh app on the smart trainer. The result: Top-notch. The easy swap makes the system ideal for use on multiple bikes.

Our Omni Thrust Test power meter impresses with its elegant, one-piece pedal body made of carbon composite. With only 287 grams per pair, the weight remains pleasantly low. The wide cleat platform ensures efficient power transfer and high stability. Spring tension, stack height, and click mechanism are identical to the standard pedal without a power meter. Clipping in and out works just as smoothly as usual, and the triple bearings with precision ball bearings promise high durability – even in wet and dirty conditions.

What we particularly liked during the three-month test: The power meter was immediately active after just a few pedal strokes and consistently transmitted accurate values. There were no connection drops, no interruptions – a factor that is especially important when training indoors. Our Wahoo Kickr Rollr Smart Trainer only works with an active power meter. Any failure, even for just a second, would generate an error message and interrupt the training session. As long-suffering users of a 4iiii and Shimano Dura-Ace power meter, we know what we’re talking about. NoPain is undoubtedly the happiest person since he was finally able to replace the abysmally poorly functioning Shimano PM with the Xpedo Omni.

Even during significant temperature fluctuations – such as transitioning from a cool basement to scorching midday heat – the system remained relatively unfazed. Even without auto-calibration, everything worked reliably, and the measured power values remained precise. The temperature compensation seems to be functioning properly.

With one exception, all power and cadence data were recorded reliably and could be easily analyzed with common training apps.
The exception: During our very first ride, there was an issue. After about an hour of riding in high outdoor temperatures, the power measurement suddenly froze at around 200 watts, and the LED on the right pedal stayed permanently red. A hard reset was necessary. For this, we unscrewed the three small screws of the battery compartment, briefly removed the battery, reinserted it, screwed it back, and recalibrated. After that, everything ran smoothly, and the error has not occurred again since.

Currently, we have documented nearly 60 hours of operating time, and the power meter is still running absolutely stable. Since halfway through the test period, it has been permanently mounted on the indoor bike and performs just as reliably there.

Xpedo states the accuracy of its Omni Dual Pedal Power Meter to be ±1%—at least on paper, that sounds like a reliable tool for targeted training control. According to the manufacturer, the cadence measurement is also said to work particularly directly and precisely. We tested the Omni Thrust multiple times in outdoor use, paired with a Wahoo Bolt, and recorded the values in parallel with a freshly calibrated crank-based p2m NG G-X on a Wahoo Roam.

For the analysis, we used the paid DC Rainmaker app. And indeed, the analysis confirmed what we already felt during rides with our "seat-of-the-pants meter": The values are very precise, consistent, and reproducible. The average offset in the generally challenging measurement range of 150 to 200 watts was about 3-6 watts but decreased with increasing power.

Of course, we cannot say with absolute certainty which system provides the objectively "correct" values. However, with an average deviation of around 4 watts per ride, the accuracy should be acceptable for the majority.

Our p2m showed slightly higher values over the entire recording period. The average deviation was around 4 watts.

In terms of left-right balance, the Xpedo data seems more plausible to us, as measurements are actually taken on both sides here. The p2m only provides a calculated distribution based on one-sided measurement.

The cadence values are fundamentally consistent, although the average is slightly lower with the p2m. The analysis also shows that the p2m displays zero values more frequently than the Xpedo. This could be due to a design-related slight delay in the cadence detection of the p2m NG. In this regard as well, the Xpedo data seems more plausible to us.

In the analysis of the mean-max power curve, it was shown that the measured values in the lower power range exhibited an average offset of about 3-6 watts. As power output increased, this deviation continuously decreased, until the curves aligned more closely at higher wattages.

With the Thrust Omni power meter, Xpedo delivers a thoroughly successful entry into the market of pedal-based power measurement - and at a price that brings a satisfied nod from ambitious road cyclists.
In our multi-month test operation, the system impressed with stable data transmission, solid measurement accuracy, and a pleasantly straightforward setup. Installation is as simple as with traditional pedals. Those who own multiple bikes or take the pedals to training camps will quickly appreciate this flexibility.

The measured power and cadence values were consistent and, in our comparison tests with a crank-based reference system, absolutely traceable in the evaluation. Even with temperature fluctuations, indoor sessions, and long training blocks, performance remained stable. No connection drops, no interruptions – install and forget.

No advantage without disadvantage: Using CR2032 button cells instead of an integrated battery ultimately comes down to personal preference. On the one hand, there’s no cable clutter during charging, but on the other hand, 50 hours of runtime on ultra-distances can quickly become a test of patience or perhaps a welcome excuse for a longer coffee stop.
Another minor drawback is the exposed battery pod: visually not to everyone’s taste and potentially susceptible to damage during rough, imprecise clipping in or out maneuvers. However, in regular road use, we had no issues with it.

All in all, this is a reliable, easy-to-use, and solidly built power meter. Those who value precise power measurement, high durability, and maximum compatibility with a variety of bikes will find a well-rounded package here with only a few compromises.