Hands On With The New Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono 'Cycling Edition'

The new Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono 'Cycling Edition' is a significant evolution in the FXD lineup. As the first Pelagos not created explicitly for watersport, it shows us that Tudor has bigger plans for the collection. Designed for cyclists, the new FXD is a marvel in carbon composite, with a jaw-dropping weight of just 60g (71g on strap). This feather-light weight makes it an ideal companion for cycling enthusiasts or anyone looking for a high-performance yet comfortable watch.

The FXD 'Cycling Edition' stands out due to its design evolution from the FXD Alinghi Red Bull Racing model. Tudor has refined this edition by adding a fixed bezel, a thinner case back, and a thinner sapphire crystal.

These adjustments have reduced the thickness to 13.30mm, making it slightly slimmer than the Alinghi, which is just over 13.5mm. These subtle tweaks enhance the wearability and aesthetics, giving the watch a sleek, streamlined appearance.

The clean dial is another standout feature. With only two lines of text compared to the Alinghi’s four, the Cycling Edition presents a more minimalist and uncluttered look. Moving out to the sloped rehaut, you'll find a red spiral tachymeter scale, displaying speeds appropriate for a bike rather than a car or airplane. This red spiral is the same hue and thickness as the subdial surrounds, giving the pared-down dial some nice balance.

One of the biggest selling points of this watch is its movement, despite its age; Tudor's MT5813 was released in 2017 and its Breitling B01 base in 2009. This particular architecture, a vertical clutch column wheel chronograph, is a favorite amongst enthusiasts, and Tudor perennially offers it at the lowest MSRP (~$5,000 rather than Breitling's offerings which fall closer to $9,000). With a high-tech, hyper-light carbon case and fresh modern design to boot, this makes for quite the value proposition. 

Tudor is clearly onto something exciting with the Pelagos line. The blend of innovative materials, reliable mechanics, and modern design choices shows that they’re pushing the boundaries of what a sports watch can be. It's hard not to wonder what’s next for Tudor’s FXD range—perhaps an F1 RB Visa Cash App FXD Chrono? Whatever Tudor has in store, the future of the Pelagos line is looking bright!

What do you think of the Tudor Pelagos FXD Cycling Edition? Let us know in the comments below, and share what you hope to see next from the brand!

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