Pronounced “tri-ax”, the new 3ax clipless pedals introduce sideways tilt to your foot, allowing it to move in a more natural motion as you push down. They claim this makes you more comfortable, more powerful and less likely to endure repetitive use injury.
The secret is the ability for the pedals to roll along their longitudinal (nose to tail) axis, with springs inside to add tension so they don’t merely float and feel unstable. It’s only 2º in either direction, but they say it’s enough to maintain better overall foot/ankle/shin alignment. The result? Your knees end up with an average 17% less sideways movement, which means less strain on the joint, and overall efficiency gains of up to 5.47%.
UPDATE: Current prototype weight is 188g per pedal (376g / pair), but they are working to bring that down before production.
In addition to the 2º of tilt left and right, you’ll have the option of 0º, 4.5º 0r 9º of float thanks to their Look Keo cleat compatibility.
Inside are two metal spring plates that compress a coil spring as the pedal tilts from side to side. The design was tested and refined by lab use, real world riding and computer assistance from TSG Group, a well-known engineering firm in the Netherlands.
VO2 Max testing showed a 3.3% reduction in oxygen use, and EMG measurements showed efficiency gains of up to 5.47%. They say those gains are made by reducing the effort needed to push your knees inward or outward to compensate for the fixed position other pedals place your feet in. Indeed, foot pressure tests confirmed that there was much less pressure placed on the outside of the foot. Considering their research showed that 96% of riders’ physiology ends up trying to tilt the foot in such a way that more pressure is put on the outside edge, this should be good news for all of us!
The pedal body is alloy with CNC finishing and powder coating, rolling on hardened steel spindles.
The 3ax will come in Ruby Red, Deep Black and Stealth Gray color options. A second Early Bird round has opened up on Kickstarter, offering a pair in any color for $199 with free shipping to the U.S. or E.U. Prices go up from there, with various backer deals and packages available. Shipping starts in December if all goes as planned, and eventual retail is $299 per pair.
