These new Crankbrothers Stamp 0 plastic platform pedals mold in dozens of nicely-designed traction pins to give new mountain bikers a taste of the grip of a proper premium flat pedal without the risk of shredded shins. Crankbrothers created the new Stamps not just to have a cheaper, entry-level flat pedal – and they are the cheapest Stamp yet – but also to offer a performance pedal for riders afraid of tearing up their shins on sharp metal traction pins.
Crankbrothers Stamp 0 plastic platform pedals & molded pins
Simply put, these are affordable plastic flat pedals with some of the grip you can only get from proper metal pins.
Crankbrothers wanted to make a friendly flat pedal, something solid and reliable for new mountain bikers or more casual riding, but less intimidating than premium flat pedals with aggressive pins. They call the new Stamp 0 “perfect for riders who want stability and grip without the sharp edges“.
So how do they ride?
First Impressions Review
Let’s be honest, these new Crankbrothers Stamp 0 plastic flat pedals don’t offer the same level of grip as any of the higher-up platforms in the Stamp family with replaceable traction pins. Or pretty much any concave pedal with replaceable traction pins. But at the same time, my shins and calves are already torn up enough as it is from years of riding aggressive pedals. And I totally get the desire not to worry about bleeding on a bike ride.
Interestingly, the molded traction pins do a pretty good job on grip when riding off-road. And they are certainly some of the grippiest molded plastic flat pedals that I have ever ridden.
I think that particularly comes down to the use of different pin shapes. There are 3 square pyramid pins on both the leading & trailing edges of each pedal. And those get combined with two rows of 3 longer, angled pin ridges in between.
While a sharp metal traction pin can just dig into the soft rubber of your sole to find grip, these have to hunt more to find a spot where they can slot into the tread of your shoe. And yet, the varied arrangement of the molded pins does an admirable job of finding a connection between pedal & shoe. Admittedly, I think most often, only at most half of the pins find a solid connection at a time.
But that seems to be enough in most situations.
Real-world grip on plastic pedals?
These aren’t going to replace proper pedals for hard-charging gravity riding. But they do seem to be a good fit for Crankbrothers’ target of new mountain bikers, city commuters, and casual pumptrack riders.
Crankbrothers say they designed the Stamp 0’s ‘shin-friendly’ molded traction pins for reliable grip with all types of shoes. But I did notice that the Stamp 0 pedals actually seem to work best on non-cycling-specific shoes. My stickiest Five Ten, Leatt & Crankbrothers shoes didn’t seem to have enough gaps in their tread to really lock into these pedals. But a pair of Vans and some sandals offered surprisingly stable grip, furthering the idea that these would make great shoes for cruising around town or turning pumptrack laps with friends.
Tech details
- injection molded reinforced nylon body
- chromoly steel spindle
- 2 user-serviceable IGUS glide bushings per pedal & ‘premium ‘seals
- 12 molded contact point pins per side
- thin 13.5-15.5mm, concave shape
- angled outer edges to deflect rock impacts
- 5-year warranty
- two sizes available: S or L
- Small is 101mm wide x 101.6mm deep for US size 5-10 shoes (EU37-43)
- 305g per Small pair claimed (307g actual)
- Large is 112mm wide x 115.6mm deep for US size 10-15 shoes (EU43-49)
- 331g per Large pair claimed (334g actual)
Crankbrothers Stamp 0 – Pricing, options & availability
These new molded-plastic Crankbrothers Stamp 0 platform pedals sell for just $45 / 45€. They come in two sizes Small & Large, both with a decently wide platform, so riders can pick how big they want to go to best match their shoe width. The Stamp 0 flat pedals also come in four colors, so you can stick with black to be conservative, go brown to blend in with the dirt on the trail, or go bright red or turquoise to add a pop of color to your bike setup. Get them now, directly from Crankbrothers or through your local bike dealer.
