Praxis Works introduced the Podium flat pedals back in 2024, essentially creating a revised and modernized version of the Gamut Podium. Ultimately, Praxis changed the name to the Brodium, and those have remained the only flat pedal in the brand’s lineup ever since. Until today, that is, as the brand is introducing the Brodium SL, a new, lighter-weight and more refined version of its flagship flat pedal. The Brodium SL looks nearly identical to the standard Brodium, but weighs 36g less for the pair.
It’s also worth pointing out that Praxis also just gave the standard Brodium an update, with a refined body, hollow spindle, and larger bearings for durability. The Gen 2 Brodium weighs a claimed 400g/pair, and retails for $140.
Praxis Works Brodium SL Details
One of the most obvious differences between the standard Brodium and SL version is the lighter weight. At 364g for the pair, they are lighter than most similarly sized aluminum-bodied flat pedals on the market, and 36g lighter than the Brodium. Praxis says it achieved this weight savings with a lighter precision-machined 6061-T6 aluminum body and a new hollow Chromoly steel spindle.
The platform of the Brodium SL measures 115mm L x 112mm W. The pedal body is symmetrically shaped, although chamfering on the leading edges results in an asymmetrical platform/pin layout when viewed from above and from the side. The Brodium SL has a concave profile with 3.5mm of concavity, with a maximum thickness of 18mm at the leading edge and a minimum thickness of 11mm.
The Brodium SL has 12 pins per side; 11 around the perimeter, plus one more centrally located by the pedal spindle. Riders can optimize grip and pedal feel by adding pin height spacers or by removing pins entirely. The backloading pins have 3mm Allen heads and are M4-threaded so other M4-threaded grub pins can also be used. The pedals come with 48 pins preinstalled, plus 12 extras and 48 pin spacers.
According to Praxis, the Brodium SL features an updated hollow, heat-treated, high-grade Chromoly steel spindle, that uses an 8mm Allen for pedal installation/removal. The pedals spin on one Igus Bushing and “2 high-load Enduro Gothic Arch Bearings per pedal.” The Gothic Arch Design reportedly doubles the points of bearing contact to four, which is claimed to improve durability, comparatively speaking.
The Brodium SL pedals are fully rebuildable and Praxis sells pedal axle kits ($25), rebuild kits ($25), and pins/spacers ($17) separately. They also come with a 2-year warranty against defects in materials and craftsmanship.
Pricing and Availability
The Brodium SL pedals went live on the Praxis website today, but estimated availability is mid- to late-August. We’re told they will initially be available in Black and Silver, with Kold coming shortly after (+/- 30 days). Once they are available, the Brodium SL pedals will retail for $200. Head to the Praxis website to learn more or find a dealer near you.
First Ride Impressions
Right out of the box, the Brodium SL pedals give a very strong first impression. They look absolutely fantastic in silver with intricate machining visible around the outer edge of the pedal body, and all around the inside, too. The platform size is relatively large, and with 12 pins per side, standing 7mm tall at the leading and trailing edges and 5.5mm tall on the side/middle, they look like they will be very grippy. They’ve also got quite a bit of visible concavity, which adds to the impression of grippiness.
My test pedals weighed in at 182 grams each, adding up to 364 grams for the pair, which is exactly what Praxis claims. I measured the leading and trailing edges of the platform at 18mm, and the thinnest part of the pedal at 12mm. It’s worth noting that the spindle/center of the pedal is a touch thicker than the outer edge at 15mm, although the central pin keeps the sole from contacting that part of the body. As mentioned above, they come with a bag of spare pins and pin spacers to fine tune grip.
Before riding with them, I pulled the spindle to see if servicing them was as easy as it seems. Pulling the spindle requires just 8mm and 3mm Allen keys, and it comes out very easily. A full rebuild would require some more tools, most of which are very common. Based on the instructions, it appears to be pretty straightforward.
I installed the pedals on the new Yeti LT that I’m currently testing, and I’ve got a couple of shorter rides on them so far. My first impression is that they are just as grippy as they look. On the descents, the 12 pin layout and concave profile provides unwavering grip on the soles of my Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA shoes. My feet haven’t even come close to bouncing off, and the large platform provides plenty of support both fore/aft and laterally. As someone who spends the majority of time riding clipless, I’m prone to pulling my feet off of flat pedals in technical uphill sections. Riding with the Brodium SL, I’ve pulled my feet off far less than with the other flats in my current rotation, the OneUp Wave.
The tradeoff, however, is that repositioning the feet requires a deliberate unweighting of the foot to get the pins to fully release from the sole, although this is pretty common with virtually all flat pedals that deliver this much grip. But, with the size of the platform and number of pins, I found there to be quite a bit of margin for error with my foot placement.
I wear a size 9.5 US flat pedal shoe, and the Brodium SL’s platform size feels great underfoot to me. Praxis doesn’t specify a shoe size range for the pedals, but I’d suspect that they might be a bit large for riders with feet at the smaller end of the spectrum, say size 8 US and under. I held my wife’s size 7.5 US Women’s shoe up to the pedal for comparison, and it seemed potentially a bit excessive.
My Takeaway
I’ve only got a couple of rides on them so far, but the Brodium SL pedals have been delivering in the important areas of grip and support while coming in at a competitive weight. They look great, appear to be very well made, and should be relatively easy to service when needed. I’m looking forward to spending a bunch more time testing them, and will try and report back with a full review in time.
