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SOC13: Xpedo Introduces Ultralight Flat Pedals

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While flat pedals are virtually extinct on the World Cup circuit, they’re still wildly popular at the local trail head and amongst dirt jumpers. This year, Xpedo has an extremely thin set of light weight pedals in several colors called the Spry on display.

Rotating on a combination of sealed bearings and bushing on a hollow ChroMo axle – you won’t believe the weight.

At just 250 grams a set, we can’t wait to get our hands on a pair of the wide bodied (100x106x12mm) pedals. Expected availability is mid-summer. MSRP is $79.

Clips are more your style? The recently released Baldwin pedals have graduated from prototype to production. The robust pedals come in at 332 gms with a CroMo axle pair or 292 for Ti. Well below the weight Xpedo was aiming for last year.

Also on display were several sets of mini pedals. These R-FORCE 6 pedals weight a scant 215 grams with a CroMo axle (or 170 gms with a Ti axle) ,and are perfect if you run SPDs on your road bike.

 

 

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Solo
Solo
11 years ago

Well, seems like I’ll be riding flats very soon!

Wojtek G
11 years ago

I don’t know the new models obviously, but I have Xpedo pedals in my road bike. Amazing stuff, light as heck and the bearings seem to be indestructible. The brand definitely deserves much more attention.

nsp234
nsp234
11 years ago

Saris – What’s the size of the Flats?

Sean
Sean
11 years ago

I’ve asked this before, but didn’t get an answer:

What are the advantages of super thin pedals? How is it any different than using 1cm thicker pedals with 5mm lower BB? 1cm thicker pedals would have much simpler, and would allow for better bearings.

Gravity
Gravity
11 years ago

Not to be overly pedantic, but when you show a picture a clipless pedal (which is literally a pedal without clips) and ask if ‘clips (are) more your style,’ you’re only further confusing the matter.

Gravity
Gravity
11 years ago

@sean – Thinner pedals makes for better cornering. One of the biggest drawbacks to flat pedals for many users was the fear of bashing them on a rock or tree stump, or even in the dirt coming around a tight corner.

Thin pedals also offer an advantage for bike commuters and regular riders, who can typically lower their saddle ~5mm by switching from a standard BMX pedal to a thin one, thus making it easier to put your toe down at a light without getting off the seat. I know everyone here is thinking ‘really,’ but anyone who has sold bikes for a while can tell you that this matters to many customers.

Trey R
Trey R
11 years ago

I didn’t get it either, until I borrowed some that were much thinner than my standard flats, and I had to lower my dropper 5mm. Doesn’t sound like much, but every bit counts and I knew something felt better whether it helped or not. Also, not clipping the ground just a couple of times due to a spec of extra clearance is always good. I switch clipless to flats every so often, and flats are MUCH wider, and my bike tends to snag a little more trail with flats.

Solo
Solo
11 years ago

Yes @Gravity, those things matter.
I come from BMX originally and I love flats, but I find BMX style flats too thick and heavy for AM riding, so I ride Candys, but I really miss riding flats with soft sole shoes and the posibliliy of effortlessly lowering your heels to the max that this combination give.
The downside with flats is pedal bites, specially when -like me- you hate wearing shin guards, but nobody has died from a pedal bite yet…

SmooveP
SmooveP
11 years ago

@Sean: Buying a thinner pedal is easier and cheaper than having a new frame made with a lower BB. Unless you do it by just letting a few psi of air out of your tires 😉

Ham-planet
Ham-planet
11 years ago

@Sean The closer the foot is to the pedal spindle, the less unwanted torque around the spindle there is, which makes it easier to keep the pedal at the appropriate attitude. Other benefits include lower CoG and greater ground clearance.

Mindless
Mindless
11 years ago

Thinner pedal is not the same as lower BB. Keeping the same pedaling circle and distance to the seat would also require shorter cranks – lowering the leverage accordingly, and will result in a much worse clearance. Keeping the cranks the same would cause even worse clearance problems. Every mm saved on pedal thickness effectively adds 2 mm of clearance.

That, and you feet are far more stable when closer to the pedal axle. Big difference. Riding thick pedals now feels like walking on stilts.

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