I've been out of the loop on flat pedals for a while, but I've been riding flats more of late, and enjoying it. I'd like some better feeling pedals though. I'm on Straitline AMPs now, and they're okay, but the bushing system isn't great and I'd like something a little bigger and more concave feeling. My feet aren't huge (10 US/44 Euro) but I could still go for some more surface area, and I definitely want a deeper feeling concave shape. Lighter is obviously cool, all else being equal, but it's not a top priority. The Specialized Boomslang looks really well thought out, but a bit expensive, and I've heard really good things about the Chromag Scarab. Any other suggestions?
Concave flat pedals
- Thread starter HAB
- Start date
Apparently some flat pedals can be convex yet give you this concave sensation.
The Scarab platform is awesome. The spindles are shit though. If you want to buy a pair of spindles, i'll mail you the pedals. I keep bending them. Currently, I'm trying out Canfield pedals and am impressed... its easy to reposition my feet and the pedal strikes have diminished. Until theres an obvious defect i will be continuing to buy them.
Are you saying that the Chromags are convex and have poor grip, or are you talking about the Canfield? I'm honestly unclear on what your point is.
I'm not sure but i think hes finding fault in my entire post... to which i will say the Scarab body is great, just for how/where i ride, i bend the spindles... i originally sought out the Scarab because the body was spaced off the crank arm more than most. It turns out that feature also bends them spindles easy.
I know the canfields arent concave and was a skeptic but when i am riding i aint thinking about my feet blowing off. They function great and am offering up the experience because i moved off the Scarabs into the Canfields...
I know the canfields arent concave and was a skeptic but when i am riding i aint thinking about my feet blowing off. They function great and am offering up the experience because i moved off the Scarabs into the Canfields...
If the Boomslang meets your weight criteria, I think you'll struggle to find a better performing pedal.
I don't own them, but I've ridden them and they strike me as one of those products where the designer put far more time into it than every competing product by a long shot. Can't comment on long term durability for obvious reasons, but the set I rode was on one of the vanzac's bikes (mid-season) and they were still smooth.
I don't own them, but I've ridden them and they strike me as one of those products where the designer put far more time into it than every competing product by a long shot. Can't comment on long term durability for obvious reasons, but the set I rode was on one of the vanzac's bikes (mid-season) and they were still smooth.
I've been running Scarabs on my trail and dh/fr bikes for the past 3 years. I had to rebuild them and replace the bearings/bushing 2 years in on each set - not bad. I haven't had an issue bending axles but I'm also more into natural DH and don't hit really big jumps.
I've been running the OneUp alum flats for a bit now, and love them so far. Big roomy platform, but they're quite thin thanks to the large bearing that's flush with crank interface, so they've been less rock-strike prone than thicker profile pedals. Damn light too. Can't say much about durability at this point, but the bearing rebuild looks dead easy.
They're supposed to be slightly convex, but I can't tell the difference with my other flats that are concave. In fact, the OneUps are noticeably more grippy IMO (could be the longer pins tho). And speaking of pins, you can adjust the pins closest to the axle to give it a "concave" feel.
They're supposed to be slightly convex, but I can't tell the difference with my other flats that are concave. In fact, the OneUps are noticeably more grippy IMO (could be the longer pins tho). And speaking of pins, you can adjust the pins closest to the axle to give it a "concave" feel.
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I like my Canfields as well.
The Lexon Paradox.
I enjoy my Deity T-Mac pedals. They have a nice profile, good size platform, not bad on weight, but a little pricey.
-Brett
-Brett
my kona wah wahs haven’t let me down yet...
6'2" @ 220lbs + gear.
Have two pair of Spank Spikes.
One pair has had issues with play and now has Ti spindles and is on the trailbike.
Another set on the freeride bike with no issues after several years.
DH bike has Gamut Podiums which after this season are still like butter.
*...err...make that - the Podiums have great grip and after a season they lack any play and are so smooth pedaling, it is like they are greased with butter.
*Edit for the Peanut Gallery
Have two pair of Spank Spikes.
One pair has had issues with play and now has Ti spindles and is on the trailbike.
Another set on the freeride bike with no issues after several years.
DH bike has Gamut Podiums which after this season are still like butter.
*...err...make that - the Podiums have great grip and after a season they lack any play and are so smooth pedaling, it is like they are greased with butter.
*Edit for the Peanut Gallery
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You didn't say which bike these should go on? I discovered two cheap pedals that I really dig: Nukeproof Electron and Xpedo Spry. I switch them around from the pumptrack bike to the trail bike and really like both of them.
Spry is not as grippy as other options but super light and surprisingly solid. I would not use them where it is rocky but did hit roots and smaller rocks and they seem to be fine (minus cosmetic damage). I am in the process of tracking down pointier pins to make them grippier.
The Electrons were super cheap and are performing nicely. They have good grip with shoes with soles with more flex like 5/10 Freeriders or skate shoes but seem less grippy with 5/10 Impacts, presumably because of the stiffer sole. I really dig them on the trail bike and would also consider using them on the DH bike, although here I like to be able to use the Impacts.
Spry is not as grippy as other options but super light and surprisingly solid. I would not use them where it is rocky but did hit roots and smaller rocks and they seem to be fine (minus cosmetic damage). I am in the process of tracking down pointier pins to make them grippier.
The Electrons were super cheap and are performing nicely. They have good grip with shoes with soles with more flex like 5/10 Freeriders or skate shoes but seem less grippy with 5/10 Impacts, presumably because of the stiffer sole. I really dig them on the trail bike and would also consider using them on the DH bike, although here I like to be able to use the Impacts.
Still on DMR Vaults, love them on my trail bike. BMX bike has those giant waffle iron Pedaling Innovations things. Switched back and forth recently and honestly came to love them for the BMX application.
Yeah - I like the Spanks too (I've been running the same set of Spike Ti for four years now) with 1x bushing change and a single axle (one side) replacement after clipping a rock pretty hard. I use a higher load grease in the bearing to get more life out of them.
I'm running the Oozy on my trailbike and will be switching to the Oozy on the DH bike soon too, they are dead flat but the Oozy has slightly longer pins and more material removed inside so they have better grip.
I'm a bit weight conscious so these are my choice over the Boomslang (Oozy is 360g even with stock steel axle). A fair few guys I know are running the DMR Vault with success too, good option.
I think you'd be happy with any of those pedals.
I'm running the Oozy on my trailbike and will be switching to the Oozy on the DH bike soon too, they are dead flat but the Oozy has slightly longer pins and more material removed inside so they have better grip.
I'm a bit weight conscious so these are my choice over the Boomslang (Oozy is 360g even with stock steel axle). A fair few guys I know are running the DMR Vault with success too, good option.
I think you'd be happy with any of those pedals.
OK I figured it out. If you had a pedal that consisted of orthogonal steps that on average created a convex shape but for any local continuous section it would still indeed be flat. Concave flat pedals, rectilinear shit for the win!
are you looking exclusively at allow or are you considering composite as well?
I'm skeptical about plastic.
Strange my Spikes have pretty long pins. I wonder if something changed on the newer models or did my mate that sold me his simply tinkered with them. Though I'm biased since I've finally replaced my 7 year old 5.10s after the sole literally fell off and everything with a shoe that's not falling apart will feel better.
The Spank Oozy's are not as shin friendly (the pedal bodies have more sharp edges), but have worked pretty well on my trail bike. I've got a set of RF Atlas on my dj, have destroyed a set of Point1 Podiums (Gamut), briefly had a set of Twenty4 Prerunners on my dj, and currently have OG Crampons on my bmx. My favorite flat pedal is the Crampon Ultimate. I haven't tried the trails yet - those might be next. Not sure I need/ want the bigger platform though. I have noticed more pedal strikes with the larger platforms on the Oozy's, but they're also not as thin as the Crampons. (And they're on a new frame which has a lower bb, so that may be the real reason)
Enduro proven!
I present you with exhibit A: "Narrow-wide" chainrings.
Most other industries would call it staggered or altered or something other than an oxymoron. The lizards prevailed!
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Anyone know whens those XT flats hitting the shelves?
Durability. Primarily ripping pins out, but also the platform itself. I know they're cheap, but I just don't want to deal with it.
I run Saints on my bar bike?
My biggest problem is that such wide pedals are much more capable of imparting excessive torsional stress on a 15 year old Fuji touring bike as compared to regular roadie pedals. Have suffered crank, BB, stem, hub and front wheel failures. They work great for stop light sprints and the occasional curb huck though.
Some update on Boomslang pedals. Inner bearings do not last that long, which on itself wouldn't be a problem, as the bearing is a standard sized one. But it is nearly impossible to get the cover/axle off without the stupid Spesh proprietary tool and that fucking tool is not available over here. A riding buddy of mine went to school with one of the Spesh reps over here and he told him straight away to bring the pedals to the next shop and tell them that they have to warranty it and he should refer to him (the rep). Problem was, I tried that route as well, the shop simply refused to do it first. So without that backup - no chance...
Pedals were half a year old btw.
Your personal xp may vary, but at least in Yrup it's a mess, again. Same like with Spesh frame bearing puller kit for dealers, which simply is not available.
Pedals were half a year old btw.
Your personal xp may vary, but at least in Yrup it's a mess, again. Same like with Spesh frame bearing puller kit for dealers, which simply is not available.