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Combination pedals, with a clip-in side and a flat side, offer the best of both worlds. Until now, however, manufacturers have mostly targeted classic trekking and touring cyclists, fitting the flat side with surfaces that offered little grip. But the slippery and undersized standing surfaces made cycling no fun at all. They are now also available in off-road versions with plenty of grip.
New from Tyrol: Tatze Two Face
With 14 pins on the flat side, you stand extremely securely on the solid platform of the combination pedal Tatze Two Face. A double row on the crank side ensures a secure grip even when your foot doesn’t make perfect contact. Thanks to targeted resistance, the pedal always remains in the desired position. According to the manufacturer, this remains the case right up to the end of the pedal’s service life. The latter is said to be particularly long-lasting thanks to a double-sealed, 15-millimetre-wide plain bearing and an industrial-grade bearing. The Two Face comes with its own cleats but is also SPD-compatible. Two versions are available: With titanium axles, the pair weighs just 390 grams and costs 219 euros, but is only recommended for riders weighing up to 90 kilograms. The 435-gram version with a steel axle is available for 159 euros and is also suitable for heavier riders.
New edition: Funn Mamba SS
Although the Funn Mamba Single Sided combination pedal – with eleven pins on the flat side and four on the clip-in side – isn’t quite as aggressive as the Tatze Two Face, it still provides a firm grip. Here, too, the internal seals create a slight resistance that keeps the pedal in place. The large cage is bevelled and flattened at the sides. It is just 13.4 millimetres high, so your foot sits comfortably close to the pedal axle. With a steel axle, the Mamba pedal weighs 446 grams and costs 129 euros. The pedal is available in five different colours from specialist retailers.
Trail pedals: Review in BIKE 9/2018
When it came to double-sided clipless pedals, one thing had been clear for years: no matter which model market leader Shimano sent us to test, the pedal with the SPD mechanism would come out on top. When it comes to quality, reliability and handling, no other manufacturer has so far been able to hold a candle to the Japanese firm. The competition has usually only managed to stand out by tweaking the weight for tuning enthusiasts or by anodising the pedal bodies in bright colours for colour aficionados.
However, when it comes to trail pedals in particular, manufacturers are flooding the market with solutions, some of which are quite impressive. We’ve put six models with a larger contact area up against the classic, the Shimano XT Trail Pedal, bolted to the cranks. A common feature of all models is the larger contact area around the binding. The pedal cages themselves are not just for show – they protect the clip-in mechanism and, thanks to their flattened sides, prevent your foot from getting caught on rocks or roots.
Crankbrothers, HT, Issi, Look, Sixpack and Time entered their cage pedals into the race against Shimano. What else do these models have to offer trail cyclists? Do the pedal cages really provide greater stability, and do they offer grip even when unclipped, should you ever need to tackle a tricky section without being clipped in? Our test provides the answers.
Sebastian Brust
Editor
