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Apart from the binding mechanism, which the Americans borrowed from Shimano, the Minnesota-based component manufacturer goes with the CTRL Trail Pedal a completely unique approach. This is refreshing in an area that is not exactly bursting with innovation.
The exciting thing about the CTRL: Wolf Tooth completely dispenses with a protruding pedal cage and instead increases the contact area on the side of the cleat. This is particularly noticeable in terms of weight, because despite the steel axle and a combination of plain bearings and triple ball bearings, the CTRL weighs just 326 grams. That's less than a Crankbrothers Candy 11 with a titanium axle weighs - at a price of a mere 500 euros, a good double that of the Wolf Tooth!
Also exciting: The CTRLs offer the option of varying the Q-factor in three steps between 51, 55 and 59 millimetres. All you have to do is open the pedal body and change the position of the bearings and spacers on the axle - clever and unique!
A small drawback with the setup: As with the Shimano XTR, the release hardness can be adjusted, but there is no scale that would facilitate the adjustment.
Riding test of the Wolf Tooth CTRL Trail pedal
If you screw the CTRL trail pedals onto your bike, you first get the feeling that something is missing here, and also the fear that you could constantly slip over the pedal when clicking in because of the missing cage.
But after the first few metres, any doubts are blown away, because the Wolf Tooth's function is absolutely convincing. The pedal engagement is absolutely reliable, clearly defined and with clear engagement and disengagement points. That is absolute XTR level. The enlarged contact area next to the binding ensures a secure fit without any wobbling on the pedal. The result is a very secure and direct ride. You never miss a cage here.
As long as - and here comes the sticking point - you stay clicked in, because even short passages that you want to master unclicked become a slippery ride. But that's our only criticism. Otherwise, the CTRL scores with minimal weight, great ground clearance and an outstanding binding mechanism.
Wolf Tooth CTRL Trail Pedal - Info & Price
- Price: 225 Euro >> available here
- Weight pedals / cleats: 326 / 45 gram
- Footprint / stand height / axle length67 x 73 mm / 7.5 mm/ 51, 55, 59 mm
- Release angle / freedom of movement: 12 degrees / 5 degrees
- Special featuresNo pedal cage; triple adjustable Q-factor; four bearings; very flat design
Evaluation & conclusion
| Category | Grade |
| Entry / exit (30%) | 1,5 |
| Driving feel / stability (30%) | 1,4 |
| Cage function (10%) | 5,0 |
| Setup (10%) | 2,8 |
| Weight (20%) | 0,5 |
| BIKE NOTE | 1,8 |
Conclusion: Wolf Tooth CTRL trail pedal
Even without a cage, the CTRL is extremely compact. The enlarged contact area ensures a full and secure ride, while the SPD mechanism works reliably and clearly defined - XTR level. A nice feature: the adjustable axle width. However, riding unclicked is not recommended. Top: minimal weight and enormous ground clearance.
You can find out more about pedals here
Stefan Frey
Editor
