Shimano Launches Deore XT Flat & Saint SPD Pedals | Road Bike Clipless Pedals

Shimano GR5 Shimano’s most affordable flat pedal offering. Claimed weight 386g in size 40. $103 USD.

These are one of the most popular mountain bike pedals around and with good reason. They’re simple, reliable and above all cheap. The discounts we’ve found make this a no-brainer as your entry into the world of SPDs, or even just as a backup.

OneUp’s aluminium flat pedal offering delivers super sharp and grippy pins with variable heights for their location on the pedal and a super thin and large platform for maximum clearance and stability, making it a cool contender. It’s not quite up there with some of the best in terms of grip and shape, but then its cheaper than some and despite the minor bearing roughness from the get-go, they’ve been hammered in the muck since with no further deterioration. The pins thread through from the opposite side too meaning they can still be removed and/or replaced when you’ve knackered the sharp end. All in all, a very good flat pedal with well thought out features and a reasonable price tag.

Price-wise, as mentioned before the Xpro 10 is comparable to second tier pedals from the competition. Shimano’s latest Ultegra pedals come in at £149.99 (but can usually be found for much less) and Look’s Keo Carbon Blades with a chromoly axle have an rrp of £155.99.

Five Ten is known for its grippy flat shoes, particularly the Stealth rubber it incorporates on all of its models. The Maltese Falcon uses a Stealth S1 rubber compound sole that is stiff enough for riding yet flexible enough for walking on rocky trails. But this flat riding shoe also comes with an SPD cleat, giving you the option to clip in while still retaining a casual, relaxed look. A lace-up closure gives it a skate-style look, and a Velcro strap helps with mid-ride adjustability. Sitting between the company’s heavier and more downhill-oriented Hellcat and stiffer-soled, more race-oriented Kestrel, the Maltese Falcon is an all-around, comfortable mountain bike shoe. Soft padding throughout keeps your feet from getting too hot during the summer months but also keeps them warm all winter.

That said – definitely not a beginnner setup. Tightening the cleat screws even .5nm too much and you can compress part of the housing enough to give you issues with the spring. Breaking in the spring must be a hell of a time for a light rider, and if the missus moves on to them (I have bought her some, but after realising the initial learning curve she lost interest), I’ll have to break the spring in for her. Also actually finding the pedal isn’t just step down and go – you have a few cm wide circle under you foot that you need to mount so like Keo’s etc, you still need to develop muscle memory.

That said – definitely not a beginnner setup. Tightening the cleat screws even .5nm too much and you can compress part of the housing enough to give you issues with the spring. Breaking in the spring must be a hell of a time for a light rider, and if the missus moves on to them (I have bought her some, but after realising the initial learning curve she lost interest), I’ll have to break the spring in for her. Also actually finding the pedal isn’t just step down and go – you have a few cm wide circle under you foot that you need to mount so like Keo’s etc, you still need to develop muscle memory.

There’s more to buy if you go for Shimano Di2 or Campagnolo EPS. On top of the shifters, derailleurs and charger, you’ll need a battery and wiring.

With the purpose-built tracks of coastal British Columbia at their behest, the team at Chromag Bikes is expected to create some super sweet goods. Currently featuring 8 hardtail bikes in the line, ranging from enduro to DJ, and a massive selection of quality components, Chromag has certainly set out to satisfy dirt riders’ desires.

Despite being soft enough to absorb bumps they were supportive enough to make high speed corners feel good. The more I ride these tyres and wheels, the more I like them!

What do e-bikes mean to the future of cycling?  Well, cyclists age along with the rest of the population, and as more older people (say, 50 and up) discover e-bikes, I believe they will rediscover the joy of cycling if it’s been awhile since they’ve ridden a bike. Exercise is an important health factor, and more people on bikes to me means a healthier community.  My Sierra Club outings attract a range of ages, but if an older person (like me) is riding an e-bike, they don’t worry as much about being able to keep up and they enjoy the outing more. E-bikes can be expensive, but I consider mine to be an investment in myself. Hopefully, as they become more common, the price will drop.

Mountain Biking Australia is Australia’s premier off road biking title. It’s the ideal magazine for enduro, trail-riding, cross-country and down hill bikers.