Tested: Mavic Ksyrium Pro UST Wheels With Yksion UST Tyres | Spd Pedals

DMT E2 The E2 have a removable cleat cover to make the shoes clipless or flat as you prefer. Claimed weight 480g in size 41. €120.

For the upcoming issue of Singletrack Magazine, we’ve been testing eight of these new-school platform clip-in pedals, including options from Crank Brothers, HT Components, DMR and Shimano. Each one uses a clip mechanism that locks onto a cleat that bolts onto your shoe – the idea being that when you’re clipped in, your foot is located in the same position every time, so you can optimise your saddle height to provide the most efficient position possible. And for riding rough terrain, the clip helps you to stay stuck to the bike.

Likewise, the gentle heel hold and softer sole of the XC5 isn’t going to replace a performance shoe when Strava trophies are on the line.

But it’s probably not time to chuck your clipless pedals just yet. Most mountain bike pros are still using clipless pedals for stability and power transfer. And for everyday riders, clipless pedals still have a host of advantages, the least of which is power transfer on climbs. (Your local trails don’t have lift service, do they?) They also keep your feet from slipping off your pedals on bumpy terrain.

“We buy these bikes (and) we end up owning these bikes,” Fischer said. “It’s not like they’re on loan to us until we can sell them.

As you go up in the Shimano hierarchy things get a little more refined and a little lighter. These pedals wouldn’t be out of place on an XC racer, but can be turned to much more than just that.

It’s also a little disappointing that, unlike on Shimano’s more recent upper-end pedals, the A600 does without stainless steel wear plates on the platform; the shoe tread instead sits directly on the painted aluminum surface. That will wear over time, degrading the quality of the pedal-to-shoe fit (and, subsequently, the stability of the system). The fit quality will also degrade as the shoe tread wears. My advice would be to choose your shoes wisely — look for harder-durometer rubber around the cleat pocket — and then tread lightly.

For that reason, I’d find it hard to recommend these over a pair of DMR Vaults, which retail for 10 quid more, but have a much more proven track record when it comes to reliability. If Shimano could beef up the pins and the bodies in the respective areas though, they would surely have a near-perfect option with the XT flats.

This year I shall be leaving my flats on the FSB but going back to SPD’s on the hardtail and cyclecross bikes.

A surprisingly good all around tire. Looking at the tread pattern I had these initially pegged for mud duty, but they’ve performed surprisingly well on mixed surfaces. A closer inspection shows a consistent line of center knobs that roll surprisingly well on hard ground, making this a great choice for gravel racing and cyclocross where you’re hopping between different surfaces.

ION RAID II The RAID II has a “Reinforced toe cap to absorb and [deflect] the forces when hitting a rock or a root.” $113 USD.

Want to know more about all the other pedals on test? You can get your hands on the full feature from Issue #117 of Singletrack Magazine, which includes all reviews of the winning pedals along with a guide on what goes into making a high performance clip-in pedal. Head here to get a preview of the magazine, then get it shipped right to your door!