Once I first heard of composite flat pedals, I used to be skeptical that they might be powerful sufficient for MTB. After using a number of units, together with the up to date Race Face Chester pedals, I’m satisfied you’d must do one thing extreme to catastrophically injury a composite pedal physique. They’re powerful sufficient, and so they’re light-weight and cheap!
For full particulars on the up to date Chester pedals, try Bikerumor’s launch article from final summer time. In brief, the Chesters are Nylon composite pedals that are available small or massive measurement choices. Their up to date design goals to supply higher traction than the older mannequin, and a flatter really feel and not using a hump over the axle. I’ve been using the Chesters for a number of weeks now, and I’m fairly happy with their platform form, grip, and sturdiness.
Race Face Chester Pedals – Key Specs:
The brand new Chester pedal our bodies are constructed from a sturdy Nylon composite. The physique form was redesigned for “a sleeker look and improved really feel” over the outgoing model, and I’d agree they give the impression of being extra streamlined.
Based mostly on my choice for larger-bodied pedals I opted to check the big Chesters. They measure 115mm lengthy, 110mm extensive and 16mm thick. Race Face actually needed to eradicate the hump over the axle the older Chester pedals had. Whereas a minor hump continues to be seen on every finish of the axle, it’s been flattened proper down within the center.
These pedals characteristic 11 pins per aspect – 9 replaceable steel pins and two molded pins. Race Face says they improved the pin placement over the past Chester pedal, to supply higher grip and simple foot repositioning. The brand new pedal’s pins are undoubtedly unfold out over a bigger space than the previous model.
Rotating on a chromoly spindle, the Chester’s internals are serviceable and rebuildable. Race Face additionally eradicated the wrench flats from the older mannequin’s spindles to present the brand new Chesters a diminished Q-Issue.
The massive Chester pedals are fairly light-weight at 358g, particularly given their beneficiant platform. Race Face claims 355g, which is shut sufficient for me to name trustworthy!
Experience Impressions – Form and Really feel:
I’ve been using the Chesters for a number of weeks now, first on the Devinci Troy I lately reviewed and later by myself Knolly Chilcotin.
I put on measurement 9.5 footwear, and I discover the big Chester pedals’ width is well ample. The one factor I favor about extra sq. formed pedals is they provide extra side-to-side help when your foot bounces out of place. With the Chesters, you’re completely effectively supported when your foot is planted appropriately, however their tapered form gives much less room for error in case your foot shifts outwards.
Nonetheless, the Chester’s form offers a ton of platform front-to-back. This pedal feels very supportive and comfy underneath arduous pedalling, and so they’re undoubtedly not going to provide the ‘crow’s foot’ feeling. At 16mm they’re not the slimmest pedal on the market, however solely by a couple of millimeters. The Chesters hold your toes fairly near the spindles and don’t really feel blocky or thick.
At Crankworx, Race Face’s gross sales rep instructed me one precedence with the Chester’s up to date design was to attenuate the previous model’s hump over the axle. A take a look at the pedal reveals there’s now solely a slight bulge at both finish of the axle, and the center is useless flat. I’d say their slimming completed the aim; I don’t discover the slight humps noticeable in any respect.
The steel pins on the Chesters are longer than the molded pins, and so they sit greater than the pedal physique’s center part. This enables your toes to sink in and offers the Chesters a barely concave really feel.
Traction:
I rode two completely different pairs of footwear with the Chesters; Crankbrothers Stamp Trails and Endura MT500s. I began out using the Stamp Path footwear and located I had good grip, however nothing I’d name tremendous grabby. It wasn’t arduous to regulate my foot place, and my foot did get bounced off the pedal a couple of times on tough trails.
The Chesters appear to grip the Endura MT500 footwear extra forcefully. These footwear instantly felt extra solidly caught to the pedals than the Crankbrothers, and it takes a bit extra effort to re-position them. The MT500’s triangular center lugs (vs the oblong Stamp Path tread sample) undoubtedly stick higher on the Chester’s pins. I most popular the grippier really feel of those footwear, particularly on tough trails the place my toes stayed locked in place higher.
Sturdiness:
Attributable to my Knolly’s low backside bracket, the Chesters have suffered their justifiable share of pedal strikes! Regardless of this, the worst injury I’ve inflicted was flattening one of many molded pins on one pedal. In any other case, each don’t have anything extra to indicate than small scratches on the surface edges. Two of the steel pins seem to have taken hits, however all of them are nonetheless straight and absolutely intact. Do you have to mangle or break one, the Chesters’ bottom-loading pins ought to stay simple to take away.
I haven’t been beating on the Chesters for too lengthy however they’ve been put by way of moist and muddy fall circumstances. Thus far I’ve had no mechanical points with the internals, and the spindles are nonetheless straight.
Race Face’s up to date Chester pedals retail for $55, and can be found in eight completely different colours.