In February, we got the chance to head to Caersws bike park with Reverse to check out their Base pedals. Before we get to how they fared with the Welsh tech, what should you actually be looking for in a set of pedals?
Considerations
As a key contact between the rider and the bike, one of the most important factors to consider in a pedal is grip. A firm contact between the pedal and the shoe can often be key to staying on the bike. For this, many consider grip to be foremost in a pedal. However, it goes without saying that the size, shoe wear, quality and pin length are also crucial. It was clear that Reverse had these considerations in mind as the pedals came equipped with two other different sizes of pins. Being a keen clipless rider, I was interested to see how I would adjust to the Base Pedals.
Grip
The day began with a few warm up laps of The Scorcher, the medium size pin length keeping my feet firmly in place. As we got stuck in to the downhill tracks, I knew the pedals would be put to the test by the steep gradients and fast sections. After many fast trains following Caersws locals Finn Tennant and Tristan Botteram, I was impressed by how little difference I had felt from riding my Crankbrothers Mallet E’s previously.
Shoe Pairing
Whether it’s RC Concepts, Endura or Crankbrothers, every mountain biker has their shoe preference. However, how the pedal interacts with them can be crucial to feeling confident on the bike. The soft soles of my Crankbrothers Stamp shoes offered great grip when paired with the medium sized pin length. However, they also made it harder to adjust my feet once on the pedals during the more technical Caersws tracks. This was due to the pins locking too firmly to the shoe sole making small foot adjustments difficult. For this, I later switched to a smaller pin length which I found better suited the Crankbrothers shoes. This change also mitigated the wear of the pedal on the shoe.
Size
One quality of the Base pedals that stood out to me from others was their size. Their smaller dimensions in comparison I found better suited to foot placement. Since I have only recently transitioned over from clipless pedals, I also found the smaller size helped keep my foot in a similar position each run. While larger pedals offer a bigger platform, they also leave more room for error as well as something more to catch on rocks and roots.
Quality
As with most Reverse Components products, quality was a stand out feature for me. I particularly noticed this with the how the pedals spun smoothly consistently from left to right. The low spinning resistance not only meant that the pedal didn’t move after taking my foot off but also indicated that the spindles were well-sealed. This is especially important for MTB pedals due to their frequent exposure to the elements.
Pins
Being able to adjust pin length on a set of flat pedals was something new to me when I first tried the Base pedals. While I’ve found the medium and large pin length to be too long personally, I still think having the option for change is key to finding the right set up. Since riding the medium pin length at Caersws and struggling with foot adjustment, I was keen to see whether the small pin length would offer the right compromise between grip and foot alignment. Surprisingly, I noticed very little difference in terms of grip. This was in addition to having much more flexibility with where I positioned my foot on the pedal.
Summary
Overall, these pedals I think have proved themselves to be up there with those at the front of the market. With a standard price tag, it’s no doubt they’re a real contender for your next set of MTB pedals. To find out more click here.
