World Class racers get all the fun new toys first. The Monster Energy Specialized team is about as World Class as it gets and the team paddock area is always filled with off limits boxes, the insides of which only a few will ever see. This week Pinkbike was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at 2 new products coming out of Specialized that are in prototype stages and managed to get the scoop, and the spy shots to go with it.
First off is the new Specialized flat pedal. The brainchild of FSR engineer Jason Chamberlain, the new pedal is a true 10mm thick at the spindle. Through the use of an ingenious, patented, bearing system at both ends, this slick new platform will be the absolute thinnest pedal on the market. Unlike other pedals that cheat and measure the outer edges, or have a huge lump your foot sits on, this one is concave, has a multitude of pin positions and undercut, adjustable custom pins. When hit, they will break off at the base and still be easily removed, unlike a set screw.
Second is a prototype Specialized carbon DH helmet that World Champions Sam Hill and Troy Brosnan have been giving feedback on for the last few days. Sitting about 950 grams, give or take, it is substantially lighter than many of the most popular helmets on the market and offers just as high of a level of protection. It will feature titanium hardware, a carbon fibre outer shell and a quick release cheek pad system as well as the "EJECT" removal system for emergencies.
And for the money Sam's getting, I'd wear whatever helmet they asked me to!
that 08 helmet of yours is so light due to it being a one crash helmet, its expired
And I love how 4-5 years ago, it was the "Evil Big-Red-S Empire", ready to drop a lawsuit on anyone who even thought about starting their own name with an "S" and now they're "on top of the game". They're still corporate f*ckwads.
Now neg prop away again cuz it makes you kids feel better, I'm goin for a muddy ride.
As long as the bearings etc last they may be on to a good thing here. Just make sure the pins are nice and sharp/long like the Straitline's
Haven`t had to change or remove any pins in my Podiums but can clearly see how much more convenient it is replacing pins in the Specialized pedal!!! I doubt you`d be able to remove a broken pin from the Podiums without messing with the threads??
And last, today I broke the axle in my Podiums at the tip where the small bearings rest. Guess using ball bearings means that the axle has to be very thin + it being hollow and threaded will make it weak compared to a thicker solid axle??
All this said though, the Podium pedal is by far the best pedal I`ve ever ridden and the best looking, but I still think it could be improved - hopefully Specialized has worked it out for us??
you mean the same shape as your shoe. what your shoe needs is the opposite shape, concave, which is why these are better
momentumbicycle.com/Models.html
Never having tried them, I don't know much about them other than that.
If specialized doesn't shave off some grams of the Podium pedal (keep in mind that Point One Racing uses a Cromo axle and aluminum platform, so no fancy magnesium and titanium) or sells it at a more reasonable price, there would be no reason to choose those above the Podiums.
Another thing is that I used the Lo Mag Pro 2 platform pedals from Specialized for 2 years, and with servicing and keeping them clean, they had a massive play towards the last few months. I hope that they fixed that issue on these bad boys.
p.vitalmtb.com/photos/products/1838/photos/441/s1600_97137570_1270100644.jpg?1290195234
As you can see, that "bump" is nearly invisible, as is the long fading one on the inner side of the Specialized pedal. This is no argument I think.
There is no "bump" in the middle on a Podium, even standing barefoot on the pedal it's not noticeable since the axle is always lower than the body. These things either have no full axle and will break because they aren't fully supported or they have a rediculously thin axle that's still not full length and they're still gonna break because they're not adequately supported. The pedal bodies won't shed mud as well as Podiums, there's fewer pins, and they're not nearly as good looking as Podiums. I know it's blasphamy to speak out against Specialized since they signed Hill but I'm entirely unimpressed with these pedals...
The bottom line on a pedal isn't how thin it is... particularly in this type of pedal. No one is gonna use this for 75k XC epics or 150k road rides so any additional power transfer by the decrease in overall profile is really just a matter of lab benefits moreso than real world. What's more important is the grip, durability, and mud sheding ability... all of which you've compromised in your design as compared to pedals like the Podiums or PreRunners. You have fewer pins, which are more likely to break rather than bend.. an axle that's thinner also but more likely to break... and you have a pedal body thats not as open and will clog more easily, even in these photos you can see several open sections already packing with dry dirt that, were it mud, would only be worse.
Nice effort but, seriously, stick to designing good bike frames and solid OEM contact points and quit trying to be all things to all people. Build yourselves some nice mid-range Kona WahWah style pedals if you want something to spec on your rides and leave the high end aftermarket pedals to the guys that are already at it.
The thinner pedal profile isn't about power transfer, it's about stability, which does matter. A lot.
Please allow me to clarify:
1) The spindle inside the Specialized pedal is larger and stronger than the one in the pointone and the bearings carry a much higher load rating
2) There are no side pockets and the surfaces are much smoother - you will find they shed mud quite well. I can show you a picture of my pointones completely packed in every hole with mud
3) The benefit of a low pedal in DH is lower C.G. and higher ground clearance. Power transfer is not a consideration, as you pointed out.
4) You should also count the pin holes - more possible pin locations than the competition.
5) You may not feel the hump, but many do
If you're going to turn criticism from a consumer into some sort of bitchy little argument about pins and whatever else your panties are all wadded up about, maybe you should reconsider doing articles on prototypes and stick to just taking pictures. You damn sure aren't doing Specialized any favors by acting like a hurt little bitch because I don't think these are awesome as you apparently do.
And my comment above about the bump for the bearings is purely based on observation, I've never actually ridden point one podiums so I can't judge them other than what I can observe with my own eyes.
But seeing as no one who has commented has ridden these pedals, it would be pretty stupid to pass judgement on them or assume that there is hype surrounding them, right?
Its funny how people throw in stuff like "hurt little bitch" at the end of their comment, just because it validates what they've said...
Can you clarify on the axle because, from what it appears to be in the picture, it's diminished thickness has required you to end the axle before the end of the pedal body in order, I'm asuming that's what the acces plate is for... to get at the far side bearing? I'm guessing this is what necessitates the larger inboard bearing which carries a higher load rating since it's going to handle larger loads? It would seem to me that these aren't going to lead to a stronger axle and are really just accomodations to make a 10mm spindle workable.
As far as mud clearance, I wasn't attempting to suggest that Podiums are immune only that these would seem to be worse... and the presence of additional holes for pin placement would seem to only exacerbate that by providing additional places for a clog to take hold while offering no larger openings for it to 'push through' when you step on.
You mention the additional ground clearance but, realistically, that's a minimal factor given that crank arms typically hit before most low profile pedals. I guess there is some benefit in terms of COG but again I think it's a matter of solving problems that aren't there. I don't think that modern high-end pedals offer enough disconnect that an even lower profile is really necessary.
@ swearmouth... I realize that the size and placement if the most important factor... exactly why I'd prefer more pointed pins like PreRunners as opposed to fewer inversely tapered pins like this.
The plate you are looking at houses twin needle bearings. They carry a very high load rating. The design elimnates all abrupt steps in the axle and internal drilling. The axle is solid. I know that isn't very clear, but most pedals have a cartridge bearing(s) on the end of the spindle, which requires either tapping the inside of the spindle or threading it on the outside. The inboard bearing mostly handles the thrust load.
I can see what you are saying about mud pushing through.
At the World Championship level, small differences add up. Remember that the World Champs 2009 and Juniors 2010 were won by hundreths of a second. Lowering the COG of your body (which is the heaviest part of the system) by ~5mm theoretically helps you corner faster. This is a way to lower your CG withouth lowering your BB or cranks or anything else. Ground clearnace comes into effect when you are corneirng. The ends of the pedal are the first thing to touch the ground when you are leaning over. The more parts of the bike you can keep off the ground the less speed you scrub.
You haven't ridden these pedals, you're judging based upon a short pb article and a couple of pictures. Czaroffsr is a bike designer and works for specialized. You are neither. Consumer criticism makes a difference once you have actually held and ridden the product, so, unless you are criticizing on aesthetics alone, your comments make no difference as Czaroffsr is the only one here who has delt with the pedals.
Czaroffsr responded well and addressed every one of your points logically and has been polite, and you're calling him a "hurt little bitch", you're 32, at least try to be mature. I don't know why you have some sort of personal vendetta against these pedals and czaroffsr, but at least be polite. If you don't like these pedals then just don't buy them! There is no need to trash talk them online.
@czaroffsr: These pedals look really well thought out and designed, and to have such a thin concave pedal with easily removable pins is awesome! Can't wait to try them!
I have no issues with him or "vendetta" toward the pedals. I was simply letting him know that if I walk into the store looking to drop a couple hundred on pedals and these were sitting beside some Podiums and PreRunners, they've got no chance of getting my money... after his responses, I'd be open to trying 'em but I'd still give the edge to either of the others. If you're not willing to accept criticism from the people who are buying the products you intend to compete against, then you really shouldn't be showing prototype photos on the internet for all to see.
Immediately after one of his posts, you wrote this:
" If you're going to turn criticism from a consumer into some sort of bitchy little argument about pins and whatever else your panties are all wadded up about, maybe you should reconsider doing articles on prototypes and stick to just taking pictures. You damn sure aren't doing Specialized any favors by acting like a hurt little bitch because I don't think these are awesome as you apparently do."
Clearly thats constructive criticism right? And in no way a representative of a vendetta you have with him.
See, regardless as to whether you're right about who it was you called a hurt little bitch, you're still going around calling people bitches, retards, telling him he has a little brain, saying we're f*gs, and that I'm acting like you f*cked my sister. You've gotten to the point where your inability to refrain from being offensive means that even if you are correct, it doesn't matter, no one is going to take you seriously anymore. If you weren't so caught up in swearing at us, we might actually listen to you for once. You're the only one in this conversation who is doing this and its already killed your credibility.
And to respond to the idea that I'm a "super fanboy to the rescue in defense of Specialized", If you look at what I've purchased in the past 4 years, only 1 bike is a specialized (my allez sport road bike). As a general rule what I have purchased from specialized in the past has worked well, but that doesn't make me a "Fanboy" for saying so. When I bought my most recently bought my DH bike, I chose my morewood over several Specializeds, something a devout "Fanboy" wouldn't do.
Also, where did the claim that I'm all mad, and that in your perspective I'm "acting like I [you] just f*cked your [my] sister" come from? I'm certainly not worked up about these pedals, they're prototypes I learnt of the existence of the day before yesterday, and I'm not in the market for new pedals anyways. And its not as if you're doing it with your comments either, as stated above you're inability to say something without name calling or swearing is such that I can't really take you seriously either.
Also why are they testing Shimano pedals if they are sponsored by SRAM?
wonder what the weight is of these? and what this new ingenious bearing system is like...
Butch
My Straitlines are rocking all the pins after 4 years of abuse.
There is also storage on the inside of the pedal for extra pins, for when you are out on the track a want to keep a few spares on hand, just in case. Take 'em out for your race run though