Magped's Magnetic Pedal - Crankworx Whistler 2018
Magnetic pedals aren't a new idea - they've been done before and never really took off - but Magped's version includes a few nifty tricks that are worth taking a look at. But before that, it needs to be clear that Magped doesn't intend for their magnetic pedal to be a replacement for clipless or even someone's platform pedals, but rather as a third choice that might make sense for some riders.
The Sport AL15 looks a lot like a normal platform pedal, but there's a round magnet bolted to just one side of the body, essentially making them a single-sided pedal. Because the magnet is only on one side, the pedal should always rotate so that the magnetic side is facing up and towards the rider. The neodymium magnet itself is available in three different strengths, starting with 100N, then 150N and 200N, and you can swap them out as needed.
Magped recommends that younger, lighter riders should start with the 100N magnets that will hold the rider's feet in place until they surpass 10kg of pulling force. The 150N and 200N magnets each require, you guessed it, 15kg and 20kg of pulling force before letting go.
Magped recommends that younger, lighter riders should start with the 100N magnets that will hold the rider's feet in place until they surpass 10kg of pulling force. The 150N and 200N magnets each require, you guessed it, 15kg and 20kg of pulling force before letting go.
Magped also sells the pins separately.
The magnets are bolted to a flexible bushing that lets them move slightly.
They have another trick up their sleeve, too, with the magnets being mounted on a flexible polymer bushing that lets them move around slightly. Why do that? Because it creates a bit of natural-feeling float in every direction that lets your foot find it's most comfortable position.
The cleat, which can be bolted to any SPD-compatible shoe, is pretty much just a thin piece of steel that sits into the recessed cleat cavity of the outsole. The magnets sit just proud of the pedal body, and shims under the cleat are used to make sure that the magnet hits the cleat just as the pedal's pins hit the sole of your shoe.
Only one side gets a magnet, but the opposite side can be used as a normal platform pedal, especially because the flat cleat sits up in the shoe's recess.
The Sport AL15 weighs a claimed 474-grams and retails for $130 USD. Magped is also working on two other versions: The 360-gram (for a pair) Flow will have a CNC-machined aluminum body, a titanium spindle, more robust bearings, and a stronger single magnet; the downhill and enduro Vortex pedal will sport a magnet on each side, Chromoly spindle, and an extruded body.
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
maglockbikepedal.com
You'd also be able to use (what I find to be anyway) the stiffer clipless 5.10 shoes models... Kestral Lace with this system would be perfect!!
The problem I see with these is that the magnet almost seems like it’s on the wrong side of the axle. If the magnet was on the forward side of the axle, you would be able to center your foot more on the axle the way most people ride flats vs clipless.
#magicalmysteries
Who said that I was "bound to pick up metallic debris all over the place"? That is you making an assumption as to the intent of my statement and trying to put words into my mouth!!!
If we engage our brains for a second, these pedals don't solve an issue, but create multiple issues.
Additional weight, pedal will only sustain damage from 1 side, a magnet will pick up magnetic items, in the garage, out on the trail etc. Pedal is now biased to a certain position when the foot is removed, remove foot and clip something with the pedal and it could be on the wrong side when placing your foot, I would be back on the issue when hiking a bike in the mountains of not wanting to step on wet rocks due to the metal plate not adhering to wet rocks very well, spares would be limited for availability due to this being a niche product... etc etc.
I only gave 1 example of a potential issue with the pedal but there is a few more for you to have a look at
If you want to purchase a set, on you go, but for me there are too many negatives.
No product is perfect. Every design is a compromise, whether it's flats, clipless, magnetic or any other variant or system that exists. It's just a case of deciding what set of compromises best fit your needs.
It's a safe bet that the designers have considered all of the points that you mentioned, included many more that you didn't.
Sure, these pedals might rest at an inconvenient angle when the rider is not standing on them, but so do roadie-style clipless pedals, straps and toe clips. It's an easy problem to adapt to and overcome.
The cleat plate might slippy on wet rocks, but you could say the same of normal cleats.
Spares will surely be less common that, say, Shimano, but being a niche product doesn't mean parts will be impossible to come by. Look at Rohloff hubs, for example. They're not the most wide-spread of items, but the do have a strong following and continued support from the manufacturer.
At the end of the day, your opinion isn't incorrect, but it could be a little more considered.
You're obviously not interested in these pedals, but I always urge people to try the things that they're dead-against (within reason, of course), as they might just be pleasantly surprised. I use to laugh derisively at fixie riders, and then I thought I should give it a go before totally dismissing them. I've been riding fixed nearly every day for the last 5 or 6 years and I don't plan to give up any time soon (of course, shelling out $130 just to give something a go is a pretty unreasonable expectation of someone).
Apologies for the essay.
Peace.
My response was very considered. I could only imagine if I was to put an idea like this to the leadership team, let alone global marketing in my sector what the response would be...
Bit like lazers on sharks...
If you can present the numbers, market research and evidence along with the business case for thousands of riders that would be good. Small companies can make niche products. If these were really marketable and had a good ROI then HT, shimano etc would be making or white labelling them.
Enjoy
Otherwise I love the idea and think it's got a lot of potential in endurance stage races and adventure rides.
vimeo.com/107166552
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IANBoybVApQ
"Devices known to contain magnets should be kept away from the immediate valve implant location, as they may have an effect on the performance level setting of the Strata-type valve."
www.medtronic.com/us-en/healthcare-professionals/products/neurological/shunts/strata-adjustable-pressure-valve/indications-safety-warnings.html
Example get some neodymium magnets and try to pry them off directly normal from each other, way harder than it looks right? Now twist them off, super easy.
I’m honestly just going to bite to bullet and test their claims and confirm or deny people hesitations. My test will be at snow summit. Dry and dusty. My neutral pedal will be crank brother stamp 7, because I know they work.
Because I have limited movement, strength and feeling left in my right leg, due to nerve damage, arthritis etc. in my lower back.
So this would take "finding" my pedals out of the equation, without the scary moments associated with clipless, which I almost can't clip out of
Anyway, I know this is a very specific set of disabilities. But this would work for some people
I'm constantly looking at my foot, trying to reposition (which isn't always easy with these extremely sticky flats and 5-10's). I've found that the only real way for me to figure out if the foot is the correct place, is to push my leg outward, to see if it "rolls" off the pedal.
And of course if the heel hits the crank arm.
Do you wear or suggest anything for a brace or support to help? I haven't tried anything yet, but starting to think it would help..
Definitely curious about them,
we should probably get sponsored by these guys!
Sorry to hear about you broken back man, rehabilitation must have been hell.
I haven't looked at braces, mainly because they would limit dexterity. And I'm not sure that limiting my movement, despite the extra support, would be the way to go.
My condition isn't from anything as drastic as a broken back.
I started out with pain in my lower back, radiating into the right leg. My Doc wouldn't do anything, as I was probably just overexerting something. So he just gave me painkillers.
Fast forward ~10 years, and I got an MRI that showed 3 tears and herniation in my intervertebral discs between L4-L5 and L5-S1. Together with a severe case of Spinal Stenosis, and some arthritis that presumably was caused because of the damaged discs not supporting the back.
Anyway I've had a few operations, mainly to remove the parts of my vertebrae that pinch the nerves and mobilize the discs.
Unfortunately the nerves had already taken permanent damage. So I'll never have a fully functioning leg again.
On the bright side, I can now eat as much chili as I want, and only have to worry about a burning sensation in the left half of you-know-where
www.instagram.com/p/BgePQ72jsCx/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=125xsklii515k
It looks as though the magnet is a touch lower than the pins.
They won't be indestructible, but I'm interested to see the real-world accounts of customers to see how they hold up to pedal strikes and crashes.