Tech Week 2023: Crankbrothers Release 25 Year Anniversary Collection
The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that some of the world's fastest gravity racers were running non-stock Crankbrother Mallets from the Les Gets World Championships onward. These silver pedals were there to commemorate the company's silver, 25-year anniversary. However, while we're here, I thought it would be a good chance to take a look back at the previous versions of the Mallet, which is probably the most popular downhill clipless pedal, and understand how the current version came to be since its first version in 2008.
The anniversary collection was seen on select riders' bikes in the latter part of the season.
Despite sometimes suffering the misnomer of being called SPDs, the Crankbrothers system is of course very different. Where Shimano's system has independently tension-adjusted mechanisms, Crankbrothers does not, and you change the degree of float and release by changing the orientation, or indeed the model, of the cleat.
Alasdair MacLennan reviewed the 2009 offering, while also comparing it to its predecessor.
That model moved to an alloy body throughout, and was certainly well loved.
2012 saw the next generation, the new pedals featured longer axles to make them compatible with the larger flat-pedal-style shoes that were becoming more common.
The new pedals put an emphasis on trying to increase reliability, as well as ease of serviceability.
As well as the introduction of the slightly lighter, and more trail friendly, Mallet Mk3 polycarbonate composite and aluminium hybrid.
By the mid-2010s, Enduro was now a thing and changing everything. Bananas were taped onto frames and cheek-pads furiously pulled out of full face helmets, or worse yet, people were riding around with a second helmet on their backpacks.
At the release of the Mallet E in 2015, it was also announced that all of Crankbrothers clipless pedals would see overhauls with their internals. The new internals would consist of Enduro cartridge bearings, custom Igus bushings, and an additional external seal to go along with the dual-lip internal seal that was already in place.
The new pedals featured traction pads as well as pins. These came in either one or two mm, and were interchangeable to adjust the amount of support from the pedal, as well as the ease of clipping in.
To reflect the tighter trails and need to pedal, the Mallet Es were not only lighter, but also had a 5 mm narrower 52 mm q-factor, and a smaller platform. However, even now, it's not uncommon for people to run the long axles for more heel clearance.
The next, and current version of the Mallet DH, was introduced in 2017 and features the wider 57 mm q-factor, as well as the traction pads that were introduced to the Mallet E.
The leading edge of the pedals has a chamfer to help keep them from getting hung up on obstacles - and Kaz apparently tried his hardest to test that.
The long-spindle Mallet E anniversary model.
For more information on the collection, which also features shoes, please visit crankbrothers.com. All pedals in the silver collection, the Stamp, Mallet DH and Mallet E versions are available now for $189.99 USD. The Stamp Boa shoes are $179.99, and the Mallet Boa shoes are slightly more expensive at $199.99.
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Most of it was just XC riding, albeit lots of it.
Broke a spindle near the top of the Garbanzo lift -- near the bottom of that high-speed rattle-you-to-death section of fireroad that leads you to the good stuff. Limped down on one pedal with lots of breaks and no fun. That set had been brand new 10 days earlier.
Because I'd had so many failures already that summer, I'd brought a spare set. Got back to the condo, dug them out, swapped old for brand new, straight out of the box, then rallied to meet the crew.
That very lap, while clipping in to line up the crux of Clown Shoes, the new pedal broke. Not even an hour old.
CB was great about replacing every set.
On Shimano since. I miss the ease of entry and exit of the CB's when goopf*cked. And nothing else.
I will always wonder how people who ride more/harder than I did then can trust their literal lives to CB pedals...
Love my CB multi tool though. Bombproof and useful.
They may feel better when they have a fresh rebuild... but that feeling goes away after about 10 rides... i'll take my marginally worse feeling shimanos that will feel the exact same for the next decade without any maintenance or fear of the spindle digging into my calf.
But that's just me.
I think you're just a hater of the brand judging by the fact that you have a negative response on multiple people's comments throughout this thread. When was the last time you actually rode their product? You're probably among the many who had a bad experience with CB product 10 years ago and can't seem to let it go.
They’ve been sitting in my spare parts bin since I got them in 2005
Who wants em?
Seriously, I need like 5 sets a year, and I know I'm not alone. Also, the traction pads or egg beaters last about 20 rides and since they're just a little plastic ring, how about you sell those in bulk for like 5 dollars also?
www.pinkbike.com/photo/19645021
I also have to the Mallet E’s on both my bikes. I don’t mind the feel when I’m clipped in them, the float is ok, but the rotating mechanism for me makes getting clipped back in more difficult. Most of the time it’s fine, but if you catch it wrong it spins and is harder to get back in.
I also don’t like the feeling of them on jumps. I don’t feel I know how far I can move my feet until they pop out. With shimano it’s such a firm ‘click’ you know when you are getting near that point.
All down to individual taste I think
wheels are winning world cups and its the most common used pedal in the WC DH racing
Your just out here putting out garbage.
I'd rave about all sorts of things if I could ride fast and got 6 of everything every season. They probably don't know what's broken half the time.
Your a joke, you are talking out your a** Haha riders are choosing CB pedals over sponsor requirements. Ask Miriam on commencal DH team and again they are winning world champs and WC. Mallet's dominance in the gravity scene is unparallel.
You just mad because you don't take care of your own stuff. No one wants to take accountability anymore it's the era of trolls and losers talking smack because of lazy and negligence.
And all of them got something to say complain and cry on PB. Go on with that bs
Come back and cry when you look up the facts. Ask real people that are in the WC scene. Mallet's have won 12 world champs straight..... Your clearly not watching, just eating crap and spitting it on the keyboard
Remember when we all hated CB?
www.pinkbike.com/news/ask-us-anything-crankbrothers-monday-june-27-1000-pst.html