What is the ideal pedal for a trip on a bicycle?
It’s like asking a retired person what the best wine is: everyone has their own.
Clip or flat, first of all.
And then the different brands and matching shoes.
Because when you travel it’s not about watts, it’s about comfort, reliability, and the ability to meet the needs of the traveler throughout the journey and the day.
Many travelers choose simple, sturdy pedals, to which they pair hiking shoes, sneakers, even sandals or crocs.
Others stick to more technical choices, such as the shimano and bike shoe combo, securing a pair of sandals or flip-flops on the bag for the evening.
Since last year, we have had the opportunity to do a long term test (due more to the fact that we never found the time to write this piece) of the Crankbrothers Doubleshot 1, which is the California brand’s pedals dedicated specifically to traveling or commuting.
How Are They Made.
They are pedals with two different functions: on one side they have a clip release for Crankbrothers cleats, and on the other side they have a flat platform with small pins and a wide platform area.
The frame is made of composite, and the pedals weigh 330gr per pair.
The design is stylish, they come in various colors, pins and pads, and in a year of use, they have never given any problems.
How do they work
They are designed to respond equally to flat shoe or pedal clip use.
From a design point of view, they meet the needs of those travelers who take off their bike shoes in the evening to use more comfortable shoes, sandals or even flip-flops, to go for a pizza or to go swimming in a lake.They can also be useful for changing position, though: after many hours on the saddle, it can happen that the feet hurt, and pedaling a few miles unhooked can help. They can also come to the traveler’s rescue in case the shoes have gotten wet from the day before and you want to dry them out by strapping them to bags, and cycling a few hours using the flat side.
Do they work?
They work. They do exactly what they promise, which is to offer strength and solidity and provide flexible, mindless use.
I have used them for traveling and also for doing some XC outings in the mountains and have been very happy with them.
The attachment needs to be understood: it is not as immediate as a Mallet or a Candy, to stick with Crankbrothers, but as we travel we do not have the demands of speed required by MTB. The release, on the other hand, is immediate and intuitive, and the cleats are durable and reliable.
So?
So we like them very much.
They come in a variety of colors, they look great, they cost the right amount (64.99 euros in version 1) and most importantly they are reliable and sturdy.
If you are interested, take a look at the Crankbrothers website.
