Actually, the reviews, like this one below, seem to refer to the NEW model that has the free play problem. http://www.beyondbikes.com/bb/ItemMatrix.asp?GroupCode=CM-PED-aircorp&MatrixType=1
I’m pretty certain that the next pair of pedals I buy will be either of these:
Those are SunRingle Octane Mag pedals you posted there, Terry and while they work well on DH biks they are so cut-out that you might find they provide little foot support during drops. Last time I rode with you you were starting to up your drops so you might want something with a more substantial platform. Once you start hucking over 5 feet, the plaform surface area makes a difference. And if you go with the Shinburgers, get the cut-out ones. The solid body units weight a ton.
My 2 cents . . .
JL
HEy John, just got my azonic fusions today, and I’m about to install them on my kh; I’ll let you know how I like them later today afer my ride! I now think my next pair will be either shinburgers or aircorp.
Nope. That review at BeyondBikes is for an older version with the sealed bearings. In fact, it sounds like the same design that I’m currently using. The sealed bearing is held in the pedal with a c-clip. I have had no problems with the c-clip and freeplay is easy to fix by replacing the o-rings when they wear. I did have to buy special c-clip pliers so I could remove the c-clip to service the pedals, but tools are good to have. The o-ring wear isn’t a big deal. I probably replace the o-rings twice per year or whenever I overhaul the pedals (regrease them). I also replace the bearings at least once per year. Gotta replace them before they fail. It seems for my muni use I get about a year of reliable use from the bearings. Any longer and I risk killing a bearing during a ride.
I’m pretty sure the Sun-Ringle pedal you show have the flawed bearing design that is no better than $20 Wellgos. I have them on my bike. I’d have to take them apart to verify. A test you can do is to put the pedal together without the bearing in place. If the pedal body can slide all the way off the spindle then the design is faulty and is abusive to the bearing. At some point the bearing will fail and the pedal body will fall off the spindle during a ride. Then you’ll be walking back to the car.
The Shinburgers have a different bearing design. I’m pretty sure it’s a solid and reliable bearing design. I think it even uses multiple sealed bearings per pedal.
Hi, John,
You must be a much more careful or agile rider than we are. IME, by the time the bearings are even an issue the pedal is so thrashed from pedal strikes (6 months, max), I need to replace them. We’ve come to consider pedals as an almost disposible part, and that’s why I like the Azonics–so cheap and still very functional. But I don’t like the idea of walking back to the car so I need to bone up on bearing specs. I don’t know the first thing about any of that. While I suspect you’ve outlined all the key details in other posts, would you mind jotting out the basics again, or directing us to a thread to where bearings are covered with you usualy comprehensiveness.
Thanks,
JL
I have been using Magnisium Xpedo MX-3 (416 gram/pr) for a while and they are working well for me. I haven’t crashed a lot on them so that is a big reason for them holding up. See them here: http://xpedo.com/pedals/mx.htm
I have a new set of Straitline pedals coming soon. They should be a lifetime pedal and are available in CrMo or Ti axles. (450 and 518gr/pr). From their site “The spindles ride in widely spaced proprietary polymer bearings that not only weigh less, but run smoother, quieter, and longer than typical bearings. The bearings require no lube, are impervious to water, and are double-sealed at both ends to prevent dust from infiltrating.”
See them here:
The riding around the NW is forest dirt with roots. Not a lot of full on rock riding. So the pedals don’t strike rocks as much. Mostly roots and dirt. So the pedal bodies don’t get beat up too much. My Aircorp pedals are over 4 years old and still going strong.
Most sealed bearing pedals use 686ZZ bearings. The “ZZ” means there are two metal shields, one on each side.
13mm OD
6mm ID
5mm wide
You can get them in packs of 10 from eBay for a reasonable price per bearing. Buying them one at a time from a bike shop can get expensive. The bearings work fine. Just need to remember to replace them as needed before they fail.
Overhauling the pedal just means taking the pedal body off the spindle, replacing the o-ring if necessary, clean out the old grease, add new grease, and replace the bearing. It’s a quick and easy overhaul, just a little bit messy with grease being involved.
Here’s some news about atomlabs aircorp pedals. After doing lots of research I’ve found out…(from the Pres. of Atomlabs himself!) That THESE are the absolute newest version that not only eliminates that pesky “O-ring”, but that “wave ring” as well! They tell me that was mainly a “quuick fix” for the O-ring" problem, and that this new, COMPLETELY REDESIGNED (see pic below) Aircorp pedal is the very best and latest incarnation of the aircorp. I’ve already ordered a pair and they should be here tomorrow!
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=12585&category=
OMG those look AMAZING… i need these…
look at these from the same make. only £24
Those don’t have enough surface area as the aircorp, but they look cool.
Crazyness. They never stop redesigning their pedals.
Nice find on the info about the newest new version of the pedal. Let us know how it works out for you. I always have faith in Atomlab stuff, but all the revisions to their pedals sometimes makes me wonder what’s going on. Maybe they need some unicyclist beta testers for their pedals. We can certainly abuse the heck out of any new designs they come up with.
Btw, those redesigned atomlab aircorps are only $79 at: http://www.beyondbikes.com
There normally about $100-125 elsewhere.
Hey Terry have you taken a look at the Wellgo line of pedals?
They have some pretty crazy designs, and I find many pedals out there are just wellgo retagged pedals. The wellgo ones seem to be cheaper. I picked up a pair of wellgo b-36’s a while ago and I love them.
Yeah those are all pretty cool looking, but I really like the fuller surface area and the amazing THINNESS of the 2006 aircorps. It remains to be seen as to whether they perform as great as they look!
What about pedal protectors to reduce those hard hits?
I have them on my Wellgos and think it was a wise purchass. What wasn’t is my Primo pedals, man are they heavy.
Wellgos will eventually disintegrate on you (pedal body falling off spindle) in the middle of a ride.
don’t think they’d fit on these, so I plan on gluing rubber strips on the outter side.
Yeah, you don’t wan to scratch those rocks on the trail, That would be bad.
Bearing replacement
I have used Wellgo MG-1 Magnesium (395 grams) a while now. Not to much foot comfort but a very light pedal.
After a short while I have to replace the bearings. It was a lot of noise when I pedaled. I replaced bearings from NBK-686Z to SKF-6862RS, Newer have a problem after the bearing replacement. And I drive in snow, mud and rain.
The 2RS means that the bearings are totally waterproof (I think), and probably better than the Z bearings with metals on each side.
Yeah I try to do my part for the natural environment!
