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Crank Bros. Mallet C pedals review
The Mallet C (the ‘C’ stands for chromoly) is one of Crank Bros.’ entries into the freeride / downhill clip pedal market (the other is the Mallet M — ‘M’ for magnesium). Like all other Crank Bros. mountain bike pedals, the Mallet C is built around the ‘egg beater’ clip system, which is one of the most effective systems available when it comes clearing mud from the pedal.
For this review, the Crank Bros. Mallet C pedals were mounted on a trusty Race Face North Shore DH crankset. I used them primarily on my Giant AC1 for freeride and trail riding. I picked up a grey / brown version although, for this year, it looks as though the pedals are available only in black or blue.
First impressions
As with every Crank Brothers’ product that I’ve seen in the past couple of years, the Mallet Cs arrived in a well-conceived, well-executed package that included the pedals, the cleats, spare kick plates (and screws), and an installation and maintenance guide.
Unlike many other pedals on the market, Crank Bros. pedals are mounted on your bike using only an allen wrench. Like other Crank Bros. pedals, you distinguish between the left and right side pedal by the inset line located near the pedal threads on the non-drive side spindle; the drive side spindle is unmarked.
Installation of the Mallet Cs can be more involved than installation of pedals like the Candy SL. The tread height on the soles of some SPD-compatible shoes sometimes interferes with clip engagement in the Mallet Cs. As a remedy, Crank Bros. includes four ’shims’ that can be used to decrease the effective height of your shoes’ tread and improve your ability to clip in and out without issue. Should the shims prove ineffective, your only remaining option is to trim the tread on your shoes or return the pedals. Obviously, this process can be a headache and something many riders will think twice about before choosing to go with the Mallets.
Fortunately for me, I didn’t have to use the shims or trim the tread on my very old and very reliable Shimano shoes (I need new ones, and soon!) — I was able to install the pedals and head out on the trail.
Performance
I’m fortunate enough to own a pair of Crank Bros. Candy SL pedals, which I’d been running on my cross country bike for some time prior to my picking up the Mallet Cs, so my adjustment time for these pedals was mimimal.
The first thing I noticed with the Mallets was their ease of entry. Much like their smaller bodied cousins (the SLs), the Mallets place very little strain on your feet, ankles, or knees when clipping in or out. Additionally, you can enter the pedal in one of three ways: from the top; from the back (sliding your cleat forward into the eggbeater); from the front (sliding your cleat backwards into the clip). For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out why or how people would enter the pedal by sliding the cleat backwards into the clip, until I found myself engaging in that very fashion — it’s is an excellent way to re-enter your pedal while climbing.
The pedal works well in all weather and in all seasons. I had no issues clipping in our out in wet, muddy, and even snowy conditions. Additionally, I discovered (the hard way) that they’ll disengage quickly and easily when you crash.
Some riders express scepticism when using a clip-in pedal for freeride. Initially I belonged in this camp but, to be honest, all it takes is a little adjustment and some confidence and you can ride pretty much everything clipped in that you can while using flats. The Mallet Cs on my AC have seen decent sized gaps, some solid launches, and a bunch of skinnies and they haven’t let me down yet.
Durability
I’ve been running the Mallet Cs for almost 8 months and have had no durability-related issues. The bearings in the drive side are starting to go but I haven’t had any problems with the spindles, the pedal cage / body, or the eggbeater clip mechanism.
The cleats are due for replacement but, given that I run Crank Bros. pedals on my cross country and trail bikes, I’m not surprised. The brass cleats cost around 20 bucks to replace; you can tell when they’re worn when your feet start to slide out of your pedals at inopportune moments.
Update (29 April 2006). I’ve just completed my second rebuild of the Mallets and continue to be impressed with the overall performance of the product. After you’ve done a couple of rebuilds yourself, you can do a complete set of pedals in 15 or 20 minutes. Clean, easy, twenty bucks, and your pedals feel (and work) like new when you’re finished.
Pricing
MSRP for the pedals is $90usd / $130cad but the Mallet Cs can be purchased for less elsewhere. The Mallets’ MSRP closer to the high end of the spectrum when compared with similar pedals but the extra price does buy you a little peace of mind.
Wild card
Crank Bros. has attached a 2 year warranty to their products which is above the industry-standard one year. Customer support, when contacted, was prompt, friendly, and encouraging. They helped me out and even sent a brief follow up message after the fact.
I’m not a huge fan of the way Crank Bros. mounted the steel ‘kick plates’ to the pedals. Two plates are fastened to each pedal body using small screws; the problem with the screws is that they are very difficult to remove — so difficult that every one I tried to get out became stripped and required drilling for adequate removal. It’s not a big deal, but it is a bit of a headache.
Summary
The Crank Brothers’ Mallet C pedal is a good choice for someone looking for an affordable and reliable downhill or freeride-focused clip pedal. The Mallets engage easily and without strain on your body and unclip without hesitation if and when you head over your bike.
While installation isn’t as straightforward as some of the other Crank Bros. pedals, installing the Mallets isn’t too bad, especially if you have a shoe whose tread doesn’t interfere with the clipping action of the pedal. If you’re unfortunate enough to have to trim your shoes’ soles, do so as carefully as possible.
The bearing life and durability of the Mallet C is more than acceptable and rebuild kits are readily available at better bike stores and from Crank Bros. directly.
Manufacturer website: www.crankbros.com
MSRP: $90 (usd) | $140 (cad)
| Category | Rating (?) |
|---|---|
| First impressions | 6 / 10 |
| Performance | 36 / 40 |
| Durability | 15 / 20 |
| Pricing | 15 / 20 |
| Wild card | 7 / 10 |
| Overall | 79 / 100 |
1. Posted by Crank Bros. Candy SL pedals review » The Biking Hub | 12:31 pm, 20 June 2005
[…] I ran these pedals on an ‘all mountain’ bike (a Giant AC1) for a single ride; during this ride I found that the spindles weren’t quite up to what we ride on a regular basis out here in British Columbia. On the first drop on the trail — a five or six foot kick off a rock — one of the spindles bent. It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t ride back to the car, but I wouldn’t recommend these pedals for ‘light freeride’ where drops above three feet are common. If you’re looking for a clip-based pedal that’s more suited for this type of riding, be sure to check out the Crank Bros. Mallet. […]