Test: Striking, high-quality workmanship and an elegant finish, at first glance the Crank Brothers 5050 3 platform pedal really leaves nothing to be desired. We took a closer look at the classic, which was fundamentally revised by Crank Brothers. Can the practical test keep what the optics promise?
Product details at a glance
- Material pedal body / axle: aluminum, polycarbonate / Cr-Mo
- Weight (pair): 462 grams
- Tread area: Approximately 95 x 95 mm
- Pins per side/pedal: 10
- Interchangeable pins: Yes
- Pedal Bearing: Needle Bearing, Industrial Bearing
- Assembling the pedals: Allen key
- Price: € 99,90
Construction and design of the pedal
A special feature of the Crank Brothers 5050 3 platform pedal is the pedal body consisting of two parts. The inner body, which is aligned with the crank, is made of polycarbonate, while the outer part of the pedal body is made of aluminium. With a maximum height of 18 mm, the pedal can be counted among the flatter representatives. 10 pins per side, which protrude by about 2-3 mm at the factory, are supposed to provide the necessary support. The pins are designed as threaded pins and can therefore be easily replaced. For the storage of the pedal body, Crank Brothers uses needle bearings (inside) and industrial bearings (outside), the axle is made of Cr-Mo.
Before the test / visual impression
The processing of the pedal is great cinema! We like the clean transition of the two parts of the pedal body as well as the neatly executed edges and recesses. With us, the couple weighs 462 grams, only 1 gram more than specified by the manufacturer - that's what we call an honest product description from the manufacturer! The pedal rotates smoothly without resistance. The pins are pre-assembled, four spare pins (two each on the front of the pedal body) are included in the scope of delivery. To ensure that the pins do not come loose unintentionally, the manufacturer uses a screw locking varnish. The pedal has several cutouts, the webs of the polycarbonate part also have distinctive grooves.
field test
The tread of the pedal provides a very good grip and a secure footing. We first rode the pedals as they were delivered by the manufacturer. We achieved the best results with the shoes of a US American cult manufacturer, which is world-famous for its soles with the diamond profile. With hard soles with a coarse profile, such as trekking shoes, the grip with the factory-set pin height was not entirely convincing. In the further course of the test, we turned the pins out a bit to find the necessary support with these shoes as well. The setting of the pin height thus offers an optimal individual adjustment to the circumstances. The self-cleaning of the pedal is good, but not always perfect for local conditions. On very muddy, sticky floors, the pedal unfortunately sometimes clogs a bit, favored by the somewhat playful shape of the recesses and the double bridges.
After the test
The condition of the pedal after the test leaves nothing to be desired. The pins are complete and we can't find any bearing play or increased friction. The two-piece pedal body also has no play and the connecting screws are still tight. The aluminum part of the pedal body only shows the usual signs of wear.
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