Chromag has long been synonymous with steel hardtails, flat pedals, and colorful handlebars. The addition of a full-suspension kid's bike last year was a surprise to many, and now, in another semi-unexpected twist, the Whistler-based company has added clipless pedals into their product lineup.
As it turns out, 60% of Chromag's employees were already clipping in, so it made sense to expand in that direction. There two versions of the new pedals – the Pilot (reviewed here), and the Pilot BA. Both use the same SPD-compatible clip-in mechanism, but the BA is more DH-oriented, with an even wider aluminum platform and more pins.
Chromag Pilot Details• Aluminum body, chromoly axle
• 12-degree release angle
• SPD cleat compatible
• Platform dimensions: 87x110mm
• Colors: red, black, purple, gold, blue
• Weight: 513 grams
• MSRP: $184 USD
•
chromagbikes.com The regular Pilot still has a fairly large platform – it measures 87 x 110mm, and has four adjustable or removable traction pins on each side. Chromag supplies their
own cleats with the pedals, but they'll also work with Shimano's SPD cleats, making it easier to find replacements in a pinch.
There are five different colors to choose from - black, blue, red, purple, gold, or blue. No matter the color, the price remains the same, at $184 USD.
ENTRY & EXITGetting into the Pilots requires the same technique that you'd use for pretty much any SPD-compatible design – slide the front of the cleat under the toe bar, and then step straight down. It's a very natural motion, and one that quickly becomes second nature.
However, I did find that getting in (and out) wasn't as effortless as what I'm used to with Shimano's own pedals, or the
Hope Union TC pedals that I reviewed recently. Every so often I'd have trouble slotting the cleat underneath the Pilot's toe bar, and there were several occasions when it felt like the cleat was hanging up when I went to get out. I tried Chromag's own cleats as well as a set of Shimano SH51 cleats with the same result.
I experimented with more and less release tension, but that didn't alleviate the issue, and it wasn't shoe dependent either. I think the culprit may be the height of the toe bar – it's not quite as tall as what Shimano uses, which can make it a little harder to find it right away.
To further confirm what I was experiencing, I installed the Pilot on one crank arm, and a Shimano XT pedal on the other. With the XT pedal, my foot seemed to naturally find the sweet spot, allowing me to step down and clip in with one fluid motion. My other foot, the one aiming for the Pilot, didn't have it quite as easy – I'd have to wriggle it around a little to find that toe bar and then step down, making it more of a two step process.
In our big
clipless pedal buyer's guide, Shimano's XT pedals get a 9 (out of 10) for ease of entry and exit, a rating I agree with. Using the same scale, I'd give the Pilots an 8. The platform itself is quite generous, even on the smaller of the two options, which is what keeps the Pilots from getting a 7, since it is pretty unlikely that you'll totally slip off during entry. No matter what, clipping in and out doesn't feel as refined as it does with Shimano's pedals.
As far as release tension goes, the adjustment range should accommodate a variety of preferences. For me, I was content setting it approximately 1/4 of the way to max tension.
The front traction pins don't really serve much purpose, and I removed the rearmost pins to ensure they didn't impede my entry or exit. The height of the rear pins can be adjusted to fine-tune the pedal / shoe interface, but I found it easier just to remove them completely. The actual position of the pedal that the shoe contacts is nice and wide, and provides a solid, stable platform underfoot.
The pedals spin on a cartridge bearing and a bushing, with a rubber seal on the inboard portion to keep things clean.
DURABILITYThere are some scuffs on the pedal body, but other than some cosmetic indicators that they've been used the Pilots are still running smoothly. I should note that conditions were fairly dry for much of the test period, but I have had good luck with Chromag's axle design on their flat pedals in the past. The outer rubber seal does a very good job at keeping dirt and water from getting in, although it does make them spin a little less freely than other options.
HOW DO THEY COMPARE?Pricewise, Chromag's Pilot pedals sit in between Shimano's $130 XT and $190 XTR options. The Pilots have a bigger platform, and thus a heavier weight of 513 grams, versus 429 grams for XT and 386 grams for XTR. There aren't any colors to choose from in Shimano's catalog, and there aren't any traction pins either, which may be enough to attract some riders to camp Chromag.
Pros
+ Wide platform, and there's an even wider option
+ Axle and bearing are well sealed against contamination
+ SPD cleat compatible
Cons
- Entry / release isn't as smooth as Shimano's
- On the heavier side of things
Pinkbike's Take![bigquotes](https://es.pinkbike.org/246/sprt/i/bigquotes-left.svg) | Creating a new clipless pedal that can take on the likes of Shimano is a tough proposition. In this case, Chromag has some work to do before Shimano's spot on the throne is threatened, although it is good to see another option on the market. The Pilot's actuation wasn't as smooth as I would have liked, but they do provide a very stable platform underfoot, and shrugged off plenty of hard hits. — Mike Kazimer |
Full review, 11 words.
When the ashes cover the ruins
Of the failed civilization
Pedals from the land of the raising Sun
Will spin smoothly
Still
and hard to get in and out
look at the colors
I'd be more impressed
if you summarized
it in the form of haiku
Conundrum, I think
All the cool kids rock Chromag
But they don't clip in
Shiny new pedals
Weigh more than a planet
But they have got pins
Red large and grippy
Well sealed though heavy and costly
Hard to come un-clippy
Now I had to explain why I was laughing in the office. Thanks a bunch.
are CB enduro/dh the only pedal that actually provides pedal on shoe contact? Theres a reason its the choice of many DH/Enduro Pros despite not being sponsored by CB...
edit: I should also mention that CB offer a much wider q factor for us guys who have a wide stance and dont like looking like a upside down triangle on the bike like many clip riders
not sure why anyone would downvote me lol... should be asking for the same thing... lame
www.funnmtb.com/products/category/pedals
That's because those Shimano cages aren't there for fore-aft support, they're there to protect the clip mechanism.
About a year ago I threw my old clipless pedals back on the bike and gave it a ride. Hated every second of it. That feeling of standing on spindles effectively ruined that ride.
bike.shimano.com/en-US/product/component/shimano/PD-M647.html
I have a Ranger stem and Cutlass bar on my Spur and sure I could get something way lighter and "better" (sure OneUp's carbon bar would be lighter and more compliant) but I like Chromag's aesthetic and they're solidly built and I know I can rely on them
Not about having the best here. Just comparing them to an industry standard that doesn’t take an extra $100 for smooth lines and color options.
I love Chromag and use plenty of their products
Maybe it's just me, but if the the function is 95% there of the benchmark (which it sounds like it is from Kaz's review), why not splurge a bit for something you want, even if that is only because they look cool and from a brand you like to support? I'd rather give my cash to someone like Chromag over the biggest brands out there.
- Heavier
- Don’t work as well.
I also agree that it is anachronistic, mindlessly traditionalist, and confusing, and it needs to change.
It gets changed by people not saying "umm actually" about the old name, which is "technically" nothing but a nickname that people gave it, once. Shimano would say "technically" the name is "SPD pedals", they don't ever call them "clipless pedals"
Crazy people leverage their own ignorance to make an argument.