After six years of riding Shimano SPD and Time clip-in pedals, Wil decided to jump back on the Crank Brothers train and has been getting reacquainted with the Eggbeater, Candy and Mallet pedal range. Built around the iconic and beautifully simple four-sided Eggbeater mechanism, these pedals offer a smooth and floaty feel that distinguishes them against the much firmer engagement of a Shimano or Time pedal. They tend to be more forgiving for riders with knee issues, and the open mechanism is unrivalled when it comes to wet and muddy conditions.
We’ve previously covered the Eggbeater and Candy pedals, and here we’ll be looking at the more gravity-focussed option; the Crank Brothers Mallet Enduro.
Crank Brothers Mallet Enduro Pedals
- Weight: 442g (confirmed)
- Price: $294.95 AUD
There are three distinct options in the Crank Brothers Mallet range. There’s the Mallet Trail, the Mallet Enduro and the Mallet DH. The primary difference is the size of the platform, with the Mallet DH being the biggest and heaviest of the lot.
The Mallet Enduro we have here is the Goldilocks pedal in the range. It uses a 6061-T6 alloy body that measures 75mm x 87mm, giving a good platform for gravity-oriented shoes that feature a slightly softer rubber sole.
Available in a range of anodised colours, the pedal body is heavily machined to reduce weight and increase grip, while chamfered edges help the pedal to slide over rocks and roots rather than snag them.
A key component of the Crank Brothers Mallet Enduro pedal is its in-built Traction Pads. These plastic spacers sit on either side of the Eggbeater mechanism and allow you to fine-tune the fit between the pedal body and your shoe. The pedals come fitted with the lower profile 1mm Traction Pads, though thicker 2mm pads come included in the box.
It’s also possible to fit plastic shims underneath the cleats, and the cleats can be swapped from left to right to change the release angle from 15° to 20°. Furthermore, there are six adjustable grub screws on each side to provide more bite into the underside of your shoes. All up, there’s a lot of scope for dialling these pedals in to your preference.
Otherwise the construction is very similar to the rest of the Crank Brothers Mallet range. There’s a forged chromoly steel spindle that rolls on custom Igus LL-glide and Enduro cartridge bearings, with generous seals to keep moisture out and grease in. We’ve found the Mallets to be easy to pull apart for routine maintenance, and Crank Brothers produces aftermarket rebuild kits for when it comes time for a full refresh. On top of that they come with a 5-year warranty, which is a nice touch.
