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review
BTwin Road Half Clipless pedals£24.99
VERDICT:
Decent combo clipless and flat pedals, but flat side can be hard to juse, and is slippery when wet
Weight:
401g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
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B'Twin's road half clipless pedals are a cost-effective way to ride your bike with cleated or normal shoes, though the platform side could do with better grip. There's only a small weight penalty to be balanced against the very reasonable cost.
These pedals look a lot like Shimano's A530 SPD pedals, though they are about 20 grams heavier. At Shimano list price, you'd be paying more than a pound per gram for that weight saving.
The body and platform are made from aluminium to save weight, while the axle is chromoly steel for strength. The pedals use cartridge ball bearings. Cleat tension on the clipless side can be adjusted and uses included Shimano SPD-compatible cleats.
Installing is a doddle: a bit of grease on the threads and either a pedal spanner, or a more ubiquitous 6mm Allen key, and job's a good one.
The SPD side works really well. Engagement is positive, they can hold your feet as loose or tight as you like thanks to the adjustment. Due to the substantial platform, the spd side always stays up which makes it easy to find the mechanism and clip in.
It doesn't take a genius to work out the flipside of that: it can be a bit tricky to flip the pedal over and get your foot on when using normal shoes, especially going uphill. It's not a big deal if you don't mind a few pedal strokes with your shoe on the SPD side before you get it right.
The platform on the flat side is plenty big enough to distribute the force without generating any pain points on the sole of your feet. The top of the platform has some profile, but nowhere near the kind of grip you get from the steel studs in mountain bike style flat pedals. As soon as they get wet, things get pretty slippery. Better grip on the platform side would be a massive improvement.
These 2-in-1 pedals are good when using clipless, and adequate with normal shoes in the dry. If you're planning to use the flat side more than occasionally, you might want to find something with a bit more grip.
Verdict
Decent combo clipless and flat pedals, but flat side can be hard to juse, and is slippery when wet
road.cc test report
Make and model: B'Twin Road Half Clipless pedals
Size tested: Black
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
City and urban cycling. Dual function pedals with Shimano SPD compatible cleats. Classic or clipless, choose what suits you at any time thanks to these 2-in-1 pedals.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Weight: 360 g
Aluminium body, chromoly steel axle and cartridge ball bearings
Adjustable cleat tension (80-140kgf/cm)
Shimano compatible cleats
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
The pedals are made of sturdy, if a little heavy, materials. A strong steel axle and cartridge ball bearings should see the pedals through a good bit of (ab)use
Rate the product for performance:
5/10
Riding clipless is fine and works well, but the flat side is a little tricky to get on and is very slippery in the wet.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
The pedals are made of sturdy, if a little heavy, materials. A strong steel axle and cartridge ball bearings should see the pedals through a good bit of (ab)use
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
7/10
They are a little heavier then comparable pedals, but also a bit cheaper.
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
8/10
Work well clipless, and a good big platform on the flat side.
Rate the product for value:
9/10
They are half price compared to Shimano's equivalent at list price. They are a bit heavier though, and the Shimano ones can be found at substantial discounts online, making them about the same.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The clipless side works fine, but the flat side can be a little tricky to use. In the wet, the flat side could do with more grip.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Use cycling shoes or normal shoes without changing pedals.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Riding in normal shoes in the wet; the platform is too slippery.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? I would probably buy the Shimano ones if I can find them cheaper.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? If they'll be using the clipless side for the majority of the time, yes.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
These 2-in-1 pedals are good when using clipless, and adequate when using with normal shoes in the dry. If you're planning to use the flat side more than occasionally, you might want to find something with a bit more grip.
About the tester
Age: 36 Height: 1.78m Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: All of them! My best bike is: Cannondale CAAD10
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,
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