Whenever show time rolls around, it’s a surprise to see just how broad the Crank Brothers range is- and how much is updated on a regular basis. After a bit of a misstep with 2014’s Y-series, the Californian company is back to its roots with a series of tidy folding tools. The entire F-series begins with the 10-function F10 and then adds a magnetised case-stroke-cheater bar with bottle opener (F10+) and or that and a chain tool with spoke wrenches (F15). The line is clean, easy to use, and has few sharp edges to snag pockets or puncture spare tubes.
Is it gold? Heck yeah it is. The chi-chi Mallet E11 is a trail- and enduro-focused pedal with adjustable traction than lower-spec Mallets, and titanium engagement wings.
Initially built as an entry-level option for commuter bikes, the half-clip, half-flat Double Shot line grows with a higher-spec “3” model. Proper traction pins are added for off-road use, a rough “shark skin” coating helps traction even more, and the spindle has been lengthened for a more of an aggressive ‘enduro’ stance.
A Click pump line also joins the range- living up to its name with action that feels and sounds mechanical in a rather satisfying way. The line is split into parallel high- and low-volume (mountain and road) applications and the flex hose is held in place magnetically. High-spec models get in-line pressure gauges and CO2 inflators hidden in the handle (the blue bit above).
Finally wheels retain Crank Brothers’ hub-mounted extended nipples and paired spoke design, allowing high spoke tensions and keeping weight at the wheel centre- but in keeping with current trends grow wider across the board. That means that the Trail-oriented Iodine is 5mm wider at 28mm inside and the cross-country Cobalts grow 2mm to 23mm inside. Hubs have been slimmed down to offset the added material at the rim and prices are down 15-20% across the board.
