Reverse Base flat pedal review

Reverse Base flat pedal vital stats: 116 x 104 x 20mm. Slightly concave shape with added CNC work. 16 x 11mm pins per pedal.

• Brand: Reverse
• Product: Base Flat Pedal
• From: Reverse
• Price: €84.90
• Tested by: Aran for 9 months

As a fairly young rider I have spent at most only a decade of riding proper mountain bikes. In this relatively short time I have still made my way through a fair share of flat pedals. I have always loved a flat pedal. Partly out of fear of being clipped in, but more so because I just like the freedom they offer. I can come home from university, forget my shoes and just stick a pair of old trainers on and jump on my Dad’s bike.

All my racing life I have stuck with flats, chopping and changing between brands, and these Reverse Base pedals are definitely some of my favourite so far.

When I started racing as a kid my funds were limited so I would always opt for a set of plastic pedals. Usually this did me just fine, once I’d found a set I liked. However when I got my first wages I eagerly bought a set of aluminium flats. For £110. And – to be honest – I ended up slightly disappointed. The shiny chrome finish looked sick but the performance difference from the plastic flats was pretty much negligible.

I became even more disappointed when after a relatively short time of riding them the bearings wore out and proved an absolute nightmare to replace.

This tale maybe explains my fondness for these Reverse pedals. Firstly, the £80-ish price point makes them an affordable pedal compared to most other CNCd alloy flats. Secondly, having ridden with these pedals for a round nine months now I haven’t noticed any real drop in performance from the bearings.

Reverse claims the grip of these pedals “stay glued” to your feet. I don’t disagree. The long pins provide probably the grippiest platform I have ridden. I don’t think I’ve slipped a pedal once with these. The size of this platform (116 x 104mm) felt ideal for me compared to other wider pedals I’ve tried.

The Base pedals hit a sweet spot between narrow-enough to avoid strikes and wide-enough to feel confident in your grip. The only issue I could really draw from this grip would be that placing your foot in the wrong place on the pedal is sometimes an issue as they stop you making those slight adjustments. This however seems a bit like suggesting these pedals are too grippy which is not something I think most riders would complain about.

Another selling point from Reverse is their Baurillium bearings which are said to increase longevity and make for a much lower maintenance pedal. Over this super-wet winter of riding I haven’t been kind to the pedals with plenty of exposure to gritty mud and plenty of trips to the jetwash. Derspite this punishment, the bearings still feel smooth and silent.

The pins are easy to replace and Reverse can provide you with shorter 9mm pins if you wanted to change down.

Overall

The Reverse Base flat pedals then are a solid choice boasting great value and performance. With composite pedals being so good at the moment and so cheaper, it can seems a bit like throwing money away when it comes to buying aluminium pedals. These Reverse Base pedals seem to be the ideal; really good quality, nice riding and at a decent price for metal flatties.

Review Info

Brand:	Reverse
Product:	Base Flat Pedal
From:	Reverse
Price:	€84.90
Tested:	by Aran for 9 months

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