I had a pair of Burgtec composite pedals on my HT and they were great. Really grippy, foot felt pretty locked in. For my birthday this year my wife and kids got me a pair of CB Stamp 7 pedals, bit of bling which I have to admit to being partial too. They’ve got loads of pins, more than the Burgtec, but they’re not as grippy, not even close! So how does it work? More pins mean less contact with the pedal body and more reliance on the pin alone for grip? I figure removing the central pins might improve the Stamp. I do love the massive platform, though it feels like I’ve caught a fair few more rocks with them.
I'd try removing some of the centre pins. Also, compare how sharp the pins are. Hollow or threaded pins offer more grip than large diameter flat top pins.
I'd remove the centre pins near the logo and one at the outside edge, experiment removing the one ahead of the axle then the one behind the axle, I always remove centre pins.
Try DMR “Moto” pins. If they fit.
“Try DMR “Moto” pins. If they fit.”
I found they were ironically less grippy than the standard Vault pins!
I think most of the grip on a flat pedal is from how your shoes sink into the pins. Too many pins and/or pins that are too thick and the pressure is too low for the pins to dig into the sole. The pins are meant to be adjustable height on the Stamp 7 - I think you can wind them out so they dig in more.
It’s also the shape of the pedal they are not flat
So you clip into clipless pedals, and flat pedals aren't flat?
I have filed/sanded my composite pedals to have more concavity and it makes a big difference.
I have filed/sanded my composite pedals to have more concavity
This guy pedals 😀
When I was riding Superstar Nano pedals, I used to use higher pins on the edges and lower ones in the middle to get better grip/feel.
Now just ride standard NP Horizons, concavity built in.
Dunno, but the Shimano XT flats are insanely grippy
Some like longer pins - just in the trailing edge of the trailing foot - check it out. Andrew at NSMB. It was in a pedal review.
Phew. Found it I think. https://nsmb.com/articles/asymmetric-plane-flat-pedals-a-followup/
“in the development of these pedals he found that running longer pins on the rear of his trailing foot's pedal resulted in substantially fewer pedal slips.”
Never really experimented, but the Superstar Nano Evo's and five ten combo that I run is more than grippy enough
I find stiff shoes really kill my confidence on flat pedals, especially in the wet. Flexibility is good for wrapping your foot around and to the pedal shape, which is good for instance riding trials but less so for general pedaling.
My feet have got used to riding around in flexible shoes now on my local urban/xc mtb routes but have a pair of more protective and slightly stiffer Ride Concepts for proper trails. Was wearing the RC shoes when I got my first propper shinner attempting trials moves the other day. They do feel good on the trails though.
Does anyone remember DMR Terror-pins? Extra long for improved shin tenderising
CB product in look better than they perform shocker.
lol
A small front to back concave, for me, is vital for good grip. I've tried absolutely flat and even convex (Super* iirc) and as well as feeling horrible, they don't grip 1/2 as well. Side to side concave is, for me, hugely uncomfortable as it sends the outside of my foot to sleep but others experience may vary.
After a few years of various pedals my favourites have been Easton Cullys and now Burgtecs in Mk4 or composite flavour and I've got these fitted to al my off road bikes bar 1. The Burgs and the Cullys are very similar in shape and pin placement but the Burgs are a lot thinner (and lighter).
I also like a nice concave pedal without too many pins. Favourites being an old pair of Cully’s, Mk1 Penthouse Flats and my current Mk5 Penthouse Flats.
I had some Superstar Nanos that gripped ok but I didn’t like the axle hump in the middle on that style.
Composite pedals have thin M3 threaded pins, so I guess they grip better than anything - thinnness digs in, threads bite and hold onto the hole. The longevity of shoe soles might suffer though.