off-road.cc

The RaceFace Aeffect is a tough, well made flat pedal with a trail and cross-country focus. While offering decent if not outstanding grip, the platform feels a little small when the terrain gets severe, they're not the thinnest pedals around, and they're pretty pricey. 

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Spinning on a combination of bearings and bushes around a chromoly steel axle, the Aeffect's 6061 aluminium platform feels a little small. At 101x100mm it's reminiscent of classic (or to be less flattering, older) flat pedals.

This near square shape is slightly concave, and has 10 pins per side that can be removed with an allen key or a (very) small spanner.

Grip is decent if not outstanding, so it’s easy to adjust foot position, which some riders will prefer – I’d still rather feel secure as possible, however, and the Aeffects need a more conscious effort than some if you're to keep them underfoot when things get rough.

That small platform doesn't help hugely with clearance, as at 16.9mm it's not especially thin. The corners are pretty square, too, and I clipped them fairly frequently on rocky or rutted climbs. They are at rounded, at least, which does help them slide rather than stop dead.

They can be stripped down and greased easily enough, and the short axle should put less pressure on the outer bushes for an increased lifespan. The open, gappy design also clears mud reasonably well.

The Aeffects feel tough and well made, and the finishing is good – plus with black, red and blue colour options, coordinating them should be simple.

However, while grip is good for XC or light trail work, they're not particularly slim and not well suited to the gravity side of things. If your feet are small and your pockets are deep these could be for you, but otherwise the high price and limited performance mean you're better off looking elsewhere.

• www.raceface.com

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