Modern lightweight pedals for closed back (Topline) pedal sockets?
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Modern lightweight pedals for closed back (Topline) pedal sockets?
Hi folks - finally broke down and bought a new set of Time Xpresso pedals. Went to install them and realized I couldn't use them. My crankset is a Topline - the inner face of the crankarm is closed off - the socket is not accessible. (It's probably done that way to strengthen the arm, as it tapers to a rather narrow end.) I don't want to change out the cranks (they're really like new) and BB. But it seems while I was sleeping, many (most?) pedal manufacturers did away with wrench flats on axles, and the only way to install is with an Allen wrench. So my Time pedals and many more won't work on these cranks. What I'm looking for is a recommendation for a lightweight modern pedal that has wrench flats for installation. Would prefer to stick with the same general type of cleat. Thanks for your help!
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I'm not familiar with how Topline does it, but old-school cranks with closed pedal eyes (e.g. TA, Campagnolo, etc.) used press-fit caps to close the pedal eye. If that's what Topline does, perhaps push out the caps, install the pedals and (optionally) press the caps back in place. Failing that, you could drill a hole through the piece to give access to an Allen wrench.
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I'm not familiar with how Topline does it, but old-school cranks with closed pedal eyes (e.g. TA, Campagnolo, etc.) used press-fit caps to close the pedal eye. If that's what Topline does, perhaps push out the caps, install the pedals and (optionally) press the caps back in place. Failing that, you could drill a hole through the piece to give access to an Allen wrench.
They compromised - gave up the open end for aesthetics or possibly aerodynamics. I doubt any company would do this today. Then (about '94?) most pedals had flats in addition to an allen socket, if they had any Allen socket.
Closed inside face of Topline crank - no Allen-wrench-only pedals allowed ....
Last edited by msl109; 10-22-20 at 02:28 PM.
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Speedplay. Not the same type of cleat the OP wants but lightweight and most if not all their pedals have wrench flats. SPEEDPLAY : HIGH PERFORMANCE PEDALS
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Speedplay. Not the same type of cleat the OP wants but lightweight and most if not all their pedals have wrench flats. SPEEDPLAY : HIGH PERFORMANCE PEDALS
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Most of the lower tier Shimano pedals still have wrench flats. It's only the Ultegra/DA level that have dropped them (for weight).
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Drilling an access hole is unlikely to be a structural concern; virtually every other crank on the market has fully open pedal eyes, after all.
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Cracked end of Topline cranks (not the one I'm posting about) Just to illustrate why Topline may have chosen to close the back - reinforcement.
My hunch is they made the sockets blind in part to compensate for the narrow tapered ends.
Last edited by msl109; 10-22-20 at 08:50 PM. Reason: Typos
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It absolutely is on these cranks. They're 300 grams! That's roughly the same as the hollowed out Cannondale Hollowgram SiSL2 cranks that are bonded together... Aluminum arms, remember.
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#11
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Most non high-end shimano pedals have them.
IMO, all pedals should have them. It's lots of fun to remove a stuck pedal that only has an allen socket that gets rounded with a minuscule amount of force.
IMO, all pedals should have them. It's lots of fun to remove a stuck pedal that only has an allen socket that gets rounded with a minuscule amount of force.
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It may be hard to tell from the picture, but there isn't much material at all surrounding the socket and they're known to crack when overtorqued and ridden hard. See pic below
Cracked end of Topline cranks (not the one I'm posting about) Just to illustrate why Topline may have chosen to close the back - reinforcement.
My hunch is they made the sockets blind in part to compensate for the narrow tapered ends.
Cracked end of Topline cranks (not the one I'm posting about) Just to illustrate why Topline may have chosen to close the back - reinforcement.
My hunch is they made the sockets blind in part to compensate for the narrow tapered ends.
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If this were my only crankset and I had no option, I'd think about drilling it, but it's barely used, a really nicely machined piece, and I'd rather swap it out to another bike where I use quill pedals and clips.
Still would like to know if anyone knows of a modern Look or similar pedal that still has wrench flats. I have no problem with a low mileage used older set from 2,3, 5 years back if it's still relatively light.
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[QUOTE=Ferrouscious;21755979]It absolutely is on these cranks. They're 300 grams! That's roughly the same as the hollowed out Cannondale Hollowgram SiSL2 cranks that are bonded together... Aluminum arms, remember.[/build.
That's what I was thinking - aluminum machined to be ultra lightweight, even by today's standards. The cranks belonged to a friend of mine who built himself a 19lb 58cm steel machine (Ritchey Logic Prestige tubing) in '94. He moved to Seattle within a month of the build, changed the cranks out for a Campy triple for the terrain there. He kept the Toplines under the bed until he gifted them to me a couple years back for my Serotta bulld, which I've so far kept carbon-free But I'm ok with carbon pedals.
That's what I was thinking - aluminum machined to be ultra lightweight, even by today's standards. The cranks belonged to a friend of mine who built himself a 19lb 58cm steel machine (Ritchey Logic Prestige tubing) in '94. He moved to Seattle within a month of the build, changed the cranks out for a Campy triple for the terrain there. He kept the Toplines under the bed until he gifted them to me a couple years back for my Serotta bulld, which I've so far kept carbon-free But I'm ok with carbon pedals.
Last edited by msl109; 10-23-20 at 09:21 AM.
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And I wish my old quill pedals had the Allen socket in addition to the flat!
I think the change in the practice is mainly about aesthetics. Yes, I suppose it could be argued that wrench flats are less aerodynamic, but I'll go out on a limb and guess that's negligible overall for 99 percent of us?
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With the amount of trouble I have had with removing some pedals even with wrench flats I wouldn't want to deal with allen key only pedals.
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Absolutely. I like the Allen sockets, but only as a second option or for convenience in installation. Perhaps we can start petitioning manufacturers. Wonder how many mechanics have strong feelings about this?
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#18
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It's about weight. The extra metal for the wrench flats probably adds ~15-20g to the pedal, compared with a tapered spindle. A hex socket removes weight. And there's plenty of options, if you don't care about weight. For reference, a 105 pedal is 265g, Ultegra 248g, DA 228g. And RS500 pedals (with the wrench flats) is 320g. So Shimano could make a DA pedal with flats, but it would likely weigh as much or more than a 105 pedal.