Unique MTB pedals feature an open design for increased traction and reduced weight

The lighter and less bulky a mountain bike pedal is, the thinner it will be. Canadian company Outlier MTB has taken this idea to the extreme, creating pedals with a platform that is completely open in the middle.

Outlier, based in Calgary, offers two models of these unique pedals – the Void and the Pendulum. Both have a very short axle that only goes through the crank-side edge of the pedal, leaving the middle wide open. They essentially outline traditional platform pedals.

This almost-axle-less design not only makes the pedals thinner than conventional ones, but also allows the rider’s shoe to flex slightly downward in the middle. This flex is said to provide an “exceptional amount” of grip on the pins arranged along the outside of the platform.

The Void is made of CNC’d 7075 aluminum and features oil-filled 6902 bearings along with a total of 18 M4 steel pins (nine per side). Each pin protrudes 5.71 mm from the pedal’s surface. The pedal platform measures 115 mm (4.53 in) long by 115 mm wide, and is just 9.85 mm thick. A set of Voids weighs 458 g (16 oz).

The Pendulum is slightly different. Its platform measures 120 mm (4.72 in) long by 115 mm wide, is 14 mm thick in the middle (7 mm at the edges), and sits 6 mm below the center of the stubby axle.

Outlier MTB

This configuration is said to lower the rider’s center of mass for better stability and control. It also allows the pedal to swing forward during sudden decelerations, cradling the rider’s foot in a heels-down position like a pendulum.

The bottom-heavy design causes the pedal to self-right when the rider removes their foot, requiring pins on only one side of the pedal. This results in a claimed weight of just 414 g (14.6 oz) per pair.

Both the Void and the Pendulum are priced at CA$299 (about US$213) per set. The Void is currently available, while the Pendulum will be available in the next production run, estimated for the second quarter of next year. Tioga previously offered a similar pedal, the MT Zero, but it has been discontinued.

Source: Outlier MTB via Pinkbike