When you think of the company Crank Brothers, the first thing that comes to mind are their unique Eggbeater pedals. Crank Brothers has been steadily releasing innovative new products though, and they have quite a lineup for 2011 including pedals, stems, bars, seatposts, wheelsets, and more! Here’s a sampling of products as seen at the 2010 Interbike expo.
Eggbeater Pedals
Crank Brothers has recently changed their product naming conventions, switching to a more recognizable hierarchy of product level. Gone are the MXR, C, SL, and Ti names, replaced by 1,2,3, and 11. 1 is the entry level, the products becoming more exotic as the number increases, until the ultimate number 11 is reached. I believe “11” refers to “that extra push over the cliff” that some desire, as documented in the movie, Spinal Tap .
Crank Brothers also has two distinct component groups, the Cobalt and the Iodine. Cobalt is the lighter weight XC group, and the Iodine group is heavier duty for the All Mountain/Free ride crowd.
Candy Pedals
Pedals
Eggbeater pedals have undergone subtle design changes over the years, and have recently been updated to be stronger and more durable, able to go longer between service intervals. The Candy line, basically an Eggbeater surrounded by a small platform, has been much more obviously redone. The old multi-part plastic platform has been replaced by a machined aluminum body on the 2, 3, and 11 models. The Candy 1 pedals have the same look as the higher end pedals, but in a simpler 1 piece composite body.
Also available are the larger platform Acid and Mallet pedals, and a flat (no clip) 50/50 pedal.
Cobalt Seatposts
Seatposts
A variety of seatposts are now available from Crank Brothers. The Cobalt posts have a simple, single bolt clamp, and come in aluminum or carbon. There is also the Joplin line of adjust-on-the-fly seatposts that allow the rider to quickly adjust seat height with a lever attached to the post or a remote on the handlebar.
Iodine Stems
Stems
Crank Brothers offers one high end 11 Cobalt stem for XC/Race. It has a non removable bar clamp, and a single torx bolt tightens the stem on both the bars and the steering tube. This high-end carbon stem is very light at 125 grams, but the $300 price tag will keep it away from the masses.
The all-mountain Iodine stems are more affordable, but still at a weight typical of an XC stem. The 2 and 3 feature a single torx bolt design for the steering tube clamp, and a standard 4 bolt bar clamp. The Iodine 2 has an aluminum face plate, and the 3 has a carbon faceplate.
Iodine 3 Stem close-up
Bars
Crank Brothers now offers XC/Racing and Freeride bars in aluminum or carbon fiber. There is nothing unusual or revolutionary about the bars, but the handlebar collection comes in a variety of different widths and rises to suit your tastes.
Bars
Wheelsets
Crank Brothers tubeless ready wheelsets definitely catch your eye. The spokes connect to a vertical rib on the rim rather than a drilled hole through the rim wall, and the spoke meets an elongated nipple at a midpoint between the rim and the hub. The wheels come in a variety of colors and purposes, built for XC, 29er, Freeride, or DH.
Wheels
For more products and information, visit the Crank Brothers website: http://www.crankbrothers.com/
