Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to REVIEWS
review
Pedals
Revolution Two-Way Contact pedalRevolution Contact pedals

Revolution Two-Way Contact pedal

8
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Apr 27, 2009

0
£24.46

VERDICT:

8
10
Great pedals for the money, but we'd pay an extra fiver for better bearings
Weight: 
443g
Contact: 
www.edinburghbicycle.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Revolution Contact two-way pedals are a quasi bear-trap design with a cleat binding on one-side and flat on the other, so you can use cycling shoes for more aggressive riding and trainers for running errands.

Cup and cone bearings turn on sturdy cro-moly axles but in common with many budget models benefit from a strip and liberal re-greasing-especially on bikes in hard service. As an experiment, I performed the operation on the right hand pedal only. After 150 miles, the left felt almost as smooth, suggesting they bed-in with use.

Cleat tension is easily adjusted using a 3mm Allen wrench. Being Shimano pattern, it follows that Shimano cleats work fine but curiously, other imitators such as Wellgo, Vp, Exustar and Winwood were better matched. Unusually these pedals are weighted so as to present themselves cleat side up for easy entry and quick getaways at the lights- Just flip them over to use the flat side.

There’s approximately four degrees of float with the OEM cleats to keep knees happy and their broader surface area is great for scooting around town but have a tendency to ground out paired to 175mm cranks. Should this prove a problem, the steel cages are easily removed via four Phillips screws, giving a lower profile without overly compromising comfort and saving 25g into the bargain. Weather sealing could be improved-it’s not poor by any means but I did note some contamination when immersed in gloopy mud but using good quality marine grease will keep the bearings happy and the elements firmly at bay.

They’re not quite on a par with Shimano’s M324 but then they’re £20 cheaper and 66g lighter. Stick with Shimano for continental touring but the two- way are ideal for working bikes and commu-tourers.

Verdict

Great pedals given the price but I'd readily pay an extra fiver for better bearings.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Revolution Contact dual sided pedal

Size tested: Std

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Contacts are a dual sided SPD clone designed toi entertain both SPD and street shoes for the best of both worlds.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Alloy bodies with weighted cleats mean the pedals always appear cleat side up- great for getting away at the lights. Bearings turn on strong cro-moly spindles and the Shimano pattern cleat means pretty much anything vaugely Shimano pattern will work.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Construction is very solid and they are very simple to strip and service. Removing the cage plates gives a much lower profile, shaves a little weight without being to the detrement of comfort.Clipless newbies could even remove the cages and race in them.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Better than some more expensive offerings, although seals could be improved slightly.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Good, simple design means they can be stripped and regreased easily and so long as not used exclusively off road should return high milages.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

Lighter than Shimano's base model by 66g

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Superb value for money

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

They've been fine for most duties and I'd be happy to use them on an urban fixed/singlespeed with the outer cages removed. Great for commuting, touring and general riding but seals not quite up to mud-plugging duties.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Nice features, reasonably broad platform, good cleat compatibility and easily serviced bearings mean it's a cheap but very cheerful design.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Unreservedly

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Revolution Two-Way Contact pedal
Dual sided pedals
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

Latest Comments