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TECH NEWS

Edco launches “swaying” 3ax pedals + video

New pedals offer unique movement that's said to improve leg alignment and efficiency

Carbon wheel and component manufacturer Edco has made its new 3ax (pronounced ‘try-axe’) clipless pedal system available to buy. These pedals use a rocking mechanism that allows 4° of lateral “sway”.

If that “sway” is difficult to envision, this video shows you exactly what’s going on.

We reported on the pedals a couple of years ago when the team behind them was looking for funding on Kickstarter. Go to that story for more details on the design.

“In combination with 9 degrees of traditional cleat float, the pedals produced impressive results in third party laboratory testing: 17% less lateral knee movement, up to 5.4% increase in rider efficiency, and more even foot pressure distribution,” says Edco. “The 30 rider test pool, which consisted of both professionals and enthusiasts, consistently reported more comfort, less fatigue, and better performance while cycling.”

edco-3ax-8.jpg

The development and Kickstarter project for 3AX took close to four years to complete.

“The pedal tilts when it moves laterally, since it moves on an arc, not a straight line,” said 3ax inventor and co-founder Stefan van Eijk. “This rocking motion, this extra degree of freedom, improves your leg alignment without compromising the stability of the pedal platform.” 

The aluminium bodied pedals are made in the Netherlands and weigh a claimed 390g per pair. That’s a little more than standard clipless pedals, not surprisingly (the £39.99 Radial Forte Pro Carbon clipless pedals that we reviewed recently, for example, weigh 312g). 

edco-3ax-1.jpg

The axles are made from a proprietary alloy and are 54mm long. The pedals’ stack height is 12.5mm and the system uses standard 3-bolt cleat mounting. Look Keo compatible cleats and hardware are included in the package. As with most other clipless pedals, the release tension is adjustable. The retail price is £249.99.

www.edco.ch/en/products/3ax

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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13 comments

Avatar
DaveE128 | 8 years ago
0 likes

Interesting idea, not least because it sits strangely with the often-repeated idea that SPD-SLs are better than SPDs because of the bigger platform providing stability. Personally I prefer SPDs!

Avatar
festina | 8 years ago
1 like

As someone who shims their cleats to cure knee pain these pedals are of interest to me. For comfort I'm not too fussed about the weight increase but the price!? And I thought shims were expensive.

Avatar
darrenleroy | 8 years ago
0 likes

It kind of makes sense, but not at that price. I'm still waiting for a manufacturer to bring out pedals with spindles of different lengths. Not all hips are the same width. You'd think that would be a basic offering. A bit like crank lengths. But no!

Avatar
racyrich replied to darrenleroy | 8 years ago
0 likes

darrenleroy wrote:

It kind of makes sense, but not at that price. I'm still waiting for a manufacturer to bring out pedals with spindles of different lengths. Not all hips are the same width. You'd think that would be a basic offering. A bit like crank lengths. But no!

Keywins then.

 

Avatar
Butty replied to darrenleroy | 8 years ago
0 likes

darrenleroy wrote:

It kind of makes sense, but not at that price. I'm still waiting for a manufacturer to bring out pedals with spindles of different lengths. Not all hips are the same width. You'd think that would be a basic offering. A bit like crank lengths. But no!

 

Dura Ace +4mm spindle lengths are available.

You can always add a few washers on a spindle for a DIY approach.

Avatar
P3t3 | 8 years ago
0 likes

Stephan van ejik looks terribly awkward on his bike, I don't think I've ever seen someone look less comfortable on a road bike. I don't think his problem is pedals, I think it's that his bike is too big!

Avatar
Grizzerly | 8 years ago
0 likes

3ax is pronounced three ax, not try axe.

The concept went downhill from there on!

Avatar
Mat Brett replied to Grizzerly | 8 years ago
1 like

Grizzerly wrote:

3ax is pronounced three ax, not try axe.

It's pronounced 'try axe' by the people who made it up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J7R3pKPEMo&feature=youtu.be

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 8 years ago
3 likes

I read with mild distracted interested to the last line, and now my keyboard has half chewed sandwich all in between the keys.

Avatar
Accessibility f... | 8 years ago
1 like

Mention "try-axe" to anyone who works in tv and they'll think of this:

http://www.directcablesystems.com/shop/assemblies/triax-lemo-assemblies/

Avatar
barongreenback | 8 years ago
2 likes

Yikes!  I applaud any innovation but that's a serious wedge of cash to splash out on the basis that it *might* help with knee problems.  Sadly I think this idea will be dead unless they can bring it down to Speedplay prices.

Avatar
MattieKempy | 8 years ago
3 likes

Nice idea - frightening price!

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 8 years ago
3 likes

250 quid for a half a kilo (with cleats).

 

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