Raceface Atlas Pedals [Rider Review]

Our "Rider Review" article series features the honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for.

When RaceFace rolled out their new Atlas pedals, we were all pretty stoked to say the least. The new 110x108mm pedal body design not only has a massive and grippy platform, they're also very well built to withstand any hard riding. The pedals also come with a lifetime warranty. See what one of our customers thinks of them!

Overview

When I started mountain biking a little over four years ago, I had to make the same decision as every other new rider - clipless or platform (flat)? I started out riding flats for the usual beginner reasons - easier to put a foot down when you mess up, fear of going OTB and bringing the bike with me, etc. As I progressed, I learned to love the freedom that flat pedals offer, but I also learned deal with occasionally slipping a pedal on technical climbs and descents. I tried a few different pedals - a meatier pair of Crank Brothers Stamps that I used had slightly better grip than the cheap pedals I started out with, but their thick profile led to more pedal strikes and wore down the pins. I probably would have tried switching to clipless by now if I hadn’t discovered the Raceface Atlas pedal.

I initially bought these pedals for my hardtail, where keeping your footing through rough and chunky sections can be especially hard. I liked them so much that I quickly bought a second pair to run on my full suspension bike.

These pedals have a low profile and a wide platform that is perfect for larger feet. The pins offer a ton of grip. The pedals really hook up with the soles of your shoes and keep you feeling locked in at all times. Paired with the Five Ten Freerider shoe, your feet stick to the pedals like they are clipped in. It can be a little tricky to reposition your foot on the fly due to how well these pedals stick to the soles of your riding shoes. For those seeking less grip in specific places, the pins are adjustable and can be backed out. This also makes them easier to replace if they do start to wear down.

I have two full seasons of hard riding on my oldest pair of these pedals, including riding through wet and sloppy PNW winters that make short work of bottom brackets. I haven’t needed to service the pedals once and they still spin as freely as the day I bought them. I have also subjected the pedals to their fair share of rock strikes and the pins have only a moderate amount of wear.

The one downside of all that pin grip and durability is that, like any good flat pedal, if you do manage to slip a foot off you can expect to pay for it. My shins and calves have their fair share of battle scars from these pedals, but at the end of the day those are all the result of user error - can’t blame the pedal for doing it’s job.

Final Thoughts

My aim here isn’t to add fuel to the fire in the flats vs. clipless debate. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I haven’t totally closed the door on giving clipless mountain bike pedals a shot someday. That said, I recommend these pedals to anyone questioning their decision to ride flats. If you are facing pressure from clipless riding buddies to trade in your sticky rubber for cleats, give these pedals a try first. For clipless riders who are flat pedal-curious but don’t want to sacrifice their attachment to the bike, the Raceface Atlas pedals are the next best thing.