If you take a look at the development of road bike pedals over the past 30 years, then the new PW8 pedal system from French manufacturer Ekoï can certainly be considered a minor revolution. The number "8" in the model name is an indication of this: The pedal and shoe bring the sole of the foot within eight millimetres of the pedal axle. This is currently the best value compared to the competition and even undercuts the previous class leader in this discipline, the Speedplay Nano, by four tenths of a millimetre. From a biomechanical point of view, the smallest possible distance between the foot and the pedal axle is favourable for the pedalling movement and power transmission.
Lighter than the competition
At just 105 grams per pedal, the PW8 is lighter than both the Look Keo Blade Carbon and Shimano's PD-R9100 Dura-Ace pedal; together with the cleats (15 grams per pair), the set comes in at a spectacularly low 225 grams, which puts it ahead of even Speedplay's Nano pedals (168 grams plus 100 grams for the lightest cleats).
Cleats for varying degrees of heel clearance
The cleats are available in two versions to vary the heel clearance between 0 and 1.5 degrees or 3 and 6 degrees. Their positioning on or in the sole can be customised within a certain range. The lightweight, delicately designed pedal body follows the contour of the shoe sole exactly; after a few hundred kilometres of familiarisation, we dare to say that no other pedal currently offers such a full, solidly supported stance. Whether you're pedalling and pulling in a standing position or pedalling out of the saddle - nothing tilts, nothing wobbles, without you feeling like you're stuck in a vice.
Easy entry
The tiny cleats are recessed into the sole so that you can walk almost normally in your shoes. Although the front cleat in particular is very small and the mount at the tip of the pedal is narrow, it is almost child's play to get on because the contour of the sole accommodates the pedal body precisely and guides it to the target. The locking mechanism requires only light pressure, but holds securely.
Closed system
It is important to know that the shoe and pedal form a closed system. The pedal is currently only compatible with the matching shoe from Ekoï; the manufacturer has announced that shoes from other manufacturers with the PW8 sole standard will soon be available, but they will not fit cleats from other systems. The Ekoï shoe is lightweight (280 grams per shoe), comfortable, has a nominally wide fit and two Boa-Li2 fasteners.
- Weight: 105 grams per pedal; 15 grams both cleats together
- Price set shoe and pedal: 627.21 Euro
- Price pedal: 171.05 Euro
Thomas Musch
Publisher
