Once upon a time, I rode a set of pedals that resembled large lollipops. I recall admiring them for their simple, clean design and ample platform, which represented a nice departure from the otherwise clunky, bowling ball nature of most pedal systems back then.
Around the same time, there was a similar minimalist pedal being offered by a company called Coombe that was shaped like a cut-away cross.
By comparison, the Coombe possessed a much more elegant and artisanal design than the other brand. However, they were far more expensive and somewhat elusive, which kept them outside of my grasp at the time.
Then, years later, before I had a chance to buy a pair, I found out that Coombe discontinued making the pedals after most road shoe manufacturers went exclusively to the 3 bolt cleat mounting pattern, which Coombe’s two bolt cleat design was not directly compatible with.
Over the next few years, there were signs that Coombe was testing a new, 3 bolt compatible version of their original pedal design, as well as rumors of another pedal design being in the works. So the word had gotten out that Coombe was testing new designs, but no one knew if or when any might be released.
Well, I’m pleased to say that the Coombe brand has truly reemerged, not only offering a revised version of their original pedal, but a new model called the Millennium Pro, which I recently received a pair to review.
As you can glean from the images, the pedal boasts an altogether new design, featuring a larger platform, dual-row stainless steel bearings and an innovation cleat system that upholds Coombe’s inimitable attention to detail.
Despite the fact that the mercury continues to plummet here in New England, I’ll be riding the Coombe Millennium Pro’s regularly over the next few weeks with a full review to follow.
In the meantime, here’s some technical information from Coombe to digest …
COOMBE MILLENNIUM PRO pedals are fast and easy to engage by simply pressing straight down on either side of the dual sided pedal body.
The cleats are a two piece design consisting of a high strength, light weight, carbon fiber reinforced cleat insert that securely retains the walking/retention pad to the sole.
The cleat pad is made of a resilient grade of high tech Dupont Hytrel polymer, which is wear resistant, non-slip, aerodynamically shaped and easier to walk on than other road pedal cleat designs.
The cleat pads incorporate front and rear inwardly projecting tongues which securely snap into engagement with the rims on the pedal body.
The cleat inserts are right and left handed, providing either 3 degrees of float to the inside or to the outside from center, depending upon which shoe they are installed on.
The “Competition” cleat pads work well for most competitive cyclists. However, stiffer “Track” pads are available for exceptionally strong cyclists and track riders. These pads provide some resistance to floating even when they are dry lubed.
Additionally, more resilient “Commuter” pads are also available. These pads are the easiest to engage and disengage, making them ideal for commuting around town. They also work well for Junior cyclists and light weight riders, weighing under about 120 pounds or less, as well as elderly and physically challenged cyclists who may have difficulty engaging or releasing from other pedal systems.
Built to last a lifetime, COOMBE MILLENNIUM PRO pedals incorporate dual rows of full complement drawn cup needle roller bearings, having a load rating of 900+ pounds each, in conjunction with an outer row of ball bearings.
The dual rows of roller bearings are located side by side, beneath the ball of the foot, to enable these bearings to carry the entire radial load applied by the cyclist, such that the outer row of ball bearings only carry the relatively low, side to side, thrust loads, thus providing balanced loads on the bearings.
The patented design is extremely compact, yet provides low friction and maximum durability, with more than double the load carrying capacity of most other pedals systems on the market today.
Specifications:
Coombe
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