Title’s Connect flat pedals seriously looks the part. Although far from perfect, they are bulletproof pedals ideal for those who prioritise all-out durability over adjustability and pedal feel. But, at this price, it’s swarmed by competitors in the best mountain bike pedals space that outperform them.
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Title Connect flat pedals - Technical details
Coming from a brand conceived by freerider Brett Rheeder, it comes as no surprise that simplicity and durability are key statements of Title’s Connect pedal. The brand’s website is fairly quiet about what’s happening feature-wise, choosing to get straight to the point.
As such, the Connect features a forged 6061-T6 aluminium build that gets a final pass through a CNC machine to shed a slither of weight. The spindle, or axle, is CNC machined from Chromoly SCM 415 and it’s fitted with three sealed bearings and an IGUS bushing.
Its pedal body measures a claimed 105mm by 111mm and is cut with a concave platform that Title says is 14mm. There are then 22 pins per pedal, so 11 per side and we’re told that the pedals come in a 398 grams. On my scales, the pair weigh 396g.
The Connect pedals are available in five colours and we’ve got a pair of Chrome pedals.
Title Connect flat pedals - Performance
My experience with the Connect pedals has been very mixed but they look excellent, and, in this respect, they’re worth their price. Branding is subtle, but there are neat cues, such as the small logo inside the pedal’s leading edge.
On the bike, the Connects provide shedloads of grip, and that’s all credit to the incredibly aggressive pins. The concave shape is also created through the pins, not the platform the website vaguely suggests. It must also be noted that the raised portion of the platform where the axle sits creates a convex shape.
Although grip is abundant, because the pins are so tall, there’s a knock-on effect to pedal feel. Often, I’ve felt as if I’ve been stood on top of the pins, rather than on the pedal body itself, with the pins biting into the sole of my Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Boa shoes. Unfortunately, there’s no opportunity to lower the height of the pins as they’re at their lowest from the box. To lower them you’ll need to purchase shorter pins that Title doesn’t offer. However, the brand does sell a full suite of spares.
It goes on with the pins, too, as they’re adjustable only via a small Allen key from the very top. This could lead to problems down the line, especially if you were to sheer a pin clean from the pedal. There’s no access from the other side of the pedal, so you’ll need to get creative under such circumstances.
And that’s a running theme with the pedals – durability and that’s impressive given the respectively low weight. These pedals have put up with some of my worst riding and have come out the other side only showing a few scratches. Part of that would be due to the chrome finish as it does a great job of hiding imperfections and the like.
Although the pedal’s dimensions are fairly on the money on paper, the shape effectively narrows the pedal, and that’s been the big kicker for me. I like a wide and large pedal but where there’s quite a taper before the pedal reaches its full size from the axle, so the usable area is not quite as wide as suggested. In fact, in reality, the pedal doesn’t measure up to the claimed measurement on the site. The 105mm actual width is accurate but the quoted 111mm length measures 108mm in reality (well, with my tape measure).
But because the width isn’t exactly as expected, I’ve often found myself shifting my foot position on the pedal and often felt as if I’ve been lacking space, despite the level of grip available.
Title Connect flat pedals - Verdict
At £150, the Connects are placed firmly in that mid- to high-end space of flat pedals but, unfortunately, loads outperform them. The Race Face Aeffect R pedals are priced at £130 and are a real favourite of mine. They’re forged, so the finish isn’t quite so posh but in terms of performance, pedal size and pedal feel, they’re some of the best around.
Pembree’s D2A pedals also come in at £130 and dial the build quality scale up a notch. They’re fully CNC machined and have a heft of eco-friendly credentials. The platforms are comfortable and the pins are removable via a small or adjustable spanner, so they can be replaced easily.
DMR’s Vault Mag flat pedals are some of the best at £120. They might not look quite as flawless after months of use, but they’re incredibly easy to service, and the grip on offer is more than enough. They feel great underfoot, too.
If it’s durability you’re looking for and have small feet, the Title Connect pedals are a solid choice, as there are bags of grip on offer in a fantastic-looking and reasonably light package. However, there’s room for improvement.