Burgtec Penthouse Flat MK5 pedals £109.99
FLATISVERYCLOSETO BEINGTHEPERFECTPEDAL
Since launching their brand with the original Penthouse flats back in 2003, the name Burgtec has become synonymous with ultra-grippy, hard-asnails pedals. In the intervening 17 years, their meaty flats have gone through several iterations, getting progressively thinner and lighter but always maintaining that all-important grip. The latest MK5 version tested here is very close to being the perfect pedal.
For starters, the platform measures 100x102mm, which is sizable but not so big that you’re paranoid about catching the pedals on rocks all the time. Then there’s the generous 2mm of concavity on each side, which your feet can mould into, to stop them being bounced off. Because the overall depth at the centre of the axle is particularly thin, the pedals give you a well-balanced and lowfeeling stance on the bike. The offset leading edges are only 15mm deep too, so, withstanding any really clumsy footwork, we found that the Penthouses will skim over most obstacles.
At the same time as making their new pedals bigger, Burgtec have managed to shave 64g off the weight of the MK4 version. A pair of MK5s with steel axles come in at 382g, which is fairly light for alloy pedals. With the updated design, the Macclesfield-based brand have also solved our biggest complaint about the old MK4, which was that the pedal body sat too close to the crank arm. There’s no axle visible on the MK5 either, but the platform has been made wider to compensate for this. With a bigger usable surface area, we never found our feet hung over the sides.
The eight 4.5mm-tall removable pins per side provide ample traction. They’re all positioned around the edge of the platform, further helping your shoes to sink in. In terms of all-out bite, the Penthouse MK5s aren’t quite as aggressive as our benchmark,
Nukeproof’s Horizon pedals, but they aren’t far off. To increase durability, Burgtec have specced high-quality igus W300 bushings alongside sealed bearings and rubber oil seals. If their old pedals are anything to go by, these should last a good while. It’s impossible to fully test the longevity of pedals without riding them for at least six months, but so far we’ve no complaints.
Their only downside is perhaps the price, but British manufacturing isn’t cheap, and we’d regard these as a longterm investment. Ed www.burgtec.co.uk
Not quite the most grippy pedals, but lightweight with great feel and quality construction