Tested: Momentum Bicycle FlyPaper Pedals

Words and Photos by Anthony Smith
3/5/09

Over the past few years there has been a trend in the mountain bike industry to make platform pedals as thin as possible, and as light as possible. Momentum Bicycle has taken that concept to the next level with their FlyPaper pedals. Weighing in at just 351 grams and measuring just 3.7 millimeters thick, these are the thinnest, lightest off-road platform pedals to date.

Rather than using a traditional bearing and axle assembly directly under the rider's foot, the FlyPaper pedals are supported by two oversized bearings mounted in the crank arm. The pedal itself is CNC'd out of heat-treated 7075 Aluminum with 12mm pedal pins threading all the way through the pedal, leaving about 4 millimeters visible on either side.

There are a number of benefits to having a pedal this thin. With the riders foot closer to the pedals axis of rotation the leverage that would otherwise allow your foot to "roll" the pedal significantly reduced. What's more, the thin profile of the pedal has a way of feeling stickier and more stable.

Any skepticism that I may have had about these pedals was quickly erased after I got them on the trail. The pedals are incredibly stiff, and the stability they provide throughout the pedal stroke inspires confidence on even the most challenging terrain. After six months testing them the bearings still feel smooth, I never lost any pedal pins, and, incredibly, never developed any play in the pedals.

The FlyPaper pedals are fully serviceable with out having to disassemble the pedal. A 2-millimeter hex bolt on the inside of the crankarm exposes a grease port where the bearings can be injected with fresh grease. It is recommended that the pedals be lubed once for every ten times you would lube your chain. Additionally, Momentum Bicycle offers a 3-year warranty on the bearings, and a 5-year warranty on the pedals.

Currently Momentum Bicycle offers the FlyPaper pedals with two crank options. The FSA Gravity Gap crankset with Mega EXO bottom bracket was the version tested, and is offered at a suggested retail of $579. The company also offers the FlyPaper pedals with the FSA, Gravity Maximus crankset. The Maximus crank pedal combo does not come with a BB and retails for $499.

The obvious downside is that you're wed to using only one of two crank options—the only two with enough meat at the end of the crankarm to house the pedals' oversized bearings. The upside, however, is a superlative feel that, if you like running flat pedals and have ever rolled one on accident, is worth at least testing out.

I'll continue to run these into next season on the North Shore of Vancouver, and will add to this review if any issues arise.

For more information contact Momentum Bicycle at (928) 399-9669 or hit them up on the web at www.momentumbicycle.com

Thin to win!

Disassembling the FlyPaper pedal is a breeze with only one bolt to remove in order to access the bearings. The downside: The FlyPaper pedals' double-row bearings only fit in select FSA cranks.

Two oversized bearings mounted in the crank arm support the CNC'd FlyPaper pedal, which sports 12 pins and six mud clearing holes for more than enough traction in even the worst conditions.

Reader Comments

Posted Fri Mar 6, 2009, 3:50 PM — By snap!

Also works well as campfire spatula. Eggs anyone?

Posted Sat Mar 7, 2009, 1:32 AM — By Zorro

FOOLS! It aint no spatula! Aint no pedals neither! It's obviously some type of S & M paddle designed to LOOK like a pedal. You bastards! Educate yourselves! For a sweet bike to put these fetish flippers on check out www.tomac.com

Posted Sat Mar 7, 2009, 9:50 PM — By Bykeworx

It's innovation like this that drives mountain biking higher, faster, and farther. Way to go Momentum, keep the industry on it's toes.

Posted Tue Mar10, 2009, 8:58 PM — By Tom Basic

So, what if you already have the requisite cranks? Why can't I just simply buy the pedals? I'm sure the feel of these is awesome, but I see a major oversight: what if you booger up a traction pin on both sides? How're you gonna' replace that?

Posted Tue Mar10, 2009, 9:12 PM — By Tom Basic

Actually, just looked up the website: the cranks are modified for the pedals.

Posted Tue Mar31, 2009, 11:21 AM — By Kid Riemer

Glad to finally see a real review of these pedals. Totally awesome concept. I'd love to try them.

Posted Mon Aug 3, 2009, 6:45 AM — By hardy

Awesome pedals. They are out of my price range tho. Thats more then what I paid for my BMX.

Posted Wed Feb 3, 2010, 5:54 AM — By chris

look awesome, it wont chew your leg but cut in half