Nice to meet you.
Or perhaps I should say, have you seen these pedals before?
We have started carrying a British pedal manufacturer called PEMBREE here at Circles. It all began when Jay Sycip, who works at the heart of CHRIS KING, introduced us to its founder, Phil Law.
With his honed manufacturing skills, deep knowledge, and profound love for the cycling community, Phil Law thought about how he could propose cycling—and specifically mountain biking, which he loves so much—to society at large. The answer he arrived at as an engineer—these pedals—is about not just consuming, but acquiring the right things and continuing to use them. We believe this is a form of enlightenment. A company we love, CHRIS KING, also thinks about how to engage with society from the perspective of cycling as a convenient tool, just as Phil does. Since the offer came from Jay Sycip, who likely has the longest relationship with us in the Circles family among those at CHRIS KING, we had an almost certain conviction that this must be a good company, and that Phil must be a good person.
PEMBREE
PEMBREE is a company still in its early stages. It is based in East Sussex, a land facing the sea in the southeast of England.
Wondering what kind of place it was, I checked a map and found it is an area with beautiful cliffs called the Seven Sisters facing the English Channel. Looking at the terrain and various images online, it appears to be a beautiful hilly region. It seems there are many mountain bike trails that run through that scenery, and it made me feel like I want to visit at least once!
The pedals made in such a beautiful region are not only great in appearance but also have a wonderful attitude toward their products. First, I would like to introduce the two models of aluminum pedals they make, which feature large cutouts: the R1V and the D2A. Both possess high grip, durability, and visual beauty, and I would like to introduce the features of each pedal below.
PEMBREE
R1V Mountain Bike Pedal
The PEMBREE R1V has raised the performance and durability of platform pedals to a level we never imagined.
The 3D concave platform firmly holds the rider's foot on the pedal. It is also properly chamfered for quick mud shedding. Furthermore, the anodized finish is much thicker than that of other companies' products, keeping it looking great for a long time.
The replaceable traction rails and pins, coupled with the concave-style pedal body, provide the rider with unparalleled grip and support. The proprietary traction pins and stainless steel spindles are CNC-manufactured by the British company Precision Products, and their strength is certified for the aerospace industry. These traction rails are also sold separately, allowing you to customize the look of your pedals to your liking.
By using the highest quality SKF sealed ball bearings and needle bearings from the German manufacturer Schaeffler, manufactured to tighter tolerances, long-term maintenance-free use is possible. The specially designed spindle seal is engineered to reliably prevent contamination inside the pedal even when used in harsh environments.
The stainless steel parts from Precision Products provide high strength and corrosion resistance, while the Schaeffler bearings offer not only excellent rotation performance but also long life thanks to their sealing. Furthermore, the body and cap design, conceived to maximize space for the shaft and bearings while ensuring a seal, make this R1V pedal a world-class, long-lasting pedal.
[PEMBREE]
R1V Mountain Bike Pedal
Price: ¥28,380-
Colors: Bronze, Red, Purple
Spindle: Stainless Steel Pedal
Body: Aluminium
Traction Pins: Stainless Steel
Traction Rails: Aluminium
End Cap: Aluminium
Inner Bearings: Sealed Schaeffler Needle Bearings
Outer Bearings: Sealed Schaeffler Ball Bearings
Pins: 10 Traction Pins per side
Body Dimensions: 100mm x 110mm x 20mm
Weight: 624g
PEMBREE
D2A Platform Pedal
The PEMBREE D2A is a flat pedal that achieves the best possible balance of traction, strength, and weight. Like the R1V, it is designed and manufactured in the UK by PEMBREE, which adheres to the strictest environmental standards in its manufacturing processes.
The basic concept is the same as the R1V; the large, low-profile flat pedal delivers class-leading traction and support. It is properly chamfered for quick mud shedding, and the anodized finish is much thicker than that of other companies' products, keeping it looking great for a long time.
Like the R1V, it uses traction pins and stainless steel spindles from the UK's Precision Products, which have strength certified for the aerospace industry. The bearings are premium bearings from the German manufacturers Schaeffler and IGUS, which are top-tier sealed bearings offering excellent rotation performance and high durability.
When these two elements are combined with PEMBREE's beautiful CNC-machined aluminum body, it provides unparalleled sole grip and smooth rotation performance. As it is slightly lighter than the R1V, if you want to ride the trails more lightly, or if you have racing in mind, the D2A is the right choice.
[PEMBREE]
D2A Platform Pedal
Price: ¥19,580-
Colors: Black, Silver, Red, Purple, Blue, Orange
Specifications
Spindle: Stainless Steel
Pedal Body: Aluminium
Traction Pins: Stainless Steel
End Cap: Aluminum
Inner Bearings: IGUS JSM
Outer Bearings: Schaeffler Sealed Ball Bearings
Pins: 10 Traction Pins per side
Body Dimensions: 100mm x 110mm x 15mm (centre)
Weight: 446g
My experience using the PEMBREE D2A
Thankfully, I was allowed to use a sample that was sent to us in advance, so I will share a brief review.
I used the D2A, which has a good balance of grip, lightweight design, and durability.
As someone who used to ride BMX, I tend to contact pedals by gripping them with my toes.
So, I am not really fond of the pedals that have been getting bigger lately, but these PEMBREE pedals were a comfortable size that felt good even when I used them by gripping with my toes. However, rather than the method I have become accustomed to of slightly shifting my foot and gripping the pedal with my toes, I found that placing my weight across the entire foot, which is the more common method, felt more stable and allowed me to experience just how good their grip is.
The grip on the pedal surface is, as mentioned, impeccable. Even when slightly wet or after walking on the trail, I never felt any anxiety and was able to concentrate on my riding, so if you are unsure about the grip of your current pedals, I highly recommend you give these a try.
The D2A is strongly recommended for riders who want to focus on their riding due to its excellent balance, and of course, for race-oriented riders. The R1V is somewhat of an icon among the products manufactured by PEMBREE. It is a bit heavier than the D2A, but since all their manufacturing prowess and philosophy are poured into it, those who value the texture of a product and its substantial feel will appreciate that it carries the aura of champions, reminiscent of the legendary CRUPI pedals we all admired. There is no doubt that installing them on your favorite handmade or old-school bike will bring both appearance and performance to their peak.
Aiming for a sustainable society for both people and things
I believe a wonderful part of this company, PEMBREE, is not just the quality of their products, but also their effort to complete all operations within Europe. This means completing all production processes within a region with low transport volume, thereby practicing carbon neutrality by reducing CO2 as much as possible. Placing the environment at the center and following correct manufacturing processes allows them to correctly embody how industrial products should be in the current era. This will surely become a very important element in our choices in the future, and that in itself is a charm of the product and the manufacturer.
Furthermore, when it comes to materials, every individual part of a PEMBREE pedal is recyclable. Recycling aluminum reduces energy consumption by 95% compared to manufacturing new parts. Moreover, 100% of the metal shavings generated during the manufacturing process are recycled, meaning there is zero waste sent to landfills.
PEMBREE aims to:
- Design and manufacture durable, well-designed mountain bike components
- Challenge the mountain bike industry to take a more sustainable and ethical approach
This is the goal they set and practice in their manufacturing.
Manufacturing activities come with an environmental footprint. How should we proceed to sustain the places where each individual can play happily and live with peace of mind in human society?
It starts with us, as cyclists, learning about companies like PEMBREE and CHRIS KING—which recently became the first in the cycling industry to achieve B-Corp certification—that want to manufacture products permanently and correctly understand and practice what must be done to achieve that. Selecting products from companies that act correctly in this way and using them for as long as possible improves one's own lifestyle, mindset, and the activity itself. I believe that by minimizing our environmental impact, which is absolutely essential if we are to be allowed to play in nature, we are also, unconsciously, connecting and joining hands with many people around the world who depend on that environment.
I hope you will remember that there is a way to participate in society by simply obtaining correct information, choosing products and manufacturers carefully, and using items for the long term.
And we, as cyclists, also need to learn and convey that value is by no means just about money and time.
