Are you a forefoot rider or more of a midfoot rider? Do you prefer the locked-in feel of concave pedals, or the subtle support of a convex platform that lets you adjust your foot placement mid-descent? The Gen 2 Loam Pedals from PNW Components are designed to satisfy both camps — and they do it with some clever engineering.
PNW completely rethought the Loam Pedal from the ground up for this second generation. The new version shifts from a forged body to fully CNC-machined construction, with a new platform shape and pin layout that should please a wide range of feet. And also importantly, they look cool. The polished and anodized pedal is positioned as a value-packed option in its category at $159 and comes in at 420 grams for the set.
Features
- CNC’d Pedal Body
- Tectonic™ Pins
- Sealed Bearing Cartridge Axle
- EFBE (eMTB) Category 5 certified
- Listed weight: 420g (set)
- Lifetime warranty
Easy to Service — No Hammers Required
Inside, the Loam Gen 2 features a redesigned axle system that’s fully cartridge-based and easy to service. According to TJ Trotter, Director of Product Development at PNW, “there’s no need for hammers — just unthread the axle using pliers, a cone wrench, a crescent wrench, or an 18mm socket, and the bearings slide right out. Wipe them clean, re-grease, and you’re good to go.”
It’s the kind of thoughtful design we’ve come to expect from PNW, and one of the many reasons we’ve become fans of the line.
Smarter Pins (Tectonic pin system)
If you’ve ever had to replace crushed pins on your pedals, you may be especially interested in this next bit. The pin system is a highlight of the new Loam pedal. PNW worked with Tectonic to license a patented pin design that features a breakaway point to prevent damage to the pedal body. There are no threads on the pin to strip, with each pin held in place by a small fixing bolt. If you crush or shear a pin, it breaks away cleanly without wrecking the platform. Most importantly, it’s easy to replace – it may in fact be the best flat pedal pin system on the market right now.
Two Tectonic replacement pins, set screws, and pedal washers come in the box — a nice touch that speaks to their goal of long-term serviceability. (You can source more from PNW)
On the bike
I find that a lot of pedals are actually too grippy, depending on the shoe pedal combination. I initially had these pedals installed on my Santa Cruz Jackal Dirt Jumper, and paired with FiveTen Freerider Shoes, I had trouble moving my feet around on the pedals. Wearing my less sticky Shimano GR5 shoes ended up being the ticket – and they were both green!
I’ve been mostly running clip-in shoes on the trail this season, but with this level of grip, I had to give the Loam Pedals a try on my trail bike. (a Specialized Stumpjumper EVO) In this scenario, I switched back to sticky rubber Freeriders and found the level of grip confidence inspiring. (I also started remembering how much fun flats are on the trail)
If you weren’t a fan of the first iteration of the Loam pedals, you’ll likely change your mind after a quick spin on the Gen2 Loam pedal. Having tested the alloy and composite versions (sadly, I wrecked the spindle of the Range composite on a rock on one of my first rides and never completed the review), I thought it was a solid option. However, the Gen1 pedal body is close to the crank, which has the effect of the foot being placed further out on the pedal, making it feel too small for my feet. (I had the same perceived sizing issues with the Spank Oozy pedals – my gal has smaller feet and she’s happily running them on her bikes) While the new pedal platform is close to the same size, it is located further out from the crank, which makes a big difference underfoot.
As I previously mentioned, the level of grip varies by your shoe of choice. I found the slightly convex shape makes it easy to shimmy your foot in place as needed, while providing the traction and grip to allow the confidence to attack the trail.
After destroying two pedal spindles and crushing more than a few traction pins, I’ve mostly been running less expensive composite pedals as they’re easy and cheap to replace. I think the new Loams have the potential to go the distance.
Overall, I find this new take on the Loam pedal a resounding success. It’s not just a refresh — it’s a complete redesign that competes with $200+ models at a fraction of the cost. I love the green option I went with, but add in a lifetime warranty, and I wish I had gone with the silver option (it’s going to still look great after a few seasons of rock bashing). The new gen2 Loam is a pedal that’s built to last.
Check the PNW Components Loam Pedal Gen2 at pnwcomponents.com.