When you think of freeride mountain biking, you don’t usually think of Florida. The Vortex is a popular freeride zone tucked inside the Santos trail system in Ocala, Florida, with some truly terrifying drops, jumps, and wooden features to challenge the most daring riders. The Trail One Vortex composite flat pedal is not only a good choice for riding a place like the Vortex; every purchase also supports the Ocala Mountain Bike Association.
I didn’t test the Trail One Vortex pedals on any freeride trails, but I found them well-suited to everyday trail shredding.
Trail One Vortex key specs
- Weight: 364g (pair)
- Size: 105×105 platform
- 7 metal pins and 2 molded pins per side
- Price: $49
- Buy from Trail One Components and Worldwide Cyclery
The Trail One Vortex flat pedals are constructed using a nylon composite material, and are available in three colors: gray (tested), black, and brown. There are seven replaceable metal pins per side plus two molded pins that are part of the pedal body. The pedal body is basically flat and symmetrical with varied pin heights to offer a slight concave interface.
A 105x105mm platform puts the Vortex on the smaller size for flat pedals. The square shape is unusual in that most of the flat pedals I’ve tested recently are longer than they are wide. A 14mm-tall leading edge transitions to a 17mm height at the spindle.
For each pair of pedals sold, Trail One Components has pledged to donate $1 to the Ocala Mountain Bike Association. And there’s another perk: buyers can request a free pedal rebuild kit every year for the life of the pedals! The rebuild kit comes with all the bearings, bushings, washers, and small parts necessary to keep the Vortex spinning smoothly.
Out of the box, the pedals have a solid feel with only a slight amount of spindle resistance.
On the trail
I tested the Trail One Vortex pedals on a couple of different bikes and found them to be grippier than the average flat pedal. The leading and trailing pins are nice and high with exposed threads to really dig into flat sole shoes. With just nine pins per side, there’s a good amount of pressure on each pin that delivers a confident no-slip grip.
Flat pedal platforms have been trending larger over the years, and the Vortex pedals are on the small side. As far as comfort goes, these are noticeably harsher on my feet for longer rides. However, I like the smaller platform because it has meant fewer pedal strikes and drags, plus I feel a stronger foot-to-pedal connection since my body weight isn’t spread over such a wide area.
Share your Trail One Vortex review
The pedal platform is easy to find without looking down, though I suppose if it were larger the pedal would be even easier to use. It’s somewhat unusual for a flat pedal to have a square platform, so if these were to grow, I could see them getting a little longer without losing all the benefits of a smaller, narrower platform.
It looks like I bent one of the side pins during a test ride, no doubt after smashing into a rock. The pin and nut dug into the nylon body so that the pin now sits at an angle. Sadly, there isn’t really a fix for this, though I can’t really feel any difference in terms of grip. The pedal body is pretty well scuffed too, which is to be expected for a nylon pedal. I’ve got a ways to go before needing a one-year rebuild, but so far, they’re still spinning like new.
Pros and cons of Trail One Vortex
Pros
- Good price
- Grippy pins and platform
- Free rebuild kits for life
- Smaller platform means fewer pedal strikes
Cons
- Smaller platform not as comfortable as larger pedals
- Nylon body isn’t as durable as aluminum
Bottom line
The Trail One Vortex is one of the grippiest composite pedals I’ve tested, and it’s quickly become a favorite.
* Rebuild kits are free for the life of the pedals, not the life of the rider. So send it!
