Race Face Chester Flat Pedal

The Race Face Chester composite pedal was always good value, but the original version was held back by its design. A bit too small and lacking effective concavity due to the presence of a prominent bulge over the axle, it never really provided that locked-in feel that we cherish in a flat pedal. The all-new version being reviewed here today addresses these points with a ground-up redesign that has made the Chester a much better pedal. Keep reading to learn more!

Race Face Chester Highlights

• Nylon composite body
• Chromoly steel axle
• One bushing and one bearing per side
• Platform height: 16mm
• Pins: 11 per side (nine metal, two co-molded composite)
• Platform Size (L x W): 105 x 100 mm (Small), 115 x 110 mm (Large)
• Weight: 345 grams (Small) / 355 grams (Large)
• Colors: Black, Red, Orange, Green, Turquoise, Blue, Purple, Magenta
• MSRP: $55.00 USD

Initial Impressions

To start with, the Chester is now available in two sizes, so you can be sure to find one that matches the size of your feet - today’s review will focus on the size large. At first glance, the Chester heritage is there, but Race Face has put in the work to make significant improvements to the design. The overall size is bigger, and there are more pins compared to the previous version. The pins are new, they bolt in from the rear and feature a threadless tip to make them slightly less prone to eating your shins alive when things go wrong. There are 9 metal pins complemented by 2 co-molded composite pins per side.

The axle bulge is all but gone, and as a result the new Chester offers a much higher level of performance thanks to a much flatter profile than what the original version could provide – with pins installed all around the edges, you get some actual effective concavity going, even if the pedal body itself remains flat. Race Face also eliminated the wrench flat spots on the spindle, which means that the inside of the pedal sits a bit closer to the crank arms. Those who like to run their feet closer to the cranks will be stoked, as it’s now much easier to position your foot over the inside portion of the pedal. In terms of platform real estate, our regular readers know that we like to measure the “pin-to-axle” distance to get a feel for how big a pedal really is under foot. The new Chester clocks in at 110 mm, which is not quite as generous as the leading pedals but also not too far off.

Composite pedals are usually light, and the new Chester is no exception – it tips the scales at 355 grams for the pair in size L. The internals feature the traditional bushing/bearing combo, and can be fully serviced thanks to the availability of replacement parts if need be. Impressively, the new Chester is covered by Race Face’s lifetime warranty – crashes included - that’s a pretty sweet deal on a 55 dollar pedal! And cherry on the cake; they come in 8 colors, so you can be sure to match them up with your bike.

On The Trail

On the trail, we were impressed from the first ride. The new Chester features proper effective concavity, and the larger platform really increases the comfort and confidence in the rough stuff. The result is a pedal that feels totally different compared to the old one. Speaking of comfort, this is one of the key advantages of composite pedals – they tend to take the “sting” out of the trail with a certain amount of built-in vibration damping and compliance. You’ll really notice this aspect if you hit a trailside object with them, as this experience is typically less jarring than with metal pedals.

The new pins are grippy, and they sit around the edges where they contribute to the concave feel of the platform. We tested with several different shoes, and we got equally good results across the board. It’s easy to find a good spot for your foot, and while the grip is great, you can still reposition your foot if you need to - just take a bit of pressure off first, as the pins do tend to cling on fairly tenaciously. We haven’t tested in extremely wet conditions yet, but the length and the placement of the pins lead us to think they will function well even when things get grim out there.

Things That Could Be Improved

There is not really much we can complain about here, especially given the modest price tag. You get a lot for your money with the new Chester!

Long Term Durability

The serviceable internals provide reassurance as to the longevity of the axle system, even though there is only one outboard bearing per side (many higher-end pedals feature multiple outboard bearings on each side, but that would be asking for a bit much to fit inside the modest price tag of the Chester). The body itself also seems to be up for plenty of abuse, and the shock-absorbent nature of the composite material may well help it survive longer as well. The one co-molded, composite pin placed on the outside edge will not fare so well however, some of ours have already been reduced to about half their height after a couple of months on the trail. The good news is that this does not really seem to affect the overall grip too much.

What’s The Bottom Line?

All in all, we’ve been very pleased with the new Chester pedal – it has held up well to a couple of months of riding so far, and the grip has proven itself in any riding scenario. At $55 USD it is particularly affordable, and when you throw in a lifetime, no-questions-asked warranty policy on top of that, you’re looking at fantastic value here. Definitely one to consider if you’re looking for a good flat pedal on a budget.

More information at: www.raceface.com.

About The Reviewer

Johan Hjord - Age: 51 // Years Riding MTB: 19 // Weight: 190-pounds (87 kg) // Height: 6'0" (1.84m)

Johan loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Photos by Johan Hjord and Tal Rozow (action)