Review: The Outlier Metronome Self-Leveling Flat Pedal is Superior, & Frustrating

By MTBSA contributor

When Outlier MTB launched the Pendulum and Void pedals last year, I was disappointed to learn that the gaping hole in the centre of the platform was probably big enough that my foot could poke right through it. My interest was piqued by the axle-free design, and the unmatched concavity it thus provides, though. You can imagine my delight when I heard they'd designed a smaller version of the Pendulum, the Metronome.

It has the very same design ethos, where the platform is offset below the crank arm to give a lower centre of gravity. However, the platform is shrunk in the fore-aft plane while maintaining width to better accommodate smaller feet.

Outlier Metronome Details

• Weight: 422 g (pair)

• 9 pins on one side only

• Usable area: (L) 95 mm x (W) 98 mm

• 7075 aluminium body

• Pin height: 5 mm

• Colour: Black or Raw (clear anodized)

• For shoe sizes 3.5 US Men, 5 US Women, 35.5 EU, 3 UK, and larger

• Price: $289 USD / $299 CAD / £220

• Sold with a two-year warranty

• No max rider weight

• outliermtb.com

| We noticed riders like Alex Rudeau and Martin Maes were experiencing some success aboard small flat pedals. This inspired us to explore a smaller platform. We set out to make a mini Pendulum to accommodate riders with smaller feet. In the end we ended up with a drop pedal with a more conventional foot feel that some riders with larger feet prefer.—Outlier MTB

Pedal Construction

The Metronome pedal body is machined from 7075 aluminium, and it swings on two 7902 bearings. There is no maximum rider weight limited specified, and Outlier say they are yet to hear of any instances of bent axles from the thousands of Pendulum and Void pedals sold to date.

I measure the usable portion of the platform at 98 mm (w) and 95 mm (l), though its actual full width is much wider at 115 mm. The outermost edge of the platform is very thin - 7.5 mm, but it tapers thicker toward the inboard side to a maximum of 14 mm.

Outlier say the pedal is designed for riders with a foot size of 3.5 (US men), 5 (US Women), 35.5 EU, 3 UK, and larger. Though, they do say the larger Pendulum pedal may work best for those with a shoe size larger than 11 (US, men).

Pins are on one side only, given the pedal self-rights so that the pin side is *always facing up. As the platform is offset from the centre of the bearing axis, the weight naturally brings the platform right-side-up when it eventually stops swinging.

The pins are loaded from the bottom, and protrude 5 mm above the platform surface. No shims are provided to adjust height down from there. Four extra pins are provided with one set of pedals.

Fit Considerations

The Outlier Metronome pedals come with a number of fit considerations.

Firstly, they widen the distance between your feet (q-factor) by at least 20 mm (10 mm per side), as compared to a traditional pedal with an axle (I have compared to the Renthal Revo-F). So, if you're running these on an e-bike, dependent on the motor it has, it could push your q-factor out to as wide as 200 mm. That's similar to the q-factor you'd likely encounter on a fat bike. It's not necessarily a good or bad thing, only something to be mindful of, especially if your knees are fussy.

Secondly, the platform's dropped offset relative to the axle lowers your feet. The Renthal Revo-F pedals I ran previously position the foot around 9 mm above the centre of the pedal axis. The platform of the Metronome pedal sits around 7 mm lower. Saddle height needs adjusted accordingly, and if you're being fussy, handlebar height does, too - if you want to maintain the same riding position, that is.

In a full rotation of the cranks, the platform's path is simply offset slightly, but directly, below the path tracked by the end of the crank arms.

You could offset the reduction in ground clearance by pairing these pedals with a shorter crank, but that would only be relevant for pedaling. To state the obvious, no matter how short your crank arms are, the reduced ground clearance conferred by the dropped pedal will remain unchanged in the pedals-level coasting position assumed when riding downhill.

Ride Impressions

My shoes are a UK 5, equivalent to a US 7. My foot fits nicely onto the platform, overhanging it slightly at the outboard edge, catching each pin.

I switched from the Renthal Revo-F pedals to the Outlier Metronome without changing the bike's crank length or bar height. The result is a lower centre of gravity (akin in many ways to a lower BB height) and an increase in effective stack height. The improvement in handling, especially through corners, was considerable and immediately evident.

With my feet that much lower, I wasn't too surprised to find myself getting caught out by the odd rock strike in chunky sections I'd previously rolled through unhindered. Hang ups haven't stopped me dead in my tracks yet, though, possibly owing to the chamfered trim of the leading edge.

Getting my foot positioned to set off is a little frustrating. You can't just slap it on without looking as invariably it catches the bearing bulge. I have to actually look down and be precise with placement.

*Another frustration has cropped up when climbing. My foot has been bounced off a couple times (more a me problem than a pedal issue). Finding the pedal again, I occasionally found the pin-free side, which is essentially friction-free.

Aside from these gripes, the quality of foot-pedal connection is second to none. When my feet are in the right place and I'm riding down a trail, I feel fairly well locked in. The ball of my foot sinks into the concavity comfortably, giving a tangible feeling of security unmatched by any flat pedal I've ridden to date. The FiveTen Freerider Pro shoes are quite flexible, so I reckon that helps. Another feature that may be influencing the security is the fact that the inside of the foot butts up against the bearing bulge; at least, the reduces one direction in which the foot can shuffle.

I was worried that the void design itself would cause foot cramping, but these worries were unfounded. Without the axle, the support underneath the ball of the foot comes from the shoe sole itself, suspended between the front and rear rows of pins. So, there's no pressure point, and my foot properly relaxes. To my mind, the hammocking effect is simply driving the pins into the outsole more. It may not be good for the longevity of one's rubber, but it's great for security.

I get the feeling I might prefer the more traditional Outlier Void pedal (where there is no offset), over the Metronome. Alas, Outlier has no current plans to make one for smaller feet. If they did make one, I'd be interested to try it to see how much of the extra security can be attributed to the fore-aft swinging of the pedal platform.

Pros

+ Unmatched foot-pedal connection

+ Lowered centre of gravity

Cons

- Reduced ground clearance

- Frustrating to re-position foot correctly

- Smooth side can catch you out

MTBSA's Take

| The Outlier Metronome really highlights the handling benefits of a lower centre of gravity height, though prepare to get caught out by the reduced ground clearance. It can be frustrating to find the correct foot position on the platform when setting off, but once you're going, the pedals feel super secure. The void itself hammocks the ball of the foot, providing a foot-pedal connection unmatched by any flat pedal I've ridden to date.—MTBSA contributor

For South African readers

Overseas prices in this report are not confirmed South African retail prices. Check local availability, warranty support and the complete rand price with your retailer. No MTBSA test score has been assigned.