Crankbrothers Mallet E LS Pedals (Blue/Black): The Long-Spindle E Mallet

What the E Mallet is

The Mallet E is Crankbrothers’ enduro pedal. It combines the 4-sided wing-and-spring clip mechanism with an aluminum platform and replaceable pins. The platform is smaller than the Mallet DH to save weight and ground clearance on long enduro stages, but large enough to stand on when you’re unclipped.

The LS version keeps that body and swaps in a long spindle. Every other part of the pedal, from the cleats to the mechanism, is the same as the standard Mallet E.

What a long spindle does

A longer spindle sets each pedal further out from the crank arm. That widens your stance, the horizontal distance between your feet, without changing your crank or bottom bracket.

Crankbrothers lists the exact offset on its spec sheet. Measure your current stance before ordering if you’re chasing a specific number.

Who needs a long spindle pedal

Choose the LS if one of these sounds familiar:

• Heel rub. Your heels or shoe heels touch the crank arms or chainstays, especially on a bike with wide stays.
• Wide feet. A wide or splayed forefoot can push the shoe against the crank arm.
• Knee tracking. Your knees naturally track outside your feet. A wider stance lets the foot sit under the knee.
• Wide hips. Broader-hipped riders often feel more natural with their feet further apart.
• Cleats at the limit. You’ve already slid your cleats as far inboard as the shoe allows and still want more width.

If none of these apply, stick with the standard spindle. Extra width also means the pedals sit closer to rocks and ruts, and a longer spindle puts more leverage on the bearings.

Shifting the cleats inward on the shoe is the free first step, since it moves the foot outward. A pedal washer adds only a little width. The LS spindle gives a larger change than either.

Setting up the Mallet E LS

1. Fit the cleats. Ball of the foot over the axle or slightly behind; enduro riders often go further back for stability.
2. Start centred. With the LS already adding width, centre the cleats side to side, then adjust in small steps.
3. Shim for contact. If the sole touches the platform before the cleat clicks in, add the shims supplied with Crankbrothers cleats. If the shoe rocks when clipped in, remove one.
4. Set release. Standard cleats give 15° one way and 20° when swapped left to right. Easy Release cleats give 10°.
5. Check clearance. Pedal backwards slowly and check your heels clear the cranks and stays.

The blue/black colourway

This is the blue/black version of the Mallet E LS. The colour is cosmetic only: spindle, platform and mechanism match every other Mallet E LS. The blue makes the pedal easier to spot when you’re setting a foot down quickly, though bright finishes show rock strikes more than all-black.

Care and wear

• Bearings: a longer spindle loads the bearings more. Check for play regularly, and service with a Crankbrothers pedal refresh kit when it appears.
• Pins: replace bent or missing pins to keep grip even.
• Cleats: replace brass cleats when release turns vague.
• Threads: 9/16” x 20 TPI. Grease them before fitting; the left pedal is reverse threaded (see which pedal is reverse threaded).

Compare other pinned clip-in options in double-sided clipless pedals with platforms, or see the Crankbrothers brand page.