Nukeproof Horizon CS pedal review

With a beautifully machined finish and many colours available on their 6061 alloy cage, these fine Horizon CS pedals from Nukeproof certainly have kerb appeal.

• Best mountain bike pedals
• Best mountain bike shoes

The roomy platform that’s wide enough for trail use and has shim adjustable pins backs those looks up with a great feel on the trail, proving supportive and secure over a wide variety of shoes with little hassle.

I kept the pins low so they didn’t interfere with the twist necessary for release, but it was reassuring to have them present through some puckering, unclipped thrashings when they bit into my shoes for some added grip.

An interesting point is that both jaws are sprung on the clipless mechanism, rather than the more traditional fixed front bale and sprung rear.

This is claimed to be unique to Nukeproof and I noticed a slightly more forgiving entry angle as a result of the dual springs, allowing stamping in from more angles – helpful when the trail got a bit frantic.

I also found a full rebuild kit for the mechanism on the distributor, Hotlines, website, which should help if they take some scarring off of trail obstacles or simply wear out over time.

They come supplied with 4-degree float cleats, which were fine, but Nukeproof also offers an 8-degree that I would be tempted to go for to help with knee health and, importantly, to allow more movement around the bike.

Shimano cleats have a familiar feel though, so jumping on and off other SPD bikes was hassle free.

Mud was never an issue as far as I could tell, despite some seriously claggy rides that needed no more than the customary stamping to clear the cleat recess and get business back to normal.

Spinning is taken care of via twin outer bearings and DU inner bushings, all of which stayed slick and smooth throughout the test period.

These were more than adequate for general trail use, but If you are after a little more support and a larger platform to call on for more extreme riding, Nukeproof also makes a CL version that’s definitely worth considering.