First look: Launch Components ‘Launch Pad’ pedal

Ladies and gents – introducing the protoype Launch Pad pedal from Launch Components.

The Launch Pad was proudly introduced to us by its inventors James Campbell and Alan Easdale who are two engineers from Glasgow. Sick of their ‘normal’ engineering jobs they decided that it was time they started using their skills for something they cared about…

We met up with James and Alan at the Glencoe HaloBDS and got a chance to check out the prototype Launch Pads in detail. We’re impressed – they’re pretty light at 300g, they’re good looking (we reckon) and they sport an impressive attention to detail and some good sensible design features.

So what do you need to know? Launch are having their pedals made in China and then assembled here in the UK. They clock in at around 300g and sport a HSLA steel axle with a Titanium Carbo-nitride coating. The pedal-body is machine from a solid billet of magnesium with a lower-spec and lower-cost alloy version in development also. More importantly, the pins are all replaceable, they’re low profile, you can replace all the bearings and there’s not a horrible, raised slippy axle in the middle to help your feet slide around. Lots of boxes ticked there.

They look quite small in the photos but don’t be fooled, there’s plenty of surface area for your feet and both James and Alan have size 11 clown shoes so are designing to allow for Big Foot to get on board.

And the price …? Not cheap at all at around £150 a set but actually pretty level with the other high-quality, low-volume brands. The alloy version that’s planned for release in the future will likely be cheaper with very little reduction in quality… We’re excited to see that one.