Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
At just 180g for the pair and costing less than £50, these AliExpress ROCKBROS pedals are not only 22% lighter than Shimano Dura-Ace PD-R9100 pedals, they're also around 70% cheaper.
Sounds too good to be true right?
In this video I take a detailed look at their design, compare them directly with Shimano's 105, Ultegra and Dura-Ace pedals, and explain why I think they may have one major weakness.
The interesting part? I've already tested a very similar set of ultralight carbon composite pedals with titanium axles from a brand called Onirii. They were brilliant to ride, until they wore out in a way I wasn't expecting. So can these carbon composite road bike pedals from ROCKBROS avoid the same fate, or is history about to repeat itself?
We'll cover:
- ROCKBROS 180g SPD-SL compatible pedals
- Weight comparison vs Shimano 105, Ultegra & Dura-Ace
- Long-term durability concerns
- Why cheap carbon composite pedals wear out
- Bearing quality and cleat engagement
- Genuine Shimano vs third-party cleats
- Whether they're actually worth buying
These pedals were purchased with my own money. Nothing in this video was sponsored or provided for review, so everything you see is my honest opinion after riding and comparing them.
If you're looking for the lightest road bike upgrades on a budget, hopefully this helps!
Links to the AliExpress sellers I personally used:
(These are affiliate links, they won’t cost you any extra, but I get a little kickback from AliExpress, which helps out!)
RockBros Pedal
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4SQJ3zz
Time Dupe Pedal
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3GhKDkL
Onirii Pedal
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3h2nP7v
Timestamps:
00:00 – RockBros carbon pedals
00:56 – Design, cost, weight
02:39 – Similar Onirii pedals that failed
04:59 – Should you avoid them?
07:11 – Rider weight limit
08:32 – Another lightweight pedal option
10:00 – Bonus clip
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
instagram.com/tracevelo
Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
At just 180g for the pair and costing less than £50, these AliExpress ROCKBROS pedals are not only 22% lighter than Shimano Dura-Ace PD-R9100 pedals, they're also around 70% cheaper.
Sounds too good to be true right?
In this video I take a detailed look at their design, compare them directly with Shimano's 105, Ultegra and Dura-Ace pedals, and explain why I think they may have one major weakness.
The interesting part? I've already tested a very similar set of ultralight carbon composite pedals with titanium axles from a brand called Onirii. They were brilliant to ride, until they wore out in a way I wasn't expecting. So can these carbon composite road bike pedals from ROCKBROS avoid the same fate, or is history about to repeat itself?
We'll cover:
- ROCKBROS 180g SPD-SL compatible pedals
- Weight comparison vs Shimano 105, Ultegra & Dura-Ace
- Long-term durability concerns
- Why cheap carbon composite pedals wear out
- Bearing quality and cleat engagement
- Genuine Shimano vs third-party cleats
- Whether they're actually worth buying
These pedals were purchased with my own money. Nothing in this video was sponsored or provided for review, so everything you see is my honest opinion after riding and comparing them.
If you're looking for the lightest road bike upgrades on a budget, hopefully this helps!
Links to the AliExpress sellers I personally used:
(These are affiliate links, they won’t cost you any extra, but I get a little kickback from AliExpress, which helps out!)
RockBros Pedal
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c4SQJ3zz
Time Dupe Pedal
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3GhKDkL
Onirii Pedal
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3h2nP7v
Timestamps:
00:00 – RockBros carbon pedals
00:56 – Design, cost, weight
02:39 – Similar Onirii pedals that failed
04:59 – Should you avoid them?
07:11 – Rider weight limit
08:32 – Another lightweight pedal option
10:00 – Bonus clip
Intro roll:
Created by Dev Joshi - go2dev.co.uk
Instagram:
instagram.com/tracevelo
Email:
tracevelouk@gmail.com
Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
