What stays out.
Water ingress
The open cavity in the pedal underside is a direct entry point for water during wet riding — spray from the road, rain, and overshoe drainage all reach this cavity. The cleat engagement mechanism and pedal internals sit directly behind it. Closing the cavity reduces water ingress through this opening during wet conditions.
Debris and cleat protection
Road debris, grit, and dirt accumulate in the open cavity during normal riding. The cleat engagement mechanism is directly exposed to this accumulation. Aercover closes the cavity, shielding the engagement mechanism and cleat from dirt and debris contact. Clean engagement in all conditions.
Cornering contact protection
Aercover adds 5–8mm to the pedal underside depending on position along the pedal body — 5mm maximum near the spindle end, up to 7–8mm toward the rear. Riders who already make occasional pedal contact in aggressive cornering should be aware of this before purchasing.
When contact does occur, the Aercover absorbs it. The wear in the photograph is on the cover, not on the pedal body. The cover is replaceable at low cost. The pedal body is not.
For riders who do not regularly corner at the limit of pedal clearance, the added depth is not a meaningful consideration in normal riding. For riders who have chosen a shorter crank length and gained clearance as a result — a common fit adjustment at this level of riding — Aercover's 5–8mm is worth factoring into that calculation.