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Crank Brothers
Acid Pedal
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Submitted by
bpressnall
a Cross Country Rider
from Pinecrest, CA Date Reviewed: September 20, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | rocky, technical | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Strengths: | Although it has a moderate platform, it's actually lighter than the shimano's without platforms. Compared to Shimano, easier entry, easier exit, yet less "prereleases". Beat 'em hard on the rocks, but other than scratched paint, no damage. | | Weaknesses: | cost, but probably worth it in the long run. I was concerned about bending the "eggbeater" part on rocks, but so far no problems. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano spd | | Bike Setup: | bionicon supershuttle | | Bottom Line: | This pedal seems to be in a class by itself. No other pedal offers a clipless platform at this weight (327 grams). Great "all mountain" style pedal. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mrjoshuanyc
a Cross Country Rider
from NY Date Reviewed: August 8, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | MIX MONSTER | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | PRICEPOINT | | Strengths: | Easy in and out | | Weaknesses: | Durability,customer service, oh did I mention durability | | Similar Products Used: | shimano spd's | | Bike Setup: | Titus elguapo allmountain setup | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy anything from this company as they charge you for warranty service. We ride bikes, we hit stuff, our equipment is design to take a few hits without breaking but not this brand. Garbage! Absolute garbage. Spread the word please. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
big mountain riding
a Racer
from Lynchburg, VA, USA Date Reviewed: July 15, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Split Decision, Liberty U. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Shed mud like a wet dog, Light weight, Platform allows for pedaling without clipping in (handy in rough conditions) | | Weaknesses: | Questionable durability, No grips/pins on platform
| | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 545's | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher HiFi Deluxe, All Mountain | | Bottom Line: | I had high expectations when I saw the Crank Brothers Acid series for sale online, as I'd been an early believer in the suitability of platform clipless pedals for all mountain riding, and have owned a pair of Shimano 545 pedals since 1998. The Acids seemed like they would weigh less and have the great design of Crank Brothers.
I used them in two epic big mountain events, the Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure race in early May, and the West Virginia Wild 100 as well as all the training for these events. The pedals provided more leverage than the Egg Beaters, and were easier for my feet to find in rough, wet conditions. Unfortunately, 6-months after purchase - during a hometown race I had really been looking forward to - one of the Acid pedals came apart less than a mile into a +20-mile race. I finished, but only by stopping repeatedly, finding the pedal when it fell off, and riding with limited aggressiveness so that I could keep my pedal on the spindle.
Crank Brothers did rebuild the pedal for free when I sent it back, and the Acids are back on the bike. However, I didn't trust them to stick together during the first epic event after their return, the 40+ mile 2009 Middle Mountain Momma. This summer I will ride them as I train for the West Virginia Wild 100. What did I ride while the Acid's were M.I.A.? My ten-year old Shimano 545's. Still going strong after 100's of hours of use and three gonzo-abusive trips to Moab.
BIGMOUNTAINRIDING.COM UPDATE - One of the spring mechanisms on the pedals is not rotating freely. They may fall apart on me again! Final verdict: Save up an extra few bones and buy the Shimanos, or maybe the heavier-duty Crank Bro's Mallets if you will be riding in grimy conditions.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brian.benson1
a Racer
from Olympia,WA Date Reviewed: June 7, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | sickter gnar, dirt merchant, | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Tech Oly | | Strengths: | 1)Sheds mud like it's being paid to do it.
2)Cheap rebuild kits*
3)Good looks, no play
4)Easy in, easy out(when you want to) | | Weaknesses: | I felt resistance for about a turn or two in needle bearings after a wet ride with maybe about 2 months of hard use. This started to happen more often, but went away after a quick spin of the pedal | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano stuff...not a whole lot to be honest. | | Bike Setup: | 08 Remedy 8.5, 36 Float RL, 203 Juicy 7's | | Bottom Line: | Not sure why they put the composite layer in the pedal.. I guess it looks cool and raises the price point. I dig it.
Good platform if you have to dab a foot. I feel almost as comfortable riding these unclipped as i do on flats.
Just put first rebuild kit after a year. Went out for a ride and the resistance I spoke of earlier just wouldn't go away. Happened without 'warning' so keep a spare kit around too.
Needle bearings are a witch to get out. CB must have the perfect touch if they can get them out with screwdrivers. Go to a hardware store and pick out the perfect bearing puller.
I clean out my BB shell pretty often (once a month or so). This time I'm going to clean/regrease the needles just as often.
Yeah they are probably better suited for a drier climate, but when they good they are good. I'd like to see the double seal as seen in the mallets implemented here too.
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ChickenParmSub
a Cross Country Rider
from Vermont Date Reviewed: May 29, 2009 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Personally, I found the Crank Brothers clipless pedal design easier to exit than SPDs. I also liked that the Acids had a wider platform so you could ride sketchy stuff unclipped. | | Weaknesses: | Only thing I can think of is that the paint coating on the platform is falling off, which may be an issue for some people. Doesn't bother me a bit. | | Similar Products Used: | Look, Shimano, Time | | Bottom Line: | Very "exitable" clips with mid-size platform, if you dont want the huge DH clips and dont want egg beaters, these are perfect. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
pawelw
a Weekend Warrior
from Szczecin, Poland Date Reviewed: April 22, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | flowing ones | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | clip-in/out mechanism design, weight | | Weaknesses: | Sealing is really close to none - one long wet ride was enough for needle bearing to get rusted. Interestingly, old Mallet C has internal seal in addition to outer seal but Acid (and new Mallet) has none! It is really bad engineering, bad design. In addition to that, bearings and bushings (yes, plastic! in Mallet C) are very poor quality and are worn early. | | Similar Products Used: | Mallet C | | Bike Setup: | SC Heckler, trail build | | Bottom Line: | I like those pedals (when they work) so I keep rebuilding and riding them but I am tired of rebuilding my pedals every few months. It is good rebuild kit is available and you can do it yourself but please, they need it far to often!
It seems CB is more focused on marketing and flashy colors than on good engineering. To CB engineers - please look at Chris King and learn, learn, learn - price-wise you are almost there but that is not enough at all, at all... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
photodog
a Racer
from SLO, CA Date Reviewed: April 16, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | mine | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Strengths: | Good size, weight | | Weaknesses: | bend easy, release when you hit a rock | | Similar Products Used: | Time ATAC, Shimano SPD | | Bike Setup: | Nomad | | Bottom Line: | This is an update to a review from awhile back.
Just after I posted my review I hit a rock and bent the spindle. It wasn't even a hard hit, just pedaled through a rockgarden and kept right on going but it destroyed the pedal, I was pretty disappointed. The other thing that's annoying is that all eggbeaters, because of the design, release if you hit the bottom on anything which can be pretty sketchy.
It's a good idea but all eggbeaters need stronger spindle's. I'm 175lbs and ride quite aggressively on very technical terrain I am also quite smooth so I very, very rarely break things. Actually, this is the first thing I had broken (not involving a crash) in several years and I had already bent another standard eggbeater but never any other pedal so I think my complaint is legit. Crankbro's is a great company though so at least they stand behind their product. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
willtsmith_nwi
a Weekend Warrior
from Valparaiso, IN Date Reviewed: April 5, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Outback Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Zims Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Ergonomically, it's a wonderful design. The long,narrow platform effectively eliminated hot spots from the SPD interface. It's looks great.
As always, the Crank Brothers customer service is excellent. | | Weaknesses: | Build quality is the hobgoblin of Crank Brothers. After 8 months of use the left pedal came off the spindle. After sending it back to Crank Brothers the warehouse supervisor informed me there were no grease in the pedals and that I should pay $30 to have them rebuild them.
OK, so I should pay $30 to fix a pedal thats under warranty. There was no abuse. Apparently, the seals were just so poor that that all the great came out of it ... or there was no grease there in the first place ... who knows. This is the first time that I believe Crank Brothers customer service has let me down.
Damn, I love the Egg Beaters and the ergonomics and simplicity of the product cannot be beat. But damn, I'm sick of having these pedals fail during rides. | | Similar Products Used: | Just plain pedals. Though, I think there are Times pedals in my future. | | Bike Setup: | Karate Monkey X.9/XT build. | | Bottom Line: | Apparently, from reading hear and emailing Crank Brothers, you have to take these pedals apart periodically to keep them functioning. And if you're a big guy on a Mountain Bike, you may suffer axel brakes as these pedals share the same guts as the Mallet 1/2/3 (and I've broken 2 of those axels in the matter of a year from XC use).
If I had it to do all over again, I would try Times. If you're a little guy, Crank Brothers is still great. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a Weekend Warrior
from Keller,TX Date Reviewed: March 26, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Grapvine Northshore | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycles Inc. | | Strengths: | Works very well in any type of weather and lightweight for it's intended purpose. Love the way it looks and feels. To me it feels way better than Spd's because of its fast engagement and disengagement. | | Weaknesses: | None so far...it feels better than spd's | | Similar Products Used: | Several Spd's, Time Z control, Other Eggbeaters | | Bike Setup: | 08 Trek Fuel EX8 almost done customizing. | | Bottom Line: | Best pedal I have and works very well for me. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brazilianbreeze
a Weekend Warrior
from las vegas, NV, USA Date Reviewed: March 8, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Skyline | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Has a wide enough platform for AM applications while keeping the weight reasonalble. | | Weaknesses: | Hex bold strips out very easily | | Bike Setup: | 07 Scott Ransom 10, Lyrik U-Turn | | Bottom Line: | This is only the second set of Crank Bros pedals I have ridden. Smarties were my first pair and these dominate the smarty in my opinion. I love them for their function and their stellar aesthetics. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Psycho Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Date Reviewed: February 17, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Depends on my mood | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | Mud and snow are not an issue for this pedal. Good amount of platform for riding without being clipped in. Easy to work on. CB customer service has been excellent when I've chatted with them. | | Weaknesses: | No tension adjust (if you need such) | | Similar Products Used: | Various Shimano SPD's, CB Eggbeaters | | Bike Setup: | Heavily modified/upgraded '06 Gary Fisher Cake 2 DLX | | Bottom Line: | I ride in a location where snow and sticky, clayey mud are the norm for a good portion of the year. In spite of conditions that made Shimano's impossible to get into if you had to dab, the Acid's have taken all the weather abuse and loved it. Even pretty decent grip when not clipped in, considering there are no lugs/spikes on the platforms.
The platform isn't huge, but there is far more there than the Shimanos and well...Eggbeaters don't have any.
The Acids are easy enough to do regular servicing on...I disassemble, inspect and re-grease mine about every 250-500km, depending on the conditions...just make sure you torque things correctly. I discussed my servicing with CB customer service the first time I was tackling it...great folks to deal with...plus, I know from my experience with my 'beaters, they do look after you well if you ever have an issue.
The lack of tension adjust may be a negative for some folks...for me, I see it as one less thing to go wrong.
The bottom line is that if you need some platform for techy sections, some jumping, stairs and such, but still want a good clipless pedal the rest of the time, these should be on your short list. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Strafer
a Cross Country Rider
from vajenya Date Reviewed: February 10, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | all of em | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | mail order | | Strengths: | easy on-off, looks great | | Weaknesses: | After almost a year later, the spring moves laterally, rubbing on the pedal on every spin. | | Similar Products Used: | Mallets, egg beaters. | | Bike Setup: | Chumba XCL, 1x9 setup. | | Bottom Line: | Luved the Acids until the spring got loose and moves laterlly, making sqeaking sound on every revolution.
Did not have this problem with previous Crank Bros pedals. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jgusta
a Weekend Warrior
from PDX, OR Date Reviewed: October 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | all of em' | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Best cleat engagement/disengagement, mud shedding properties, platform size and general features like grease ports and what not, comes with updated longer wearing brass cleats. | | Weaknesses: | Shotty needle bearings, will disintergrate in 4-6mths of riding only 2-3x/wk in dry weather, so poor reliability and durability. | | Similar Products Used: | CB smarty/candy, Shimano's | | Bike Setup: | Turner RFX 6x6 with AM/FR build | | Bottom Line: | The ideal size and features for your everyday AM, light FR or enduro rig, but very poor durability of the needle bearings. I am on my third pair in just over a year and was recommended by CB's to do a rebuild every 6mths and last pedals blew in less than 4mths. I did buy another pair only because I was out of town and found a pair of the 2008 Acid 1, OEM for less than $50 with new cleats.
So buyer beware if you ride hard and want a long lasting pedal and be prepared to have to do a rebuild every 4-6mths or maybe less. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CPLAX06
a Cross Country Rider
from SLO, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 16, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt. Tam | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good Platform, egg beater feature | | Weaknesses: | Some shoes have difficulty clipping into the pedal without spacers because of the size of the platform | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Blur LT, 36 Talas, RP23, all mountain kit | | Bottom Line: | If you are looking for a pedal with a good platform this is it. The egg beater always keeps you locked in but allows for an easy release when necessary and if you ever ride without your shoes the platforms are good to have. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
azonicrevenge
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA USA Date Reviewed: September 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Noble Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Crank Bros Clip in Mechanism.
Carbon Fiber Body looks aweseome.
Nice Platform size without the weight. | | Weaknesses: | None, well maybe if you pay retail price. | | Similar Products Used: | Crankbrothers Eggbeater, Shimano SPD, Crankbrothers 50/50 | | Bike Setup: | Azonic Revenge | | Bottom Line: | Crank Bros puts out some great procduct from packaging to the durability of their product.
If your looking for a pedal with more platform than the candy's but less weight and bulk of the mallets, this is the pedal for you.
The acid 2 and 3's are a lot lighter and the carbon body is pretty sexy! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark R
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Canada Date Reviewed: August 21, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Dagmar | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Acid 1; Good value.
Wide platform
Great binding system
Great in dry or muddy conditions
395 grams. Not bad for a wider platform lower end Acid . | | Weaknesses: | Non yet... | | Similar Products Used: | VP,Shimano, CB Mallets, CB Candy (shtty as bearings go in 7-8 rides) | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Blur LT, with fox, xtr, etc... | | Bottom Line: | Great buy and reliable pedal for agressive trail riding. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Apex
a Weekend Warrior
from Kingston, ON Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | CB | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Blue Sky Cycling | | Strengths: | Lightweight, sheds mud well, you stay clipped in | | Weaknesses: | maybe 12 rides this season and one pedal needs to be rebuilt and the other is not far behind. Doesn't spin freely, takes more effort to clip in than SPD's. | | Similar Products Used: | SPD | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher Hifi | | Bottom Line: | A nice pedal with a great platform great for riding in your normal shoes, solid spring means you won't slip out of your pedal, overall it does the job well. The bad part is that after limited use the bearings are shot and need a rebuild. I popped the end cap off last night to find no grease in the bearings, no sign it was even in there to begin with. Since I'm in Canada and bought in the US no one seems to be willing to help with warranty not even Crank Bros. If I could go back I would have opted for the Time ATAC instead. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Mills
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta, GA Date Reviewed: February 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | blankets...bear | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$138.00 | | Purchased At: | Tree Fort Bikes | | Strengths: | light weight, look cool, come out when you need to and dont when you dont | | Weaknesses: | none! unless you count the fact that the paint chips away after a while (but if yours don't then you're not riding them hard enough!) | | Similar Products Used: | Time Atac, Shimano M520 | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Hifi Deluxe | | Bottom Line: | these pedals are great! they stay clipped in when I need them too and almost always unclip if i take a spill! I can't say enough good things about them. Before i had these i had some times and some shimanos, the times were decent enough but the shimanos SUCKED! they were constantly coming unclipped (which a lot of time resulted in a crash for me) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Amy Coleman
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond, VA Date Reviewed: February 4, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Buttermilk | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$79.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Very durable, I have smashed them into rocks & concrete and still hold up. Very easy to clip in and out of. I LOVE these pedals. | | Weaknesses: | Hmm.. not any really. The one thing that I was warned about and I have had happen, is of you bounce the bottom of the pedal off something, you might unclip. | | Similar Products Used: | SPD | | Bike Setup: | Ironhorse Warrior Expert | | Bottom Line: | A durable pedal, easy in and out, great product for the price. Would highly recommend these pedals. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilbert AZ Date Reviewed: November 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Hawes | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Cactus | | Strengths: | The platform is the perfect size for all around trail riding. Crankbrothers easy to use, no adjustment required clips are fantastic. | | Weaknesses: | The left pedal began shooting out grease after a few rides. The pedal had to be rebuilt. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano 505 | | Bike Setup: | Iron Horse MKIII Comp with Rockshock Revelation fork and WTB Weirwolf tires | | Bottom Line: | I love the pedals. The pedals are light for a platform pedal and allows me to unclip when I come to a rough technical section. I use the 15 degree setup since 20 degrees appears to be a bit overkill. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Caleb
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR Date Reviewed: October 15, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | singletrack dirt | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$78.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Good Design. Easy to clip in, easy to clip out. Great in the mud. Never a problem with gumming up even if my shoes are caked from walking in peanut butter textured mud. I like the platform / support. | | Weaknesses: | A little harder to clip than my M520's. | | Similar Products Used: | M520's, M505's, Shimano Platform Clipless | | Bike Setup: | 2008 Gary Fisher Hi-Fi Pro 29er | | Bottom Line: | I like these pedals. They are good pedals. I like the platform with the egg-beater clip in design. Great for any condition. I clip out easily, I fell 3X yesterday and was able to clip out to catch myself. Smooth bearing action. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Colin
a
from SLO, CA, USA Date Reviewed: August 5, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | My backyard | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Arts Cyclery | | Strengths: | Light, decent sized platform, lots of float for my bad knee | | Weaknesses: | Quality of axle, quality of bearings/seals, clip in angle | | Similar Products Used: | SPD, egg beaters, Time ATAC carbon | | Bike Setup: | Nomad, Float 36 | | Bottom Line: | I got these (acid 1) because I needed a bit more platform. I have flat pedals for when I am doing bigger stuff but wanted these for trail riding after I bent my Time's. After my first 3 hour ride in dusty conditions the left pedal was drooling oil out the seal and felt rough. They are really easy to rebuild though so that wasn't too bad. Still, 1 ride and a rebuild? I have gotten a couple rides since then and that pedal is feeling slightly rough, I may have to replace the needle bearing, we'll see. As for function, I have used the egg beaters for about a year before I bent them and switched to Time's which lasted almost 2 years (my trails are very rocky). For some reason the Acid's feel like I have to go a bit toe in to clip in which is very weird. I can't clip in with my foot in its natural position no matter how hard I push. That was never an issue with the Time's but at least the platform makes it possible to continue riding even if I am not clipped in though being distracted by wrestling with the pedal isn't the best. Hopefully I will get used to it but it still feels unnatural to put my toe that far in every time I want to clip in. BTW, I run them at 15 degree as 20 is just too much. I have to applaud Crank Brothers for being the first to make an "All Mountain" style pedal that is a platform but lighter weight. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al C
a Weekend Warrior
from Alhambra Date Reviewed: June 16, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Aliso wood cyn | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyond bikes | | Strengths: | weight, looks good | | Weaknesses: | small learning curve coming from spd, not a snappy release like spd | | Similar Products Used: | lots of spds, 959,520,647, time atac and smarty | | Bike Setup: | the works, Ibis mojo carbon, Maverick Duc32 and speedball R, Marta SL, I9 wheels, XTR cranks and F-der, X.O shifter and R-der, ODI, and so on. | | Bottom Line: | good looking and functioning pedal I'm using the Acid 1 now and waiting for the Acid2. It weight almost the same as the regular spd pedals but provide much more plattform. A bit of a learning curve when switching from spd, getting in required a new muscle memory. Currently it takes a few second longer than my 959 but I'll get use to it. Clipping in you can sense a dull click not snappy by any mean, but click out you can't really feel any thing.
As far as the release, 15 degree is good for me, at 20 your knee is moving out so much before release. It feel like mud and dirt will not be an issue with this pedal at all.
Overall I like the pedal a lot, hopefully once it's broken in it will fill in all of the flaw it has right now. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
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