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Current favorite pedals?

Old 07-16-19, 11:35 AM
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mechanicmatt
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Current favorite pedals?

Anyone have a current favorite pedal that they have bought or are using? There is a ton of new flat pedals out there, just curious as to anyone loving what they have.
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Old 07-16-19, 12:03 PM
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I cannot have float so that limits my options a lot. For riding, the old-fashioned Campy or Campy-like rattraps and slotted aluminum cleats work as well as anything, but pick-up has always sucked. I discovered the Shimano 600 semi-platforms of the '80s 20 years ago and found I could put huge homemade pick-up tabs on them and have the bliss of cleats and rattraps and ease of pick-up that meant that I finally had perfect fix gear pedals. (I will only ride rattraps and slotted cleats fixed for the security of knowing that even if I unclip, my foot is still on the pedal. One of my ongoing nightmares is separating a foot at 45 mph.

I use Forte LOOK Delta copies for my geared bikes. No love, they just work fine. MTB SPDs for gravel. Have to set the release very tight to imitate no-float for my knees and that has caused issues in really rough stuff getting in and out.

So those modified old Shimanos rate as my favorite pedal of all time. (Oh, I also add a little stop to keep my shoe from siding inboard. My knees love low Q-factors and my feet seek it. I wear out cranks with my shoes without the stops. I have Suginos worn 1/4 through. But when I went Sugino 75, that had to stop!)

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Old 07-16-19, 12:07 PM
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MKS lambda; they look, well, different but they offer a terrific platform for most any kind of shoe you might ride in.
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Old 07-16-19, 12:23 PM
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Check a recent thread by Tyrion asking about platform pedals. Lot of recommendations there. I'm leaning toward either an iSSi Stomp, which is not a classic looking pedal, and other larger platforms.

I use clipless on my road bikes (I can ride 20-30 miles in the country with few or no stops), but prefer platforms for my hybrids and city rides. I use those for errands and casual group rides. I prefer free-footing in traffic. Almost every group ride I see someone fall because they didn't unclip in time. My old bones don't bounce anymore so I prefer free-footing in areas with lots of stops. And my shoes vary from lightweight summer deck shoes to heavy winter boots. With platforms I only need to adjust the saddle height a bit to compensate.

If you just want a good pedal to try for awhile, check out the Stolen Brand Thermolites. They're plastic and excellent values at only $15-$20. I've nearly worn out a pair after 3 years and the only reason I'm replacing 'em is because they aren't really designed to be overhauled. But I liked 'em well enough to get something similar that can be maintained over the long run. The old pair of Thermolites will go on my errand bike, which usually gets ridden only a few miles a month for groceries, etc.
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Old 07-16-19, 12:43 PM
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With toe clips, steel fasteners (no straps) - ultra light at 89gm each with silky smooth bearings. Recently installed yet little miles to give a fair report.

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Old 07-16-19, 12:52 PM
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I am interested to see what Y'all have to say because my brain says my favorite are the Lyotard M23 but my feet don't agree. I have been pedaling without toe straps and put the Lyotards on my Traveler and figured out that I seem to be more efficient with toe straps. Again, my brain likes the toe straps, but my feet don't.

My feet want SPD's but, my brain doesn't want to commit to having to buy special shoes and spending more money on new stuff.

On my other bikes, I have the various plastic pedals. They are actually Ok as far as I am concerned because they work and they don't scratch up the other bikes in the garage.
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Old 07-16-19, 12:52 PM
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My current favorite is the Crank Bros Stamp platform. I'm running two Stamp 7s on bikes, one silver and one black, and they both look good. In terms of other platforms I have used, Wellgo MG-1 is very good for a cheaper option. You can add reflectors to these if you want. Shimano Saints were also very good and the build quality was extremely nice.

I really did not like the MKS Lamda when I tried it for a few months on my touring bike. I found having the back half of my foot (arch and heel) on the pedal to be uncomfortable, and it was even less grippy than a pinned MTB platform like the ones mentioned above.

Before using platform pedals, I mostly used MKS touring and track pedals with and without clips, and I used clipless Shimano SPDs for a while on various bikes, including my fixed gear. I would say I don't miss having foot retention - modern pinned platforms are too good at everything to justify the inconvenience of clips and straps (except for fixed gear, of course). I am so glad to be done with SPDs and to be able to wear normal shoes again. I would implore you to try a nice pair of MTB platforms instead of going to clipless.
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Old 07-16-19, 01:45 PM
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I'm a fan of SPD pedals. I've ridden several. The Shimano M9000/M9100 XTR pedals are good, but expensive.

XPEDO makes some of the lightest SPD compatible pedals. Get ones with full bearings, not bushings.
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Old 07-16-19, 02:08 PM
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My favorites are:

SPD- Shimano XTR- Watch for sales!
Flats- Deore XTs, but I use VP- CNC Alloys for most of my all road/cabin/city bikes such as my MB-1 and Yeti ARC.

My wife uses the VPs on her MAP and also on her Stumpjumper. She's also a fan. Says they have "super good" grip.
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Old 07-16-19, 02:15 PM
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My favorites had to go on an Nashiki International when I sold it. It was part of the Sante group. My feet flipped into them without looking instantly every time. I liked the SPD pedals but just never felt all that comfortable in them. I felt the added power but they finally went on one of the newer bikes I sold and I'm back to toe clips and straps (plastic and nylon). I put 2 tie wraps around the top edge of the pedals to facilitate a quick entry but nothing tops those sweet Sante's. 😒
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Old 07-16-19, 05:24 PM
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I'm a big fan of SPD, usually Shimano, but I came across these from Giant as a $20 swap meet find. They engage and release easily, and seem to have a quality feel. I haven't tried, but it looks like they have a removable grease cap on the end to service the bearings. Got the red cloth bar tape for $5 at the same swap meet. I've tried Shimano Road SPD, and Speedplay, as well as Campy quills with toe clips and straps, but have SPDs on all my bikes, modern and vintage. The Campys and toe clips live in my parts bin until I drag them out once a year, for Eroica, where they are required.
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Old 07-16-19, 11:57 PM
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I can't call them "favorites" yet, but the White Industries pedals are pretty cool.



WIPedals4 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


WIPedals3 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


Then there's the pedal it was sorta developed from- the SR SP-11 (which was developed from the Lyotard pedals)


SP-11 King2 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr


And then the SR SP-155.



SP-155-1 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr
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Old 07-17-19, 12:52 AM
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Originally Posted by crank_addict
With toe clips, steel fasteners (no straps) - ultra light at 89gm each with silky smooth bearings. Recently installed yet little miles to give a fair report.

mighty long looking axle...
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Old 07-17-19, 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by The Golden Boy
I can't call them "favorites" yet, but the White Industries pedals are pretty cool.



WIPedals4 by Dave The Golden Boy, on Flickr
MKS also makes an affordable copy of the Lyotard mod. 23 pedal. The large tab on this design makes it easy to get your foot in the clip; an important featrure on a fixed gear bike particularly.


https://www.jensonusa.com/MKS-Urban-Platform-Road-Pedal

My only complaint with this pedal (and the White Industries version) is that they do not accommodate a slotted cleat. So, I'm sticking with my mod. 23s.
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Old 07-17-19, 08:23 AM
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I switched from SPD-SLs to SPDs last year for walkable shoes. And since I was used to riding single-sided, and they're lighter than double-sided pedals, I'm using Shimano A600 and A520. I'm not sure if the platform really adds anything, but they seem a lot like the SLs I was riding.

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Old 07-17-19, 08:26 AM
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Lyotard 460D.

With toe clips for me ...




... and without for the mrs:

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Old 07-17-19, 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
MKS also makes an affordable copy of the Lyotard mod. 23 pedal. The large tab on this design makes it easy to get your foot in the clip; an important featrure on a fixed gear bike particularly.


https://www.jensonusa.com/MKS-Urban-Platform-Road-Pedal

My only complaint with this pedal (and the White Industries version) is that they do not accommodate a slotted cleat. So, I'm sticking with my mod. 23s.
I haven't tried the MKS Urban Platform- I got it in my head that I REALLY wanted the WI pedals. Got obsessed with them- then didn't even take them out of the packaging for 6-8 months. There's not too many CNC looking bike things that I really like.

What I did notice RIGHT away is that either these pedals go forward of the spindle than the old pedals, or the toe clips are not bent in the same places as with my SP-11s (I'll have to measure). Since I ride a 54/21" frame- there can be some toe overlap- and that happened before even getting to the bottom of the driveway.

The other thing is that the support under the foot is different than the either of the SR pedals I'm used to. (duh... different pedals)
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Old 07-17-19, 09:33 AM
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I like my DMR V12s and Five Ten Freeriders. To prevent knee problems, I want to be able to move my foot around.

I tried SPDs, and I really like how they help accelerate from a stop. Alas. The time I gained in acceleration I more than lost by falling - I never could reliably get my foot out of the clips.
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Old 07-17-19, 09:58 AM
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Look Deltas on more than a dozen bikes. They work. Why change?
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Old 07-17-19, 10:18 AM
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For commuting/city riding, I really like VP pedals. For road riding, I'm an SPD guy and prefer Shimano PD-A600 (though I also have a bunch of PD-A520s, the less-expensive, somewhat heaver version of the A600). For a bit of both (platform on one side, SPD on the other), I've always gone with Shimano PD-A530.
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Old 07-17-19, 10:52 AM
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I just got these on a Bottecchia Phil Wood CHP pedals, anybody have expereince with them good/bad?

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Old 07-17-19, 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by fleslider
I just got these on a Bottecchia Phil Wood CHP pedals, anybody have expereince with them good/bad?
Wide, firm platform to support soft-soled shoes? Check.

Accommodates slotted cleat? Check.

Looks "good" to me!
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Old 07-17-19, 12:15 PM
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I favor the Campagnolo Superleggeri Black pedals with toe clips. I have a few sets on various bikes , two of which are the titanium spindle variety and they are very light.
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Old 07-17-19, 12:16 PM
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My favorite SPD pedals are a pair of T400’s I got a couple years ago. Out of production...

I don’t like sharp pins but all the really good MTB platforms seem to have them :-/ I like the cheap plastic pedals that came on my Timberjack but they’re far from smooth.
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Old 07-17-19, 12:25 PM
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I have usually had road quills with clips and straps, but I did like my SunTour platforms, and I'll look into the MKS platforms, with clips and straps.
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